Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-23
ANOTHER FIRE ON THE HILL.
House ana Barn nurncd-An Incendl
AIRY Firc-Fircmen Injured.

| Ooiehcetci uNcuue-euuscuucutIy ustu ~
a barn and storage building adjacent to the
dwelling formerly occupied by Prof. Sim.
mons, and more recently by Mrs. Cram,
was found to be on fire. The alarm was al
once given from box fourteen, and the fire
companies responded with their usual
promptness. A tremendous south wind was
blowing the fire was well going be-
fore 1t was discovered, and the
building burned like finder. The Ethans
and Volunteers were first on the ground, the
Ethans being frs. at the hydrant, according
to the chief engineer, consequently entitled to
the credit of the first stream-such as
it was-the hydrant being that at
the foot of the hospital hill. The Volun'
tcers attached to the same hydrant, but
almost immcdialy removed to the hydrant
at the corner of Pearl and Prospect streets
which is connected with the higher service.
They attached what hose they had and waited
! for other companies to connect with them.
The Barnes hose boys were third on the
ground and coupled on to the Volunteer
hose, but it was more than 90 minutes before
other companies arrived with sufficient hose
to complete the line from the hydrant to the
fire. BY this time the intense heat from the
burning barn had set fire to the adjacent
side of the house, there being but few
yards space between them. The Elhsns
did nobly with their single small stream, the
| pipe.men standing almost between the burn
| ing buildings with only slight barrier be-
| tween themselves and the flames, and play
| ing on the burning side of the house but
the stream lacked force enough to reach the
caves; and though a single strong stream
| could have saved the dwelling house; 1t soon
| became evident that 1t was doomed. The
| flames were rapidly communicating with the
inside; worked into the garnet, and were
| soon roaring up through the roof. A second
stream had In the mean time been obtained
from the other hydrant, and the pipemen,
taking the pipe to the top of ladder, sue
| ceeded In reaching the blazing caves
at the southwest corner; but the stream
was still too feeble TO accomplish
much, above the second story windows.
Finally the Ethan engine was sent for; and
taking water from the hydrants stream was
obtained which did much toward checking
the intensity of the fire, and delaying though
i could not wholly stop its progress. The
Winooski steamer also came over from WI
nooski, with steam up but as 1t could not
be supplied with water, it was not used. The
firemen worked hard and even recklessly,
mounting the roof after the rafters were
almost ready to fall andien,erng the build
ing with their hose, after the upper story was
mass Of flame. The Hooks were on hand
promptly and rendered efficient service, with
their ladders and other apparatus. A num-
Der of citizens of the ncighborhood were
early present, and in part by their efforts,
the dwelling was entirely cmpticd of its con-
tents, with the exception of bin of potatoes
in the cellar, and portion even ofthese were
removed. The heavy south wind carried
showers of sparks against the dwelling
houses on the north side of the Avenue and
they were in great danger, one or two of
them catching fire, which was extinguished
with pals of water. They owed their safety
to the fact that the roof of the burning
dwelling was of slate; and to the efforts Of
the fiiemen, who while they could not save
the building, checked the flames so that it
burned slowly. A small ell IN the east side
was saved comparatively unhu-t.
FIrcmcn Injured.
While Mr.. Harry Ward of the Ethans was
standing on the roof Of the ell, with another
member of the company, directing II stream
against the burning cornicc of the main
building, a chimney fell, and shower of
bricks and slate was hurled upon them. One
was protected by the chimney of the ell,
behind which he lodged but Mr.. Ward
was struck on the head by the bricks, and
knocked from the roof of the ell to the
ground. His escape with no broken bones.
is almost miraculous. lie received
three gashcs on the head, cutting
through to the SKULL and cut
ia the back of the neck, from
bricks which fell on him after he fell and is
severely bruised on the side and arm. He
was however, able to be up and about, dur
ing the day yesterday. James Henry and
Edward Hutchinson of Barnes hose, were in
the building when shower of bricks from a
falling chimney came through. Henry re-
ceiv3d cut on the head from brick, and
Hutchinson cut on the neck from slate, !:
Michael Cunningham of the Hooks also got a
cut on the head from falling brick. The
injured men were taken to the Mary Fletch-
er Hospital, near by, when the gashes were
sewed up by DR.. Willard, and all are doing
well.
The Loss.
The property was owncd.by the University
In the barn was quantity of seats,
from the old college building, and double
windows. Nothing was saved from the barn
and only few doors, blinds and windows
from the house. The loss to the University
is about S2500-on which there is an insur-
ancc OF $500, in the Continental of New
York, through the agency of Gen. L. s.
Peck. The house was occupied by Mrs. FL.
len l.. Clapp who moved into 1t week or
two ago. She has an insurance Of $500 with
Mr.. Frissell, on the furniture, which will
more than cover her loss.
An Incendiary Fire.
There is no doubt that the fire was the
work of au incendiary. The barn was not
used except as a store house, and had not
been entered or opened, so far as is known,
for some days. When the fire was first seen
about quarter past SIX it had worked through
the side of the barn, and was blazing on the
outside. 1t was probably set between and
o'clock. Moreover, n little before Z, and
while the fire was in active progress, an at
tempt was made to fire the small house OPP
posilc it, occupied by Mr.. Osticr. A burn
ing brand was thrown under the floor of
the wood shed, on the north end of
the house-and was there discovered and ex-
tnguished by Mr.. Morse, young gentle
man of the University, who rooms in the ad-
joining house. 1t is impossible from the
| situation of the spot where the fire was
hluulcu tl'tt IL COulu nave Dctu u DThuu lTOlll
the burning building and the Inference is
clear that some one, while the attention of
all was diverted elsewhere, endeavored to
start fresh fire. Following the recent in.
cendiary burning of Storrs's slaughter house
and repeated fires in the woods and fences
near by, evidently set by some one, there
ncendiary attempts cause strong feeling in
the First ward and indeed throughout the city.