Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-05-23
Extensive Fire.


One of the most destructive and in it
sudden fury the most remarkable fores
fire that has ever visited the state sweep
out of existence the little settlement bull
up around the extensive lumber mills o
A. Z. & E. Baldwin, at Groton pond, last
Saturday.
Fires had been existing in the woods al
West Groton for several days but were
thought to have been extinguished and
the first notice the people had of their
danger, the flames, driven by strong
wind, were sweeping down upon them
from the vicinity OF West Groton at race
horse speed. The people, glad to escape
with their lives and the clothes on their
backs, fed for the pond where the women
and children were put into boats and sci
adrift and the men made RATS of the logs
and put off from the shore.
In the race for life some attemps were
made to save property by tying articles in
bundles and sinking them in the brook
and the pond, but so intense was the heat
that some bundles placed in the brook
were burned to the water line; however.
putting all together, little property was
saved by sinking in the pond.
In less than fifteen minutes from the first
appearance of danger the entire settle
ment, consisting of the large steam MILL
with engine house, large boarding
house, three large tenement houses. a
large store house, a school house, three
barns, the railroad station and new water
tank, together with two million feet of
sawed lumber, quo cords of wood, abou;
IS cords of bark and % freight cars were
one mass of fame and the heat and dense
black smoke. together with the rough
weather, added to the danger and discom-
fort of those who had sought safety on the
pond, many of whom were out till dark
before being rescued and brought to land.
From the Groton Pond settlement the
fire continued up the track to the Peabody
station and burned all the old buildings
and sheds about the place but was stoppei
before reaching the Lane property several
miles this side.
lire engine was sent over from Mont.
pelier about O'Clock Sa urdty afternoon
but was not unloaded as no good would
have been rendered by it, Travel on TN
railroad was discontinued from SturdN
noon till Sunday Afternoon.
One of the pecuiarties of the fire was
the leaving of a Car almost entirely
unscorched while those connected on each
side were entirely consumed. The ser
rails on the main track of the Montpelier
q Wells River railroad were mostly saved
by the forethought of N section boss VIII,
disconnected the rails, thus giving them |
an opportunity to expand without warp
ing. The extent of the expansion coun |
be readily perceived on some of the rails
on the side track which were bent nearl, |
double.
BY the burning of the mill and other
property some fifty men are thrown out OF |
employment and nearly one hundred AMI
twenty-five parsons rendered houseless
The loss to the Messrs. Baldwin is some |
$50 900 over an insurance of abo1t
$4,000 The direct loss to the railroad
which lost five only of its own cars, will
not fall under S. 900 or $4,000. The
Baldwins are undecided whether they will
rebuild, but as they have about million
and a half of logs 10 the pond the pre-
is that if possible they will
rebuild.