Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-18
TUESDAY NIGHTS FIRE.

TUESDAY NIGHTS FIRE.
Last Wednesday morning at about 20
minutes Of two, fire broke out in the sheds IN
the rear of a small dwelling near the railroad
track about 30 rods south Of the depot The
fire had made considerable progress when
discovered and the house was soon DESTROYED
The flames spread to the Swift refrigerAting
companys large two-story ioe-house on the
south, partially filled with ice, and no water
supply being at hand the building was de-
stroyed except q small portion where the ice
was stored. The small dwelling house was
occupied by Barney Breslin and his two sons,
and a boarder, James Flood nearly ali their
goods were destroyed. Mr.. Bresin saved a
wAsh-bowl but 50 under It was burned be-
fore he could pick it up. The FIRE was dis
| covered by one OF the Bresliu boys aud en-
| gineer Chandler, whose locomotive was at the
engine house, blew the whistle, and later
| general alarm was sounded. In response to
tine alarm steamer No. was sent to the FIRE
but il was impossible TO use il, rs it could
not be carried to the rear Of the buildings .
hand engine No. was then taken 10 the rear
of the fire but it was found that water gould
not be obtained from the river, and rs there
was no supply within 5000 feet not a foot OF
hose was laid and no water WAS thrown The
hook and ladder company was on the ground
and did considerable work in tearing away
portions of the ice house. The house
property was not insured in Brattlaboro and
the estimated loss for the company, whose
headquarters are in Chicago, is not known.
| A NEW BRATTLEBoRo IHyENTIoN-AN AUTO
MATIc STEAM ENGINE PoB WHICH GREAT
THINGS ARE CLAIMED.
Mr.. Wm. Steers, superintendent Of the
Brattleboro Tool company, and inventor of
the plane and other tools which they manu-
facture has produced a steam engine, a small
and imperfect model of which is now in sue
cessful operation at the company's rooms in
Crowells building on Flat street In its ex.
terror this engine somewhat resembles the
Westinghouse, though even exceeding that
celebrated engine both in simplicity and com
pActness. Its special popularity. wherein its
claim for superiority liss, is, that il has nc
dead centre There are three cylinders op-
Grating a single crank and the cylinders are
so placed that each piston eXerts its force
from different direction. The engine nov
in operation-which has been hastily built in
few weeks time, simply as an experiment
is of about four horse power and only oceu.
pies a space of l6 by % inches, with a height
not exceeding its length The operation OF
this ingenious little affair was witnessed
yesterday by many of our mechanics aud
other citizens. The successful working Out
of the dead centre problem was illustrated
by running the engine with the balance wheel
removed With this wheel on, a speed OF
1000 revolutions per minute was attained
with entire safety. Mr.. Steers says that the
idea of such machine has been in his mind
some time, but that the success of the thing
as now worked out far exceeds his anticipa-
ticns Application for a patent has been
made, but, of course, some time must elapse
before the real value Of the invention can be
fully assured.
THE MIKADO UNCLE JOSH.
-Rsference to our advertising column.
will show that Brattleboro is TO have two
events in the musical and dramatic line nexl
week which will deserve the patronage OF
people who appreciate good representation
by good artists On Monday evening, through
the efforts Of the Philharmonic society, the
Corelli opera company Of New York will pre-.
sent Gilbert and Sullivan's latest opera, THE
Mikado," which is the attraction of the sea
son in all the large cities. This company has
lately visited Burlington, where it gave the
Mikado before an audience which crowded
the Howard opera house, and the Free Press
warmly praises the excellence of the per
Torrance and saws that both singing and act
ing were fine. Probably Brattleboro will
have no better opportunity than this to enjoy
this popular attraction.
On Thursday evening Dsnman Thompson
and his company of long-experienoed actor,
Will give JOSHUA MhltcOmO under the AL
spices Of Tyler post, Sons of Veterans o.
"Uncle Josh" nothing can be said which the
public does not already know. 1t ID faith
full study of New England life half century
ago ii Is every way clean and wholesome
and for more than ten years it has deserved
~ held its own amid the multitude of com
petitors for popular favor. Mr.. Thompson
brings his own orchestra and the presentl
ton will be hrst-elass in all respects.
AARoUs P. NORTON AND THE NAL oDoRoU,
DOWNS.
The following news paragraph from tn,
daily papers of Monday has a certain local in
terest from the fact that Judge" Marcus p
Norton is more or less known by numerous
BrattlebOro and other Windham county PEG
Pile
"Rev. W. W. Downs of Boston, against whom Al
indictment found Saturday by the grand jury fo
adultery preached 10 large audience last evening n
Mechanics hall Atthe close Of his remarks he intro
duoed Marcus p. Norton, who made the statemen
that syndicate Of Boston lawyers had been formei
for the defense Of Downs in his forthcoming trial
that the active counsel for defense would be Roscoe
Conkling and benjamin +. Butler. Mir. Norton bit
terly denounced the grand jurys aetion hAVinl
been thought about by fraud aud perjury, aud deliV