Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-13
SCORCRED.

F1RE N THE NEw SCHOOL BUILDING HOW IT
HAPPENED-A FORTUNATE DELIyERANcE
AT about haf-past II last Wednesday
morning fire was discovered In one Of the
ventlating shafts Of the new school building.
The building was at once cleared, general
alarm Was given which called large number
Of citizens promptly to the scene, in due
time the fire department was on hand, aud
the fire was extinguished before extensive
damage was done.
The ere caught in the northwes ventilat-
ing shaft and first laid hold on the wood
work Of a closet built in a corner against the
shaft in room on the north side used as a
High school recitation room. From this 1t
blazed up against the ceiling inside the clos.
ct, and holes Of considerable size were burned
through into the attic, both in this room and
in the room adjoining at the west end OF the
building. From here the flames got a strong
hold on the ceiling and floor iimbers, but
fortunately the fremen were able to drown
them out within a comparatively small space.
Within FIVE minutes from the time the
alarm was given black smoke was pour.
ing from the roof in front, aud those
who first reached the spot found the space
under the roof filled with smoke. and a hole
already burned through the floor. The fire.
men who first carried up line Of hose we're
Elmos; suffocated with the thick smoke. and
were obliged to fight in the dark and by
guess for some time.
The fire was first seen, and probably at
about the same instant. by Miss Preston in
the High school recitation room referred to.
aud by Mrs Morse in the intermediate room
Ad Joining al the west end. The first tendency
WAS, Of course. TO leave the building in
panic but this was promptly checked by Mr.
Bingham's decisive action, seconded by the
other teachers The children we're made to
understand that there was no immediate dan
ger, and teachers we're stationed ut the head
Of the stairs to see that there was no crush 10
getting down The tendency to q frightened
rush in the High school room in Mr. BinP-
hams absence TO look after the younger
scholars, was checked by the self possess ion
Of the larger boys who kept their heads and
shouted to the others 10 sit down" One of
the Grammar school teachers is commend ed
for her strict and timely discipline When
her children began a grand rush she sharply
ordered them 10 sit down, and promptly en-.
forced the command with o threat 70 ''ferule
every one" who didn't obey. About $50
children were IN the building and not the
slightest accident happened in their passage
out. Mr.. q. A. B0yden, who was passing Ut
The time, and who was the FIRST citizen on
the ground, said the schools came out as aui-
city as At the usual noon hour. and there was
no appearance Of fright or excitement Even
the talk about the fire WAS in quiet and sub
dued tones
FIGHTING THE FIRE.
The citizens who arrived in advance of the
IRE engines made prompt and active efforts
10 stop the fire. n. l. Havley used q few
hand grensdes with good effect, and sent to
the street for more. Water was brought from
the basement in pals, and Col. Fuller sent
over load of fire eItinguishers from the fac
tories. Meantime, however, steamer No. 8
had arrived and got line Of hose up the
stairs aud under the roof No. 4 soon follow
ed, the hand machine No. 6 was not far be.
hind, and the hook and ladder company had
Its appliances promptly on hand. The water
was judiciously used, and before 1890 the
fire was under control
ITS ORION.
How the fire caught was at FIRST q mystery.
The ventlating shafts are Of solid brick and
mortar, and were supposed to contain little or
no IL fammable material. Through them the
cast-iron smoke funnel passes up from each
furnace to the roof, and the tin hot-air pipss
are carri-d up inside the shafts to the several
rooms. During the Thanksgiving vacation
Mr.. Hopkins Of Bridgeport, Conn. the in
ventor OF the heating system, in making some
changes in the apparatus wound the hot-sir
stop the radiation of heat from their outer
surface. 1t was found that this paper had
been burned of the pipes il the shaft where
the IRE caught, and It was concluded that il
must have caught from the super heating of
the furnace.
The school committee tele gral,hed Mr.. Hon
kins Wednesday afternoon and be came by
the late train Yesterday morning a careful
examination was made, and It was proved be.
yond question that the fire caught from two
pieces Of small timber which were put across
the inside Of the shaft 10 the attic to receive
the traps which swing on hinges and are clos
I'd At night 10 prevent the escape of heat.
These umbers had been carelessly placed in
contact with the iron smoke funnel and had
undoubtedly become gradually charred, until
on Wednesday morning, hen an unusually hot
tre was necessary, they kindled into flame.
and ihe sparks dropping down set the paper
IN which the pipes were wrapped on FIRE.
Mr. Hopkins states that be has been Acous-
toned for years to use this paper, aud has
never before had trouble with il. repeated ex
periments showing that it will not take IRE
from contact with surfaces heated to a much
higher point than the hot-air pipes ever reach.
To obviate all possible danger in future how
ever, he Is next week 10 come on with his
men, clear the shafts Of woodwork, take the
paper OF the pipes and encase each pipe in
an outer metal pipe, leaving an air space
between. Ills be is to do without expense
TO the district. In an experience of nearly 40
years during which he has put in more than
1000 furnaces, this is the FIRST trouble be has
ever known from IRE and he is determined
that everything shall now be carried 10 a
point Of absolute safety.
VARIOUS NOTES.
Al the time the school building WAS erect.
gN II sEna fhou rrhN brr
expense was incurred in carrying the parti.
ton walls up to the roof in brick. The wis
dom Of that method has now been fully dem
oustraied. Had the partitions baen of wood
the loss of the building would have been Al
most inevitable
The school apparatus WIS carried ont IN
neighboring houses and such of the books
and articles Of clothing as were not taken
home by the children were also carried there
or to the town hall. These have now been
taken back TO the school building ready To he
claimed by their owners.
The only foolish and needless act which has
come to our notice in connection with The
nre was the gathering up Of books. papers.
etc, by excited and would be helpers and
pitching them out Of the upper windows
where they were gathered up and lay in piles
until removed in doors. The only loss 10 in.
dividuals on account of the FIRE will come
from the loss or injury Of books
Mr.. Hopkins, himself an experienced FIRE.
man, is warm in praise of the efficient work
OF the hre department. He thinks it almost
marvel that, with the mercury below zero.
water should have been carried up the hll
and into the top of the building, aud the FIRE
put out before greater damage was done.
The work of repairing will be pushed for
ward next week as speedily as possible. The
water has dried out Of the ceilings and floors
very rapidly, and the school sessions will be
resumed a week from next Monday.
While 1t is impossible not TO regret such an
accident to the new building, there is every
reason for the district to congratulate itself
that the case is no worse-snd most OF ali that
there was no harm to any member of the
schools
Representatives Of the several insurance
companies interested arrived last night. aud
the loss has to-day been adjusted at Sl5O5.
The total Insurance on the building is SIS 900.
Pomona Grange Meeting.
-Windham county Pomona grange will
meet in Grand Army hall BrAttleboro, Feb.
18Th, at 10 A N. A full attendance Of ali
me ak,a.w.a go -.