The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-18
FIRE AT T0WNSHEND !
4 BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE MEETS
WIN 4 GREAT CALAMITY!
Ninc Quantities rcnEcyct home
Isss. lass $4,000 10 Sis,0G0.
No fire appatatus. No adequate
supply OF water! And the fiery ell
ement held complete sway!


The past week has been certainly an
eyentful one in the history of this beau
tiful and usually quiet village. a very
sad calamity has suddenly visited rs in
the shape Of 4 connagration, the most
destructive ever known in town. Six
dwellings, Two stores, two barns and
the post office were consumed, involv-
ing loss amounting to $4,000 to SIS
900, and rendering homeless nine fam
lilies.
On Friday evening most of our cit
liens, including old and Young, togetli-
en- with many from surrounding towns,
We're crowling Seminary Hall where
an attractive exhibition given by the
students of the Seminary, udder Prof.
and Mrs. Lawrence, was taking place.
The programme was completed at half
past nine O'Clock, except the last three
assignments, when the wild cry of
'.ire! tirc.' from outside suddenly
brought all TO their feet. The first
thought was that the seminary building
below was on fire and a rush was in
stantly made for the narrow stairway,
and a panic, with its horrible conse-
qucnces, was barely averted by the
presence of mind and wise counsel of
a few prominent men. "knapp's stores
on fire. next greeted our ears, and in
less time than it takes to record the fact
the hall was cmptied of the large audi
cnce, and it was discovered that the
flames were bursting ont from the gen
cral store formerly occupied by E. j.
Knapp, but recently sold to the Philips
Bros. The two church bells and the
seminary bell rang out the alarm, and
soon many willing hands were bnsy in
selling and carrying out goods, records
and other valuablcs. Bul this work
had scarcely got under way when the
flames reached the oil room and large
oil tank exploded and threw gallons of
oil through the windows of the l. part
of Mr.. Cutters brick house on the west
side, which quickly ignitiug set this
house Oh fire. A want of organization,
no adequate supply of water, no engine
and scarcely any ladders were certainly
poor equipments for fighting the re-
lentless Fire King. Fortunately there
was no wind blowing and snow was
rapidly falling at the same time; not
wiihstanding, the flames swept briskly
on, and at one time, it seemed as if the
whole village was doomed! The next
house on the West to burn was that be-
longing to Mrs. Wilkinson and by
tearing down part of it, the fire was, in
this direction, stopped, and thus the
large "Gray Block was saved with
slight damage, The fire spread South
and its next victim wassthe Post-office
building owned by Messrs. Willard &
Bruce of Wardsboro, and occupied be-
low by Mrs. Ann G. Howard and the
post-oliicc and above by Mr.. l.. N.
Earl. Continuing OH the South Street,
the flames next devoured the large
house, harness shop, undertaking rooms
and barn of Mr.. Z. G. Taft, and lastly,
the house and barn of Mr.. r. +. Hall,
where by hard fighting it was checked.
The origin of the fire is at present
unknown. Various rumors and theo-
les are afoat, but they arc all vague
md unsatisfactory. 1t is Il gratifying
bought 10 all, even to the sufferers in
his calamity, that no life was lost and
10 one seriously injured.
1t Is too early even to conjecture what
will be done in the direction of rebuild
ng, but probably this will not be I'M
aiken before Spring. None will re-
move from town this winter.
A cheerful, hopeful view of the situation prevails
n the community. Fortunately several houses
we're standing unoccupicd just before the fire and
hese have been occupied temporarily by those burn.
d out. Mr. Taft has moved into of Mr..
'lark's houses, Mr.. Cutler into MIR. BARRIERS
ousc, and the postotiice has taken quarters in the
Powers house"
The Insurance agents are already on the ground,
0 adjust the several losses by the fire. More than
alf of the whole amount OF Insurance is in various
took companies, and the rest in the Vermont Nh
nal.
The following is fair estimate OF the losses sus-
aimed and the amounts of Insurance: -
Store and house over it, owned by Mrs. 4. G.
Toward of Bratteboro, loss $2O3O-25OO; insured
or 81 100; Store goods owned by Phillips Bros,
lss, $50, 000-3,j0o; Insured for S3,0O0 Mrs. Carrie
ustin, Mliner and Dress -maker,-loss on furni.
ure and stock, 5000; Insured for $3.50; Charlie A.
'utlcrs loss house and furniture Il 6oO Insured
or SLIGO; Ms. NJ. y. Wknson's loss on house
nd furn iturc, 81 ,000; Insured for small amount;
). II. Fcssenden Is loss Marble shop torn down
$3.50 no insurance; George Porter's loss by dam.
&c to house and furniture, S2o0-fuly insured; &.
:. Simpsons loss by damage to furniture, S200-in.
urcd; 4. J, Knapp's loss on goods, $780, Willard
Bruces loos post-ofiice building, 81 200; In.
urcd for $500; G. c. Tafl's loss on house, barn
hop and stock, $1,000; Insured for 81 400; Royal r.
Halls loss on house and furniture 81 900: Insured
or $500: NJ. NJ. Martins loss by damage TO fnrni-
ure, S300-no insurance Mrs Ann c. Towards
oss by damage to furniture, 5000.
Harlan W. Batchelder student at Leland x
Gray, was the first to discover the fire and then
went quietly back to Seminary hall aud gave a
still alarm to a few persons standing in the door.
way. For his cool presence of mind and fore
hought, many thanks are due
\ singular coincidence is. recalled by this fire
from the fact that about 80 years ago, four houses
were burned on West Street and the fire was stop
ped in about the same place as last Friday night
Things suggested BY the fire A supply of water,
4 fire-engne, or the formation Of a Hook and |
Ladder Company
FREE TRADE.
Mo ,.l.Innt;r. :,,A...,,l ......... IIn |