Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-03-16
THIS MORNINGS FIRE.

THE vINToN BUILDING, CORNER or SOUTH
MAIN AND CANAL STREETS, PARTIALLY DE
srRoYED-sEvERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS
DAMAGE THE RESULT.
This morning about one o'clock, the Vim
ton block, ON the corner Of South Main and
Canal streets, was discovered 10 be on fire,
and before the flames could be controlled
the inside Of the building, with its contents,
had been partially destroyed and a loss of
several thousand dollars inflicted. The
basement was occupied by S. Simkovetzs
New York clothing store the first floor
fronting on Canal street by the Valley Mill
company as storthOuse for baled hay.
Pee's food, etc, Chas. Fowler, dealer in
leather and findings, and q. b. Kirwan's
repair shop, while the upper story was va
cant. 1t was past midnight when Officer
Coolidge passed around in the rear Of the
building toward the paper mill, and at that
time everything was in its usual order He
tried the door Of Simkovetzs clothing store,
where gaslight was burning, and passed
on up Main street He met man who
asked him where a nights lodging could be
secured, and the stranger was piloted to
the Bliss house and given "A room Coolidge
then resumed his beat up Main street The
lodger at Bliss's, who is reported az being
from Springfield and also from Shelburne
Falls did not retire, but was RECALLING him
self with oranges, when he was startled by
an explosion and ON looking out discovered
flames bursting from two windows in the
rear end and the north side Of the clothing
store lie rushed into the street and shout
ed for all he was worth but it was some
time before he aroused sufficient attention
to have a general alarm given, and the
blaze spread so rapidly that the whole low
er floor was soon enveloped and tongues of
flame were bursting from the windows and
darting overhead TO the upper stories, while
dense clouds Of smoke issued forth The
liremen responded quickly and soon we're
playing two streams upon the fire Water
was first taken from the hydrants in front
of the bakery and near Col Hooker's.
Owing to the bad condition of the roads IL
was not deemed advisable TO take the
steamers across the brook. No 4 was left
at the engine house and No. was drawn
along the sidewalk up to Col. Hooker's and
the hose from the hydrant transferred TO it.
| The hook and ladder company's truck was
not used, but the men carried over their
apparatus by hand and did good service in
| putting ont the burning bales Of hay. On
account of the Roadway which the fire had
made and its existence between the parti-
| tions, II was half an hour or more before
everything was under perfect control, and
it was not until quarter Of six that work
entirely ceased. Fears were at first enter
tanned for the safety of the building ad Join
ing occupied 10y Kirwan's furniture shop
and Perkins dye house, and the goods were
removed. but the only damage there was
| through water
| II il rrpuflr 4 thn fraIit Of ha la,avt
ment that the Vinton building was saved at
all, outsiders declaring again and again that
it was doomed. The work of the fremen,
10 man, was all that could have been ex-
| pected. 1t is time for some of the swelled-
headed individuals, who think they know
more than they really do, to awake 10 the
fact that Bratteburo has fire department
TO be proud of Last Monday evening. dur
ing the heavy storm, arrangements had
been made TO lay a line Of hose to the by
drants at "A moments notice, and every pos
sible precaution was taken.
The origin Of the fire is unknown. Sew
eral theories are advanced, but all are mere
guess work. What could have caused the
explosion, which the person who discovered
the blaze, and others, heard, is II profound
mystery. Gas is suggested, hut that is
| hardly probable There is nothing which
indicates incendiarism
The building was valued at $1,000, and
was insured for $500 Smkovetzs $1,000
worth of clothing was totally DESTROYED
he Is insured for $1,000, one policy of S2OOO
expiring today at noon The Valley Mill
company stock amounted 10 5000, aud is
well covered 10y insurance Fowler and Kir-
wan suffer t. less extent
This site seems to have "A peculiar attruc-
tlun for IA fire. Three years ago the ma
chine shop there was burned to the ground
| The present building was Immediately erect
ed, aud year ago last fall it was partially
consumed, the fire starting in identically
the same spot as this morning.