Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-17
YESTERDAY MORNINGS FIRE IN
LEONARD BLOCK.


LEONARD BLOCK.
Coed Work by the Pire Department.
Brattleboro experienced her first fire in
eight months early yesterday morning,
when the Leonard block on Elliot street was
partially Quilted The loss was about $40,
900, well covered by insurance. The fire
department did very efficient work, and 10
Chief Engineer Turner aud his men belongs
the credit of preventing what might have
been a. serious fire as that Of 1871, which
DESTROYED the Revere House and caused a
loss Of upwards Of $4,000.
About 2:30 o'clock Mrs Charles Simonds
who lives on Flat street, saw bright light
flash against the McMinnman house near
by. She awoke her husband, who rushed
out Of doors aud found fire streaming up in
the office Of the Farmers & Mechanics
Exchange store in the rear end Of Leonard
block Mr. Simonds shouted, and several
persons heard him and took up the alarm.
Night Waterman Mcclure rang one Of the
engine house bells, and soon general alarm
was given A quantity Of fire crackers in
the store ignited and exploded, spreading
the flames rapidly. In one corner Of the
building was a box containing the drain
aud waste water pipes and this acted as a
flue, the fire rushing fercely through it 10
the third floor
The Easements and first floor Of the block
were occupied by the Exchange. On the
| second floor were the office and rooms Of
DR. +. S. Bowen, the dressmaking and liv-
ing rooms Of Misses Higley and Hughes,
and rooms Of Frank Horton, Harry House
aud two railroad men The third floor was
occupied by c. W Stewart and family and
NJ b. Savary.
The inmates Of the building were aroused
ia various ways and escaped, although
some Of them had barely time 10 dress Ar
ticles Of considerable value were removed
| from Dr. Bowen's Office but little attempt
was made TO save the effects of the others.
| On the second and third floors the fire was
confined almost wholly h the rear rooms
The village fire department turned out
promptly. In about twelve minutes from
the first alarm two streams Of water from
the hydrant near Thurber's bakery were
being thrown upon the fire The steamers
we're fired up quickly and were in working
| condition soon after The store was filled
with dense smoke. When the front win
| dows were broken in the whole first floor
was one blaze and the flames rolled furious
| ly out through the opening. 1t seemed
then as if the block must be destroyed In
the basement we're barrels Of kerosene and
lard The danger from this source was re
| allied and three streams were ready ~ be
/ turned into the basement at any moment,
| while the other three streams were shifted
to different parts Of the building as occa
sion required. The firemen worked for
about two hours before every spark was
eXtnguished and it was considered safe ~
leave the building. 1t was necessary in
many places TO cut into the walls in order
10 quench the blaze in the partitions. Fire
| sprung up on the castings Of the Methodist
church but was Immediately put out
The first floor of the building is badly
damaged Eight rooms on the second and
third floors are burned considerably. The
whole block with the exception Of DR.
Bowen's and Mr. Stewart rooms in front
on the second and third floors, is complete
ly saturated. The goods Of the Exchange
on the first floor are "a total loss even the
fruit cans being melted. The stock Of gro
ceries was valued at 81. 900, but goods in
the basement are injured only by water
The safe was found out u shape but the
contents we're all right Some Of the ten.
ants on the second floor and Mr. Savary
suffer quite severely
The losses are estimated ~ follows +
u VI. exchange SGOOU building, owned
by b. Leonaris heirs, $1,000 tenants,
5000. The building was insured for 5000
The exchange hal S2OOU with Cudworth &
Childs, $1,000 with Sherman * Jenne aud
$1,000 with Taylor Brothers Mr. Savary
was insured for $3.50 aud Mr. Stewart for
$500, both with Cudworth j Childs Mr.
Horton had 5000 insurance with Sherman
q Jenne. DR.. Bowen's loss is not severe
The dressmakers feel their loss keenly and
have no insurance. 4 subscription paper
was circulated IN their behalf Yesterday
Mr.. House and the railroad men were un-
insured. The damage 10 the Methodist
church is slight. Stedman * Sons lumber
yard on Flat street was damaged some hat
by water.
1t is supposed that the fire was started by
the explosion Of lamp in the F. Il NJ +
store, where 1t has been the custom n keep
light burning all night since the burglary
three years ago
The tirenen are receiving praise from all
quarters for their excellent work The lie
partment was never better managed at Il
fire
The F. * NJ. f. have opened a store in
Emerson's block and are running their de
livery teams today, being in condition to
serve all their customers