Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-09-17
Coral 9,,tellinrttrr.
A SUNDAY FIRE.
Derby & Balls scythe Snath Works Burned
Loss, $4,000.

Loss, $4,000.
Fire was discovered Sunday morning
about 4.50 in the attic of Derby & Balls
scythe snath works, and an alarm was
pulled in from box 81, but the fire alarm
system failed to work so far as the gong
was concerned, and it was some time be-
fore the town was fully aroused, though
the firemen responded quickly. The
Shamrocks, the first to arrive, reached
the fire three minutes after the alarm
sounded. Two lines of hose were laid
from the hydrant opposite the works, but
there was no pressure, the water barely
flowing from the nozzle. Another line
of hose was laid from the hydrant near
Osgood's foundry, and the valves in the
street mains in the south part of the
town closed to throw all the water into
the mains near the fire, but with no ap-
preciable improvement, and the firemen
stood around unable to do thing toward
checking the fire.
Meantime the steamer had arrived at
the hydrant near F. P. Balls residence,
and was getting ready for work when it
was ordered to move to another point,
and finally, after loss of ten minutes,
was ordered back to its first position and
at 5.35 stream from it was directed on
the fire, and a few minutes later second
stream was started.
By this time the main building was be-
yond hope of saving, and the fire had
| spread to the blacksmith shop and the
roof of the storehouses. 1t did not take
| long to put out these fires, and the fire
men then directed their attention to the
| ~, ;,o nd IaI IN
ing the fire from spreading further,
though the main building was totally de-
| stroyed, and the engine was kept running
literally drowned The building was
supplied with automatic sprinklers on
| the two lower floors but as the fire caught
in the attic they were useless.
Mr.. Ball was in the west on a business
trip, and did not return till Tuesday
evening. Mr.. Derby arrived at the fire
about o'clock, and as soon as possible
| the safe was opened and the books and
| papers were recovered uniniured.
1t is hoped that the shops will be i'm
mediately rebuilt though it will be
sometime before they can get to running
as special machinery must be built
The shop shut down August l, and has
only been running a few hands, but ex
pected to put full force at work Mon
day. The loss is estimated at from $50,
900 to $35, 900; insured in the New Y orl
Mutual for $4,000.
The cottage houses opposite the shop
were on fire several times, but through
the efforts of their occupants, and tn
work of Lowell Stearns with two fir
extinguishers, they We're saved W.
(, slight scorceIi3g.t
There has been some comment on TIT
nOn-arrival of the steamer, but consider
ing that the driver lives over half a mile
from the stables, and that he had the
horses harnessed to the steamer ready to
start in Is minutes, no better time coulc
be expected. A further delay was caus
ed by its being moved, undoubtedly &
blunder on some ones part, but it did
good work when it got started. The
rumor which has been flying about the
streets this week that the steamer has or
ders not to go out unless the fire is in The
square is unfounded, as it has the same
orders as do the hose companies. to 60 tt
every fire.
The fire was characterized by curious
combination of circumstances. The
failure of the fire alarm; the absence O.
water; the delay of the steamer, al
tended to make the fire department ap
pear inconsequential, yet there is prob
ably no better in the state. And il
another place some one has blundered
the heater, which keeps steam in the en-
gine at all times, has not been run this
summer, and some time was lost il
making steam,