Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-02-06
FIRE AT RICHMOND.
BUSINESS PART OF THE TOWN BURN
ED TUESDAY.
The Large Masonic Block and Four other
buildings Destroyed-Burlin and
Waterbury Eiremen Save the Town
Losses and insurance,

Losses and insurance,
RICHMOND, VT, Feb. 3-Richmond sut-
fered the most disastrous fire in her history
this afternoon when about $50, OOO
went up in smoke. The burned property
included the large Masonic block, corner Of
Bridge and Front streets, made up of three
stores and physicians Office two blocks
on Bridge street containing three stores and
tenemeuts, "a single block and u dwelling on
Fronts treet. Much OF the property could have
been saved had there been any way of get
ting water ON the flames, and 1t is due sole
ly to the arrival of iremcn ION Burling-
ton and Waterbury, that more property
was not destroyed. About o clock Mr..
Norton of the firm Of j. b. Norton ~ Co.,
dealers i'll hardware and oils with n clerk,
went into the cellar of his store to draw
some kerosene OIL As they came up stairs
they found the front of the store in flames
aud they were obliged to make hurried
exit through back door. The flames
were raging SO tiercely around Mr. Norton's
desk that he had no chance to secure any of
his books and it was only by breaking a
pane of glass aud reaching through that he
got the firms day book. ills family lived
over the store and they barely mad time to
escape with their lives so rapidly did the
flames ascend. Nothing was saved
from the stock or household iurni-,
ture The store of +. w. Powers,
dealer in boots and shoes, in the same
block, was speedily on fire and nothing was
saved from that j. W. Whitcomb's gro
Gerry store came next and it was not long
before that too was on fire. Mr.. Whitcomb
lived over the store and succeeded in saving
some Of his household furniture and some
of the stock in the store, The Masonic
block owned by North Star lodge, came
next. This was occupied on the
Bridge street side by T.. W. Free.
man, dealer in drugs and jewelry and
he saved nothing. Around on the front
street side of the block Salmon Green's gro
Gerry store was the first to go. lie saved
some of his stock, though, like everything
else that was saved it was greatly damaged.
Mr. Green is the town clerk and the records
were kept in his store. They were moved
with the safe into Deputy Sheriff Conants
quarters. over Green's store was the othing
store of Fay e.. Nichols. Mr. Nichols savei
most of hi- stock. DR.. c. W. Jacobs Office
also burned out. The upper part Of
this block was occupied by North Star
lodge and most of the furniture, with the
exception of the carpet, chandelier and
few chairs was saved Separated by mar
row passage wav was building CON
tainnt Patrick Henley's shoe sh,p on the
pound noor with Ni.s G.eason's millinery
Store on the second floor and the q \ y
hoIl ohove This bloch, was soon in fla arn.s
Mr. Henlcv saved most of hi. tool, u,l
Ms. clemson 70. ont some of her Goods i, -
d,,,,,,...i coalition N,tl.in. va. .,v.j
lr,.,, t,c q II hail J,j norI,.r
bo,.sa aud l,,.r vns tb,,,xt sfru,t,ira to .,o
With sor,,,.fnr,.itura so,ol a,d ri tbi. r,i.,,
III, ,,.,,.l. ,t tho f,c,,.,, f.,,n E,,,in.,t.,,,
.,I V-,t.-..,,.,.. ,,...,-..,,,i frrtbor I.,,..,.
,ior and tE,uari oovjas,s Jrv good. .t.,ro
,,Ij,ini,o va. vi Asit ,yos IN, L,,.,.
,,,,ss ,'arf If ,h. lawn !. in rnin. .rI H.'h.
,,ond ,yiu,,ot soo,, rrco,,, rrn,, tna lIo,v
h'lp from ""tsr''rN an "'r''h@'"n
Tho people OF Richmond, rc1 ling their help
lessness to cope win th' Jury OF the flames,
at the beginning o! the hre tec%raphed t"
Waterbury and 10 Burlington for help The
Seth Warner Engine company prompt
y responded from the former place,
reaching the scene on special
train which covered the II miles Le-
twean Waterbury and Richmond in /,
minutes. The remen, who were on the flat
car with their engine, say that they We're