Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-07-29
YESTERDAYS FIRE.
D. L. Miners Farm Buildings Struck
by Lightning
And Completely DestrOyed---A short
ChoDtrr Of Fire Department Points.


Chapter Of Fire Department Points.
o. l.. Miners wel-known farm build
ings, situated on the south side of Whet-
stone brook above Centreville, were set on
fire by a stroke of lightning just before ?
o'clock yesterday afternoon and were total
" consumed. The circumstances were pc
culiar. About half-past one there were in
dications of a shower coming up, which
were gladly welcomed. There were at the
time eight persons in and about the Miner
premises. Mr.. Miner had himself lain
down upstairs for an after-dinner rest.
His son-in-aw, c. L. S. Boynton of Bos-
ton, was lying on a sofa i'm the upper hall.
Mrs. Miner, her invalid sister, Mrs. Abbott
of Gill, Mass, and Mrs. Boynton were
also in the house. Olin Snow, hired
man, was standing in the doorway of the
barn, with Frank Wiley of Boston, boy
of To- by his side. Miss Edith BoyntOn
was standing in the doorway of the shed
connecting the house with the barn. The
clouds continued to gather and a few drops
of rain fell, when suddenly, about ten min
utes before two, a bolt of lightning, ac-
cOmpanied by terrific crash, descended
and struck the buildings. One or more of
the neighbors saw the bolt fall, and strike
the barn. 1t appeared like a large ball of
fire. One account has it that the bolt di-
vided and struck both the barn and the
shed. Mr.. BOynton was thrown from the
lounge to the floor, but was not otherwise
affected by the fluid. Mrs. Miner, who
was just passing from the dining-room to
the kitchen, experienced a sensation as If
a sheet of flame had passed down her body
Mr.. Miner and Mr.. Boynton rushed out of
the house, a cry being raised that Snow
was hurt. Snow was leaning against the
side of the door, and was thoroughly dazed,
if not made entirely insensible. He slow
~ revived, and was finally taken to the
neighbOrng house of Mr.. Coane, where
medical examination showed that he had
received no injury beyond shock. When
Mr.. Miner and Mr.. Boynton reached the
barn the upper part of it was even then
filled with mass of flame, and the burn
ing hay was dropping down. Young viii
I ley showed great presence of mind, going
at once to take one Of the horses from its
stall, and calling on Mr.. Boynton to re-
lease the other. The fire spread so rapid
ly that little else besides one carriage could
be saved from the barn, and a bull, a hog,
and the greater part Of the choice Silver
Spangled fowls, owned by 5. O. Miner,
were burned.
The neighbOrs arrived promptly on the
scene and began the removal of every
/ thing possible from the house The furni-
/ ture, bedding, carpets, clothing and other
/ effects belonging to the family and their
/ friends were nearly all saved, and the win.
/ dows, blinds and outside doors were nearly
/ all removed. Nothing, however, of the
/ provisions and family stores in the l. part
/ of the house could be got out Snow and
] Il.
everything except the clothes they had on.
In an incredibly short time the flames eX-
tended from the barn to the shed and
house and all the buildings were sheet OF
flame. II is not certain but the lightning
may have fired the house in the attic, thu,
quickening the destruction. The WOO
house was burned, but all the wool it con
tanned, about 1000 pounds, was saved. Mr.
Miner had fortunately made large ship
ment OF wool within few days.
In the main part of the house the light
ming played strange freaks The fact thai
it threw Mr.. Boynton upon the floor ha.
already been mentioned. In his daughter
room a lamp was thrown to the floor
chairs were overturned. and the content,
Of the room were generally upset. Tn,
plastering was torn from the walls upstair
and down. 4 sitting room window on IN,
south side of the house was broken on
and the easement torn completely off
leaving a hole big enough, as those whC
saw it said, ITO drive a team through.
The goods saved from the house wer,
carried TO the vacant house beyond Mr.
Bissell's, and stored there. The Boynton
came to the house Of their friends Mr.. ant
Mrs. +. G. Thorn. Sylvester +. Miner
the son, was at Mddlebury, with the West
ern engine company.
Mr.. Miners total insurance was $1,000
which will not, however, nearly cover hi
loss.