Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-15
BOX FACTORY BURNED
HOT FIRE IN THE LUMBER DISTRICT
WEDNESDAY or LAST WEEK.
Horatio Hickok & Co.'s Siill Destroyed
Loss About $4,000 with $4,000 In
surance-Five Loaded Freight Cars
Burned-Incidentso of the Firo.

The packing box factory OF Horatio
practically destroyed By fire between 6 and
o'clock p. m. June 7. The fire was first
discovered at 5:54 O'Clock aud before an
alarm could be sounded the building was
wrapped in flames. There was at first a
confused ringing OF the alarm, due, it is
claimed to the fact that two boxes were
pulled at the same time. Lines
of hose were promptly laid by employees
i'll the lumber yards, and the fire compa
MES reached the scene as soon as possible,
the Boxers getting on first stream for the
department The inilammable character of
the building and contents made possible the
rapid spreading OF the fire, and from the
first the building was doomed. The light
northwest wind was an aid TO the fremen
in keeping the fire confined to the mill. The
factory Of Il. b. q \. {. Whiting, directly
across tho street was in the most danger,
but a liberal use of water on the roof and
side nearest tho fire saved the building.
The firemen fought the fire CALAMITY
and succeeded in saving tho south
end of the mill with the office. The office
furniture was moved out. Five cars loaded
with boxes ready for shipment and stand
ing on side track between the mill and
sent from the round house to draw them
away but they were on fire when it arrived.
The engine and boiler house at the north
end of the mill was saved, its roof and sides
being covered with corrugated iron
Directly west of the mill and connected
with it by shaving spouts was q two story
building used as a shaving shed and for the
storage of lumber and trucks. This
was burned. Many seemed to think
the fire cought in this building, but
Mr. II. W. Thompson, the bookkeeper, in
cllnes to the opinion that it originated in
the mill through some friction OF the ma
chinery aud was communicated to the shaw
ing shed by the spouts. Mr.. Hickok was
in New York at the time of the fire. The
mill which was rebuilt two years ago, was
two stories in height.
loss AND INSURANCE.
Tue building, stock and machinery were
probably worth from SIP, 900 to SO, 000.
The engine aad boilers are not much dam
aged. There was an insurance Of $4,000 on
tue entire plant, divided as follows: In L.
$. Peck's agency, $1,000; with Cronyn q,
Beckwitb, $500; with j. s. Hickok, $500.
rIREM4N AND EMPLOYEES BURNED.
In the excitement some Of the fremen
got too near the blazing building and were
burned about the face and hands, while a
few others were caught between the elk cars
standing on side track and the mill and
slightly burned, among them being Chief
Engineer Morse, +. II. Wells, w. II. Lano,
jr., Oliver Dupaw, Joseph Delusnia, Charles
st. John and James Ryan.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
The engineer was the first man to discover
the fire. He stepped to the rear door of the
engine room for something and saw that
| tue ventiator spout was on fire. He then
blew the whistle and gave the alarm.
Joseph Boulia, who run one Of the plan
ing machines, on hearing the sound of the
whistle, jumped for bis coat and had just
time to get out OF the mill 20 quickly did
the flames enyelop the building. lie
thought the fire must have caught in tbs
west end OF the big shaving spout, the blaze
being carried through its whole length by a
strong current of air and spreading very
rapidly.
The horses were stabbed under the shaw
| Ing shed. The teamsters were caring for
their respective teams and the stable wa,
| filed with smoke before they knew it.
They Immediately began to drive the horse,
out and by the time the last one had been
| gotten out the fire had reached the stable