The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-15

MAN obtained personal interview with Mr..
Pratt last Friday and obtained an accurate
statement of the facts and circumstances.
About half-past two o'clock in the morn
ing Miss Hattie Morton, the hired girl for
Mr. Pratt was awakened by a cracking
sound and the smell of smoke. She opened
the door OF her room and discovered that
the house was on fire. She hastily aroused
Mr. Pratt and his hired man, and then
turned her attention to saving Mrs. Sarah
Pratt, his aged mother.
William b. Nyo, a brother OF Mrs Sarah
Pratt, was sleeping in one of the chambers,
aud while the hired man went for help Mrs.
Pratt made desperate efforts to reach Mr..
Nye, but was repeatedly driven back by the
flames. The fire originated in the chamber
occupied by the unfortunate man, but
whether caused by pipe or lighted can
die will never be known No cry or sound
was heard from MIR. Nye, and 1t is thought
that he was smothered by smoke before the
flames reached him His charred mains
were taken from the ruins in the cellar and
buried in the village cemetery.
Mrs. Pratt was terribly burned about the
face and arms and the hair was completely
burned off her head. She was carried to
the ghboring farmhouse OF Lorenzo
Black, but before she reached there her
feet were badly frozen. Medical aid was
summoned, and, unless erysipelas should set
in, it is thought she will recover. Both the
female occupants of the house escaped in
their night clothes. The entire contents oil
the house were burned, including 1920 in
currency belonging TO Mr.. Pratt.
With the assistance of neighbors, Mr..
Pratt was able to get his cows aud horses
out of the barn before 1t was consumed, but
all the hay, farming tools, grain and lot o
| hens went up in smoke The buildings and
contents were insured in the Vermont Mu
tual for $1,000, and Mr.. Pratt estimates his
| loss as fully $1,000 above that amount
/ de Mnptnaliar hH alH
| Barre and the surrounding country visited
| the scene last Wednesday and gazed witt
awe at all that was left of Mr.. Nye before i
was possible to cover the remains from
sight
! Montpelier. He was often seen in tn,
streets, and his long white hair, which
floated over his shoulders, gave him
unique aud patriarchal appearance. HI
had history. He was early in life disap
| pointed in love aud went to sea, where h
remained many years. He officiated a
marshal at the funeral OF John Brown, ant
the collar worn by the old hero at the tim
he was hanged was obtained by Mr.. Ny
and was always exhibited by him will
great pride. IT. was consumed in the fir
| that cost Mr.. Nye his life. Until within
few years he was well known guide Ia tn
Adirondack Mountains Nearly six fee
high, powerfully built and knowing n
danger or fatigue, Bill" Nye was In grea
demand by tourists and sportsmen in tina
region He was seventy seven years old a
the time of his death, and had been gradu
ally failing for several years. He woul
have nothing to do with a kerosene lamp
and always insisted upon burning candle
in his room where he spent his evenings
1t is thought possible that he may hav
fallen asleep before extinguishing his car
die, and that the flames communicated wit
his bed clothes.