St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-10-26
LIVERY STABLE BURNED.
A Disastrous CONFEDERATION Narrowly
Ayerfed.

broken about IL o'clock by the cry
OF Fire" and several minutes before
the alarm was rung it was discover
ed that Charles E. Kinks livery
stable was ablaze. The old building
with it's contents of hay and straw
was quickly consumed and before
the fire was extinguished the ell of
the st. Johnsbury House was de-
stroyed.
1t was very fortunate that Mr..
Kirk was in the stable when the FIRE
was discovered, for had he not been
on the spot it is more than likely
that all the horses would have been
burned to death. Mr.. Kirk heard
the cracking in the hay-loft, but
thought it was rain, and not until he
investigated did he 6ni out that
the whole stable Was on fire. His
first thought was to save the horses
and he liberated them from the stalls,
and Luther Jewett, who had just
come in with a team, drove them
out of doors. The trotters Ray
mond and Romulus were first rescu-
ed, but in getting Raymond out Mr..
Kirk received a severe kick just be-
low the thigh. Twentv-one horses
were rescued and only one perished,
the big delivery horse belonging to
Henry Ranney. Most of the car
riages were saved and the books and
accounts in the Office.
The fire department responded as
promptly as possible and devoted all
their energies to saving the hotel,
The hremen made gallant fight
and saved the town from serious
confagration. There was no wind
and this was of course great help
to the fremen. The supply OF water
was getting low as the fire pro-
gressed and if the wind had sprung
up and the water supply had given
out the results might have been very
serious.
The origin Of the fire is unknown.
1t either caught around the chimney
in the hay-mow or else it was incen-
diary. The former is more probable
Firebrands.
The fire was under control at mid
night, but seven tiremen were detail.
ed to watch it until daylight.
All the-horses were captured before
morning, though some of them were
found quite distance from the
stable.
Firebrands were blown all over the
north part of the village and w. B.
Johnson found some charred shingles
up by his old place on the Centre
road.
The burning shingles ignited the
Methodist church and parsonage
Carl Gray's livery stable and several
houses on Church street, but in
every case the fire was quickly ex
tinguished by the property owners
who were on guard.
There was a long delay in ringing
the alarm because no one could hnd
a KEY to the 6re-alarm box. An ex
cellent suggestion has been made
that the village trustees have keys
put behind a thin pane of glass ii
front of all the boxes which can bt
readily broken in case of fire.
Many OF the guests at the st
Johnsbury House prepared to leave
and had their luggage taken else
where. At one time it looked as i
the hotel would surely be destroyed
The Fairbanks Company generous
ly turned in their water system tc
help the village supply and there
was none too much water with botf
systems joined.
The great fire on Railroad street
occurred Sunday evening, Oct. 80
1892. The last FIRE was almost {
year later and might have done a:
much damage if there had been E
strong wind.
Losses and Insurance.
B. 6. Howe, the owner Of thu
property, received $3.50 for the loss o
the livery stable and $3.50 more fol
damages to the St. Johnsbury House
Mr.. Krogman estimates his loss al
about $3.50, which will be paid by
the insurance agents. Mr.. Ranney
lost besides his horse, delivery cart
and two harnesses. He estimate.
his loss at about 5000. Mf. Kirl
carried $1,000 insurance on his car
riaees, harnesses, hay, ETC., and h