Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-04-27

The train sped on with all possible haste,
attracting the wondering attention of resi-
dents along the line. At West Dummers-
ton it was necessary to wait several minutes
for the down mixed train. On the grade be-
yond Newfane the valley could be seen
filled with dense smoke, which also poured
up from the mountain side and rolled
away to the east At 4:1j the train drew
up at the Townshend station and was met
there by j. II. Ware, chairman of the
Townshend board of selectmen, with the
welcome announcement, 1--WE have con-
quered it,"
The Townshend people at first thought
it unnecessary to unload the steamer and
take it to the street, nearly a mile distant;
but when the firemen reached the scene
they saw at once that the situation would
be dangerous during the night, especially
should the wind shift to the east or south.
The engine was therefore brought to the
spot and placed at the brook in the little
valley below the village, and line of 1900
feet of hose carried up the steep bank.
Soon after O'Clock a heavy stream of
water was pouring upon the ruins. The
steamer never did better work. and three
hours was spent in thoroughly wetting
down the ruins and making the situation
as safe as possible Il is needless to say
that the appearance of the Brattleboro
fremen was welcome sight to the Towns
hend people who had worked with despera-
tion in day of almost summer heat.
When the BrattlebOro men arrived the
walls of the two brick buildings, the semi
nary and the Powers house. were still
standing, but the flames were iercely at
work on what little remained of the inside
woodwork. All else was heap of blazing
or smouldering ashes, the chimneys of
the church and hotel standing bare and
gaunt. The walls of the seminary are
still intact, but a portion of those of the
Powers house fell in and a part was
knocked down as a matter of precaution.
The Townshend people, both men and
women, displayed great fortitude and self
possession under the trying ordeal. They
realized fully the calamity which had be-
fallen them, but looked it bravely in the
face. Coffee was made by Mrs. Taft and
Mrs. Scott, and perhaps by others whose
names were not learned, and freely served
to all who came, with crackers, cheese,
dOughnuts and bread and butter. When,
about o'clock, the firemen finished their
work, they were generously entertained by
Mrs. Taft. A large company followed
them to the station and gave them
hearty cheers and a tiger which voiced
the sincere thanks that they felt,-as the
train left on its return about 9:30.
The last great fire which visited Towns
hend was on the night of Nov. II 1856,
when 1.-THE old corner store and five other
buildings were burned on the opposite side
of the street from this fire inhicting loss
of $4,000 to $4,000. From that severe
visitation the village has bravely rallied.
May the courage of its people be equal to
this emergency also.
When the fire reached Hollands store
telephone communication was cut off. A.
W. Chlds, who was one of the Brattleboro
party, brought along the necessary instru-
ments and tools and placed instruments in
c. c. Taft's, restoring connection both
ways.
The Insurance.
The insurance list, so far as now known,
is as follows:
On Baptist church and contents, $4,000.
On the seminary, $1,000.
On O. f. Coombs's buildings, $1,000.
On Hollands stock of goods, $500.
On the hotel buildings, S3000-S $1,000
each in three companies.
On the Silas B. Clark house, $500.
On Clark's stock of drugs, etc, as re-
ported, but not verified $1,000
On the Swan house and contents, $500.
On the household goods of Mrs. Seneca
Howe and family, $780,