Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-09-03
ANOTHER DWELLING BURNED

ANOTHER DWELLING BURNED
Aud Two Families Made HOmeless---
the steamer Failed 90 Operate---Evi-
dence For and Against the Theory Of
Observation-Disclosures Oner n He-
ward.
The charred ruins of two-story frame
dwelling house on Williams street tell the
story of fire which occurred last Saturday
morning, and which may be entitled to a
place in the list of incendiary fires which
have occurred in Brattleboro since the be-
ginning Of the present year. The sleeping
citizens of Brattleboro were appraised of
the fact that another fire was in progress
by blast from the Estey gong at 1920
O'Clock, and in less than minute after
ward an alarm from box 46, at the corner
of Birge and Estey streets, told in what
part of the village the fire was located. In
a remarkably short time the department,
followed by several hundred people, was
on the scene and had stationed steamer
Nc. on the bank of MILESTONE brook at
point about 20 rods below the burning
house The suction hose was carried
down to the brook and the steam was
turned on. The engine took water i'm
mediately, but unfortunately the water, al
though it was the deepest that could be
found hurriediy, was so shallow that grav-
el was draw into the valves and embedded
In the valve-seats, rendering 1t impossible
for the engine TO throw water. Three
strokes of the gong we're then sounded,
which called out the Estey steamer. Two
lines of hose were laid from that steamer
TO the fire and the first stream of water
was thrown on to the house, now practi-
cally destroyed, 80 minutes after the first
stroke of the alarm. 1t was the work of
but few minutes to stay the progress of
the flames, but their work of ruin had al
ready been done.
The house was owned by Thomas Geiss,
who lives not far from the scene of the
fire, and was occupied up stairs by Mrs.
Jane Sherry and her son Michael and her
daughter Lillian, and down stairs by Mr..
and Mrs. Gilbert Murray and three chill
dren. Mr.. Murray is employed by Ryan
Brothers and was on job out of town.
Shortly after 3 O'Clock Mrs. Charles Cas-
sidy, who lives in the first house east Of
the Cess house, was awakened by a red
glaze on her bedroom window and, looking
out, saw the / of the Gess house envel-
oped in flames. Her screams of fire awoke
the Sherry and Murray families, who be-
gan removing their household effects
Timothy Sullivan, who lives next to Mr..
Cassidy's, soon appeared and asked if the
alarm had been rung. Being answered in
the negative he started at once for box 46.
j ust before he reached the box the fire
was seen by one of the watchmen at the
Estey organ works and a one-stroke alarm
was given to let the department know
that fire had been discovered. Almost
at the same time The Sullivan boy reached
the box and gave the regular alarm.
Chief Of Police Hall and Policeman
Worden were near the engine house and
saw the reflection of the fire at the same
time it was discovered by Mrs. Cassidy.
Mr.. Hall went into the engine house and
called the tiremen who sleep there and
tried to telephone Chief Engineer Turner
but the night call at the telephone exchange
did not work. He was relieved a minute
later, however, by the sounding of the
general alarm. Mr.. Worden went straight
to the Are and assisted in removing the
household goods. He says that when he
arrived the fire was wholly in the second
story, which is evidence against the theory
that 1t was incendiary. The house being
rooted with slate burned slowly, allowing
time to remove nearly all of the contents
AT daybreak evidence was found of an
attempt to burn the Cassidy house, which
led many TO believe that an incendiary had
set fire to the Geiss house and that the
same person had planned to burn both
houses. Kerosene oil had been poured
upon the side of the rear end of the house.
which was next the bank above which is
Western avenue, but the boards were
water-soaked and would not ignite. the
fire going out after the oil had been con-
sumed. For several feet up the boards
were covered with black SCOT. Tracks
were also found leading up and down the
bank, but whether they were made by
tirebug or some one going to the fire and
returning no one can tell. The house was
insured for 1920 with A. W. Childs d
Co., and Mr.. Murray's household goods
for $500 with Sherman d Jenne. The to-
tai loss was about $500.
The selectmen offer a reward of $500 to
anyone furnishing evidence which will
lead to the conviction in court of any per-
son guilty of setting fire to any one of the
buildings which have recently been burned
in Brattleboro.