Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-29
ROYAL easrro POWDER CO., ssw yoax.

the fire might have come from the party
at the wake nearby.
Manager Il. w. Parkhill Of the Company
was also seen. He stated that the loss 10
the company would be in the neighbo--
hood of $500, 900. Th w~atchman's register
was unlocked and indicated that the cleo
trio registry was kept up at regular inter-
walls during the night and had stopped at
2:iO a. m. This removes any blame from
this official of the company. Mr.. Parkh!ll
was inclined to accept the theory that the
fire had come from the celebration of the
Mrs Dion wake but had no positive state
ment to make in the matter.
The incendiary theory is substantiated
by the fact that the barn upon the other
side of the slip from the fire was without
doubt set on fire. The theory that the
fire may have originated with the party
at the Dion wake is fatty contradicted by
the story of some of those present. who
say that they discovered the fire well
down in the lumber yards and that IL did
not come from any festlvity in which they
may have participated.
The Waterman of the steamer Chateau
gay and those at the dock are inclined to
ccept the incendiary theory. 1t is stated
that the fire in the lumber yards broke
out about half way between the railroad
tracks and the a and about three tiers
from the south line of the yard.
The wires in the vicinity of the fire suf-
fercd from its effects and some poles on
Battery street were ruined. The trolley
wires were burned from their connection
and President Lyman secured men and
cut off the connection at a point on Main
street above Battery street.
The property of the Shepard & Morse
Lumber company Is insured for the most
part through Boston brokers. 1t is be-
ieved that the insurance will cover some
thing like so per cent. of the loss.
N1nn1ann ~ a coll n M =fntfOn 4
who lives on North street. was struck by
a piece of hose early in the progress of
the fire and his knee dislocated. There
were no fatalities connected with the ii e
and so far as known this was the only ac-
cident of any consequence, although the
men upon the mill had n lively time get
ting down when the flames swept through
this building.
The heads of the Shepard & Morse I.um-
Der company are not i'm this city and
therefore could not be seen but II is cx-
.ccedinGly doubtful if the plant will ne re-
built. The mill employed about 100 hands.
At 7:S0 this morning the fire was appar-
entity under control. The houses at the
corner of Main and Battery streets were
not burned but with their exception the
burnt area covers the entire section west
OF Battery street between King and Col
lege streets.
While the origin OF tho main fire Is n
HldNlII VI uncertainty lltEt 10 Ep uOuul
that the unused building south on the
north side of Maple street and just west
of Spaulding. Kimball & Co.'S warehouse
was set on fire. For some time the build
ing, which belongs to the Rutland Rail
road company, has teen u~noccupied. hay
ing been last used as a stable by the
Elias Lyman Coal company After the
main fire had been in progress for some
time. the old stable was found to be OH
fire in four places and it was totally de-
stroyed. There is no possible way that ii
could have caught from the original fire.
The New York and Boston sleeper, due
at 4:2l O'Clock. was unable tn get any
nearer the station than Maple street,
where passengers left the cars and tho
train was discontinued. Tn track be-
tween King and College streets is gone
some of the rails being twisted like the
letter S by the intense heat. To-day:
trains for the south will necessarily starr
from the foot of Maple street. or possibi!
from the King street crossing where Their,
Is a platform which is used in summer II
transferring from the trains to the steam
ers.
About 20 cars were standing upon The
switches and these We're drawn away 10y
an engine but not before several had tt
ken fire and been more or less damaged
They were taken up the tracks to a poin'
where no damage could come from them