Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-02-04
FIRE AT BRATTLEBORO.
S. A. Smith & Co. Burned Out-LOSS
sso e of $4,000.

VI y (0,UOVs
The following account of the big fire in
Brattleboro Wednesday afternoon is from
the Springfield Republican:
1.-The Brattleboro plant of S. A. Smith
& Co., manufacturers of baby carriages
and toys, was burned Wednesday after
noon, and the loss will amount to $75, 900.
Besides the big four-story factory, the
warehouse, lumber shed and barn were de-
stroyed, with most of the contents Of the
buildirg s. though some Of the finished car
riages ready for shipment were saved from
the storehouse. The ruins extend over
about three acres. The fire started at he
noon hour, when the employees were at din
ner, otherwise there must have been loss OF
life, as the building was quickly enveloped
in flames, which cut If every means of es-
cape. A woman employee with her young
son on the fourth floor first discovered the
smoke soon after noon. She Immediately
reportt it to an office employe, who gave
the alarm. There was considerable delay
in getting stream on the fire owing to
some trouble with the village fire appara-
I tus., Meantime, however, Gen. Estty and
bis son, Maj. Estey, had discovered the
fire and without delay had sent one of the
Estey organ company's steamers to the
scene. thus giving most valuable aid in
checking the flames, which were threaten
ing the large frame building occupied by
the overall factory OF Hooker, Corser &
Mitchell, and c. H. Eddy G. Co.'s boiling
establishment; the lumber mill of Martin
q Holden, the Carruthers paper mill, and
Hlldreth's carriage factory. After two and
one-half hours of hard work the fire was
under control. The overall factory sus-
tanned loss Of from $4,000 to $4,000, but
the company is well insured.
sThe firm Of S A. Smith & Co. is COM
posed OF S. A. Smith and his two sons,
Fred and Charles, Frank L. Hunt and his
brother, Samuel Hunt. The company has
been doing an unusually large business for
the past year, and only last week Mr..
Hunt telegraphed from New York, where
he has been for fortnight in attendance
upon special exhibition by manufacturers,
to increase the force In the factory, SO that
at the time of the fire about 100 hands
were employed. The workmen lost their
tools in the fire, involving loss of several
thousand dollars, while individual men,
beers of the firm lost valuable patented ma
chinery on which there was little or no in
surance. A large new engine and boiler
had recently been put into the factory and
many improve ments had been made during
the past year. The loss, therefore, is par
ticularly unfortunate, Lot only to the firm
and its employees, but to the town as well,
it being one of the largest industries, whose
permanent loss to the town would be most
seriously felt.
/ The burned building had historic rec
ord, having been occupied many years ago
as waddlng factory at the outlet OF Ray
pond in Wilmington. The late Deacon
Jacob Estey bought it in 1866, removing
it to Brattleboro, where one story was
added. IL was occupied by the Estey
organ company for about four years, until
their present factories were built on Birpe
street"
i.
4 meeting Of Brattleboro business men
was held at Festival hall in the Brattleboro
town house Thursday evening TO pledge aid
10 the firm of S. A. Smith & Co., whose
plsnt for the manufacture of baby carriages
was burned Wednesday. Col George w.
Hooker presided at the meeting and C. F.
Thompson presented resolutions express
inc svmnafhv with the comnanv and the in