The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22
Conflict Between Fill Rowing Can Mill De-
ipinos and Americans stroyed Last Night.
LOSS TO RUTLAND
Will Exceed Twenty Five
Thousand Dollars.

Rutland. Jan. 21.--At $3.50 o'clock to-
night the rowing can factory owned by
Fred F. Hunt, situated near the Rut-
land station on the Central Massachu-
sets division of the Boston and Maine
railroad. was burned to the ground with
all its contents entailing loss of $685.
500. There is an insurance of SIP, 800 held
by Mr.. Hunt, placed through the
agency of Frank Smith of North
Brookfield
| The first was discovered by Station
Agent Bates and Stanley Stone, who
promptly gave the alarm. The fire bri-
gade and willing citizens responded as
quickly as possible, but when the bri-
gade arrived, the building was enveloped
by flames. The building, which is To-
Gated directly opposite the Rutland sta
ton, is outside of the water district
which fact retarded the efforts of the
| firemen.
hand tub was placed in position al
the railway water tank and all the
water available came from this source
By dint of extraordinary effort on the
part of the firemen the Boston &
Maine freight house was saved. Two
box cars containing consignments OF
various merchandise were on a siding
in direct range of the flames. These cars
were pushed up the track by the crowd
and saved from destruction.
| The building was a two and hall
story frame structure of wood, $50 feet
long and so feet wide, and contained
much combustible material. The fire
| evidently originated from an overhead
| ed steam pipe, as when discovered by
Messrs. Bates and Stone was directly
over the boiler.
Besides rowing cans, laundry bas-
kets and special packages for ex-
pressing purposes were manufactured
The stock used is veneered maple. Mr.
Hunt also dealt largely in lumber
shingles and laths. This material was
tempting food for the hungry flames
and in a jiffy the entire interior was a
seething furnace. The heat was so
great that the firemen could do little
but save adjoining property.
| Besides the freight depot and cars,
the barn owned by Albert Moulton
caught fire several times and was
saved with difficulty by the firemen.
At o'clock this Sunday morning the
| lumber was still burning and the fire.
men were still at work
During the height of the fire the
| flames shot high in the air and illu-
minated the sky to such an extent that
the reflection was distinctly seen in
Ware, Warren. the Brookfields, the
Boylstons and as far away as Mill
bury.
The hand tub was placed at a brook
during the latter part Of the fire, and
when the f1Temen loosened up the APP
paratus. a large rock sucker was found
at the bottom of the tub, alive and
kicking, which had been drawn
through the suction pipe from the
brook.
The factory destroyed tonight was
built about three years ago, the bust
ness being transferred from West
Rutland, where 1t had outgrown its
quarters. The rowing cans which are
used extensively in cotton mills, were
invented by Alvin B. Fisher, who is su-
perintendent Of the factory
Mr.. Hunt, the owner, has orders on
hand from all parts Of the country.
which would have kept the factory
running for several months to come,
Mr.. Hunt estimates his loss as follows
On machinery and stock, $4,000; on
manufactured and rough stock, $4,000:
lumber and shingles, $500. The ma
chinery used was all of special manu-
facture, which swelled the total loss.
Mr.. Hunt will rebuild the factory at
once.