Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-04-14
TOWNS HOTEL BURNED.
A Fire Loss of $4,000 to $4O,-
600.

The Goods in Three stores DamRged--'
Fire wall Saved Union BlOck---Firs
Gained Headvvay i'm the Partitions and
was DImcuIt to Fight.
The largest fire occurred here Wednes-
day evening that has taken place for many
years. The four story brick Towns Hotel
block was almost entirely destroyed, caus-
ing loss of $50, 900 to $4,000 to build
ing and contents.
As early in the evening as I 80, the oc-
cupants of the upper floors began smelling
smoke, but not until S:45 was the fire To-
Gated. 1t was then found to be beneath
the floor of the main hall Y ay, on the
fourth floor, near the stairway and about
~ feet from the south end of the building.
There were no flames visible, but
smoke was pouring through the car
pets. W. S. Durham and Geo. B. Wheel
er tore up the carpet, finding the floor very
hot. An axe was procured and with fire
extinguishers ready, hole was chopped
through the floor revealing the flames in
the space beneath it, and spreading each
way toward the partitions. The extin-
guishers were used freely and with SEEM
ing success. At one time it was thought
the fire was out, but it had reached the
partition, and was extending up the sides
and into the blank spaces under the roof
when the alarm was sent in, calling the
department.
This was at $3.50, and was soon followed
by second alarm that called every piece
of fire apparatus to the scene. The fire
was in the fourth story and roof above,
of the highest building in the village the
olu IN
remain there. Hose was taken up ladders,
up through the Office and stairway, three
lines upon the roof of Union block ad-
joining, and together with streams from
the street in front and the rear, perfect
deluge of water was poured into the build
ing. Besides what streams the hydrant
service furnished, the steamer was located
near the sulphde mill and threw one, and
the steam pumps of the mills supplied
three lines of hose from the four plug
hydrant.in the rear of Mammoth block.
The capacity of the pumps would have
filed more than as many more had there
been need. Never has the opportunity
occurred here to show the extent of the
fire protection, which has been so greatly
increased in the past few years, particu-
larly showing how the pumps at the mills
add to the village appliances. The steady
and powerful exhaust of the two pumps,
each capable of filling its ten inch mains,
inspired those who understood its import
with that amount of security that natural
ly would be caused in the feeling that only
about one,half the full capacity of the ser
vice had yet been called into use, although
the fire was a large and dangerous one.
The fire being in the floors and parti-
ha oh, NIT !,
much effect until the roof was burned off,
and it could be thrown down into the fire
Gaobstructed. Then the large amount of
water used had its effect, but not until
after o'clock, The Are wall between
this building and Union block stood the
test and no damage was caused to Union
block.
~ Yesterday morning showed the entire
walls, with the exception of small por.
ton of the third story front, standing.
The frame fourth story, or French roof,
was entirely burned off, and the rooms OF
the third story as well as a portion of the
second entirely burned out. The first sto-
~ and large part of the second are not
damaged except by water, many tons Of
which was thrown into them.
A large portion of the furniture of the
hotel as we'll as that of the boarders, was
saved in good condition. The stores in
the block were those of w. j. Eaton &
Co., jewellers, whose stock was removed
and is now being put to rights in banquet
hall Of the opera house block; j. L
Keefe, boot and shoe dealer, has made ar
rangements to move into Fairs block or
Rockingham street, but his stock still re-
mains in the hotel building, as does thai
of Mrs. S, T. Andrews, druggist. All the
stocks are badly damaged
The hotel building and part of the fur
hiture was owned by the estate of the late
Charles Towns, and was insured for S27,
$50 on building and $4,000 on furniture
This insurance had been reduced material
ly recently. The stock Of W. j. Eaton &
Co. was insured for $1,000; that of Mr.
Keefe $4,000; and Mrs. Andrews $1,000
w. S. Durham, proprietor of the hotel
had no insurance upon his personal prop
erty and is a loser to a large amount.
number of stocks in Union block, includ
ing that of Durham Brothers, were re
moved and brought back without heav
damage.
The hotel was built 25 years ago, an
cost, with the furniture, nearly $4,000
Without any question it will be at once re
built, and with material improvements.
Roth Mr. and Mrs S. W. Wilder hay