Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-06
WESTMINSTER WEST
Fire Thanksgiving Day Caused
Loss Of $4,000.
n. E. WeIIman's'r House and Rake
Shop Destroyed, Also Buildings on
Stillman Thompson Place--No In

n. E. Wellman's'r House and Rake
Shop Destroyed, Also Buildings on
Stillman Thompson Place--No In
surance.
Just before 2 o'clock on the morning of
Thanksgiving day the cry of fire and the
ringing of the church bell brought the
people of the village into the street. A
heavy column of black smoke was
Issuing from the new part of II. e. Well
mans rake shop. Fire had somehow
started in the large pile of shavings
which had accumulated in the basement
either from the chimney into which a
stove pipe entered from the work shop
above or an overheated stove, or, as
some surmise, from spontaneous COM
bustion. 1t had progressed so far before
discovered and blazed up so quickly and
furiously afterward that no attempt was
made to extinguish it with the scant
material at hand. All effort was turned
to save all possible from the shop, the
dwelling and the barn, which were all
connected. 1t was unfortunate that most
of the young and able-bodied men of the
village were away, leaving only a few
older men and the women to save the
property The fire burned so rapidly that
by the time help came from outside the
village 1t was too late to remeove things
from the buildings. 1t then required the
most active work to save the houses of
Mrs. ]. Gorham on the south and Harlan
Goodhue on the north. For a consider
able time 1t seemed as II both would
take fire, despite the quantities of water
thrown upon them from pals and force
pumps, the only means Of fighting fire
save few extinguishers which were of
no use in this case.
The stock in the barn was taken out
the engine and the gasoline tank from
the shop and the easily movable furni-
ture from the lower rooms of the house.
except in the rear. Nothing was saved
of the tools or rake material, of which
there was a large quantity much of it
nearly finished, or of the rake machinery
In the shop, not from the chambers of
the dwelling, from the pantry or cellar
Two carriages in the barn, with all the
hay, etc, were burned. None of the
stoves. of which there were eight in the
establishment, were removed. Three
watches were lost nearly all of the bed
ding, most of 1t being in the upper rooms,
and most of the clothing of the two girls,
Misses Carrie and Abbie, also in their
room upstairs Mrs Wellman was i'll
at the time and was taken to w G
Harlow's across the street soon after the
alarm.
While everybody was engaged at the
spot, not dreaming of danger elsewhere,
clnuers were carried to the roof CT the
old house upon the former Stlllman
Thompson place nearly a quarter of
mile south, and that was also soon in
full blaze. 1t was used by Mr.. Wellman
for storage of carriages, farming TOOLS
lumber, etc, all of which were removed
though the buildings were destroyed.
The loss is reckoned at some $1,000. No
insurance has been carried for some ten
years on account of the high rate for the
shop.
Miss Abbie returned to the High schoo1
In Brattleboro Monday. The other mem
bers Of the family have been taken in by
neighbors, but will probably go to live
for time with E. c. Wellman in West
minister, except George, who will stay
with F. ]. Houghton to attend school,
Mr.. Wellman is seeking to make ar
rangements whereby he can resume his
business in the same line or some other
line in the future. Substantial help is
being offered by the citizens of the place
There is universal sympathy with him
and the family over the loss