Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-11-01


located.
1t is safe to say that no such amount
of water has ever been used at any
previous fire in Brattleboro. All
of the departments apparatus was at
hand, and was used to the best ad-
vantage possible. In the Clapp e
Jones and Morris g. Gregg Easements
the water stood almost waist deep.
The basement of the Mellen e. Proc
tor hardware store and F. G. Clark's
grocery store were also flooded by
the water working it's way down
through. After the fire was out the
Easements were pumped out by the
steamers, and the cisterns were re-
filled. Although the steamers worked
for a space of two hours during the
fire, neither of the cistern supplies
was exhausted.
Had it been possible to go into the
basement with two streams of water
| the fire could have been subdued in a
few minutes at any time, but, as al
ready said, no fireman could live in
the mass of smoke and flame, and
there appears to be no occasion to
criticise unfavorably the work Of
Chief Engineer Sanders and his as
slstants. On the contrary, the owners
of Crosby block feel that very efficient
work was done in combining a fire of
this kind within such limits.
1t is not true, as has been surmised
| by many, that the Morris & Gregg
| basement was a fire-trap on account
Of there being there a large quantity
of hay and straw where their goods
had been unpacked. On the contrary,
the basement was kept in good order,
and all packing material has been re-
moved every week or oftener. On
| Tuesday, a small lot of goods had
! been unpacked, and there was posi-
| bly, two barrels of straw in the base
ment when the fire broke out, but it is
certain that the fire did not start in
| this material. All the indications
are that it's origin must have been
against the wall in an obscure place
in the rear of the basement. The
most reasonable guess seems to be
that it came from spontaneous com
bustion, though no greasy cloths or
other dangerous material had been
used there.
The work at this fire furnishes the
suggestion that the department needs
one or two "angle" nozzles-nozzles
which turn upward at such an angle
as would throw the water against the
burning timbers overhead in a fire
like that on Tuesday.
1t is impossible to estimate correctly
at this time the amount of the fire
losses. Representatives of the insur-
ance companies arrived yesterday, but
their work will not be completed for
two or three days. The loss of the
| Y nCfa "a 10 a h. &
been left by mutual agreement to be
fixed by two expert carpenters, one
from Springfield, Mass, selected by
the insurance companies, and one from
Brattleboro.
The loss of Morris & Gregg will be
very nearly total on their stock Their
insurance was for $4,000. The main
salvage on their goods will be the
amount that can be realized at a fire
sale above the insurance received.
The loss of Clapp & Jones is ser
ious through damage to the goods in
their basement, and the smoke dam
age in the main store. Besides the
direct damage to their goods, the firm
will suffer loss through their inability
to fill wholesale orders. A large por-
ton of the goods damaged was Christ
mas goods not yet unpacked.
Mellen & Proctor were damaged by
water in the basement of their store
to some extent, and F. c. Clark, the
grocer, was seriously damaged by
water-soaked goods in his basement.
j. A. Pullen's stock was badly dam
aged, both by water in the basement
and by smoke in the main store. His
store has been closed since the fire,
awaiting adjustment by the insurance
people.
H. F. Jordan, the jeweler and op-
tician, saved all of his valuable optical
instruments and apparatus. His loss
otherwise is probably covered by in
surance. He is now installed in the
Brooks House sample room.
Morris & Gregg have opened a bust.
ness office in the Brooks House sam.
pie room on High street. AS soon as
their loss is adjusted the floor of the
store will be righted up to allow OF
temporary use, and the firm will hold
a fire sale. AS soon as possible after.
ward they will put a stock of new
goods in the sample room, and in the
meantime their store will have a new
floor and be otherwise renovated. 1t
is not expected that these improve.
ments can be completed until after
Christmas.
The insurance is divided between
the agencies of Taylor & Son and c.
F. r. Jenne. Taylor & Son carries the
larger portion.