Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-08-02
FIRE LOSS OVER $4,000
HILDRETHS FACTORY ABLAzE

Fire Started from Spontaneous Com
bustion, in Paint Room-Third Floor
Burned and Contents Damaged by |
Water.
The fourth fire in Brattleboro with |
in a month of sufficient magnitude to
require the attention of the fire de-
partment broke out at Ills o'clock
Friday night in the upper story of ]. T.
Hildreth's carriage and box shop on
Elm street II was a stubborn fire to
handle and was very difficult to reach,
starting in the southwest corner near
the brook and farthest from the street.
That part of the building was used as
q paint shop and contained combusti
BILE material It is supposed that
spontaneous combustion caused the
fire. The loss will be about $4,000.
The fire was discovered by Henry
Pratt, night Waterman at the S. A.
Smith company's plant. Mr.. Pratt
had an alarm rung in from box 30,
which has given the alarm for three of
the past four fires. and all the appara-
tus but steamer No. and one hose
cart was sent out. The flames had
made good Roadway before they were
seen and when the department ar
T1Neu JuGJ were DOuIiUS OuI vi IuG
rear windows of the third story. There
being no reservoir in that locality it
was necessary to take the steamer to
the trout hole at the head of the canal.
Then it was found that the supply of
hose sufficient under ordinary circum-
stances, was not ample, the steamer
being so far away, and an extra supply
was sent after
Two lines of hose were taken into
the factory on the east side and a
stream was directed against the
flames from the outside. but on ac-
count of the inability of the firemen to
get in an advantageous position the
outside stream was of little service at
first. Afterwards a ladder was run
up and the hose was carried up to the
third story, where it was used to better
advantage. Meanwhile the big steam
pump in the Smith companys works
was started and three powerful streams
were turned on from the west side. the
water being taken from the company's
reservoir, which holds 10000 gallons.
In a few minutes it looked as though
the fire was under control, but shortly
afterwards the flames broke through
the roof and again shot through the
rear windows.
A second alarm was then sounded,
which called out the Estey Organ COM
pany's steamer. This steamer was
set at the trout hole and soon had
another stream pouring in from the
west side. Two or three times the
flames appeared to be getting the up
per hands, but at 7.45 they disappeared
for the last time. At 8 o'clock the
signal was given that the fire was I'M
der control.
The firemen who carried the hose
into the third-story window were driv-
en- back to the window several times
--lssy the dense black smoke, and those
who went in at the doorway and car
ried the streams upstairs were con-
Stantly in danger of being hit by burn
ing boards. Close by the paint shop
was a large elevator hole, and it was
with difficulty that the flames were
kept from running down the hole to
the other floors. Walter Mooney. one
of the firemen, walked into the hole on
the third floor, there being no railing.
but in falling he caught the wire cable
and swung his body in so that he
struck on the second floor. He was
hurt, but not seriously. Edward E.
Rivers, another fireman, fell one story
the sheathing below the roof and above
the third story giving way under his
weight. A watch was kept at the
building until O'Clock Saturday morn
ing.
The fire practically destroyed the en-
tire upper story and roof, together
with eight or ten carriages and sleighs
Liveryman H. r. Brown had in the
building $1,000 worth of carriages
which were badly damaged. Mr.. Hill
dreth had on hand orders for 10000
boxes to be delivered to the corn can
ming factory, and for their manufac
ture he had 10000 pieces sawed to a
size and glued. These were drenched
Other finished lumber was also dam
aged. Mr.. Hildreth was at his home
on the Putney road when the fire
broke out. Willard Cobb started
after him in his locomobile, making
rapid Roadway until the Bradley farm
was reached on the return trip, when
the locomobile chain broke and the
machine came to a standstill Mr.
Hildreth walked in from that point
The factory and contents were in
sured for $l0.500. G. F. R. Jenne had
$4,000. of which $4,000 was on the build
ing and $4,000 was on the contents
III. e. Taylor & Son had $4,000, of which
$4,000 was on the building, $500 was
on the machinery and $1,000 was on
the stock This is Mr.. Hildreths
second experience with fire, his for
mer factory, which stood where the
present one does, being totally des-
troyed a number of years ago.