Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-15
One of Hardwick' S Business Gen.
tiers Entirely Destroyed
1,@,. Monday.
VILLAGE THREATENED
Slight Wind Would Have Spread the
Blazc--I. Il. Titus and UardviclS
Hardware Co. the Heaviest Los
crs-Entire Loss Estimated
Nearly $4,000.

Hardwick Oct. 12.--The large block
owned by ]. L. Titus, containing several
stores and some offices, was entirely de-
stroyed by fire early this morning togeth-
er with large portion Of its contents,
causing u loss estimated at $4,000 or 80
900 and only partially insured.
John Gala CHER, who lives in the Cal
laSher block on Main street, was awaken
ed by what he thought was rain but
upon investigation found that the rear
of l. +. Tituss block was on fire. lie
gave the alarm quickly and the hose
company was on The scene of action as
$ on as possible. The part of The build
ing in V h'ch the fire was discovered was
occupied y tine Hardwick i!"tdwaic Co.
and the store was filled with a large stock
of Gods. There was n quantity of powder
in the building and also kerosene. which
mai" IL dt rs erous an caused the flames
to spread more rapidly. Nothing was
saved in this store.
The flames spread to |. Z. 'litus's store
which was at the right. Nearly all the
dry goods and boots and shoes were re-
moved but the grocery department is n
total loss The rooms over the store were
occupied by Miss Bessie Titus music
teacher, and also by j. o. LaJoy, paint
er. Miss Titus lost all her furnishings
and music and piano belonging to
Bailey's music rooms was burned. There
was no insurance on her goods Mr.. La
JOY lost about $500 worth of wall paper
with no insurance.
The house at the left of the Titus block
was badly damaged by fire and water
The upper rooms We're occupied by
Frank Hall and family, and they We're
able to move nearly all their goods. They
now occupy rooms in Dr. Cranes block.
The lower floor was occupied by Co
BELLE, the tailor. He succeeded in saving
all his goods. The next block owned by
T. NJ Gallagher caught fire several times.
The rooms on the third floor are oc-
cupied by @. ]. Paquette and Or O. =.
Hanford with their families, also by
Billiard & Morse, lawyers. Nearly all
the goods were taken from these rooms
but by the heroic work Of the fire com
pany they gained control of the flames
SO that the Gala CHER block was saved
The cigar store on the first floor in this
block is occupied by Mr.. Bickstecn. His
goods were damaged by water as one of
the hose lines was run through his store.
The hose company kept three streams
OF water upon the flames and much
credit is due them for the prevention Of
the spread of what threatened to be 4
most disastrous fire all the blocks on
Main street are built very closely to-
gethe. Had there been any wind it
would have been a fearful loss.
The loss is estimated to be between
500 coo and $4,000 Mr.. Titus is the heaV-
lest loser as he carried no insurance on
his building or stock. The loss on the
HardVick Hardware Co.'S stock OF goods
was partially covered by insurance. Where
the hardware store stood is a mass Of
hot iron. The work of removing the de
bris will be begun as soon as the iron is
cooled. Mr.. Titus is undecided as to
what he will do