Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-07-22
SUNDAY MORNINGS FIRE
L. r. ADAMS'S HOUSE PRACTi-
cALLY DESTROYED.
Flames Discovered in Barn About 2
O'clock in the Mornins-FIre De-
partment Slow in Getting to Work
Cause OF Fire Unknown.

partment Slow in Getting to Work
Cause of Fire Unknown.
LEROY L. Adams's house at the COR
ner of High and oak streets was prac-
ticaily destroyed by fire which
broke out in the barn during the early
hours of Sunday morning. The house
was recently purchased by Mr.. Adams
from IL q. Clark and no one was oc-
cupying il al the time. The barn ana
ell of the house We're entirely destroy
ed and the main portion so badly gut
ted that 1t will have 10 be entirely re-
built No one knows just how the fre
started but II Is supposed to have been
of inCendiary origin. Several residents
in that neighburhood smelled smoke
between one and two o'clock, and
searched their own houses in an effort
to discover the cause. Mrs. &, G. sta
pies was awakened a short time be-
fore by the smell of smoke and while
! looking about for It's cause Mr. Staples
discovered flames in the north end of
! Mr. Adams's barn He Immediately
ran TO box AZ at the corner of Oak and
I High streets and pulled in an alarm,
reaching there just ahead of William
4 Richardson. son of Mr.. and Mrs. +. a.
Richardson, who had noticed the
flames from his home. By that time
the barn was partially enveloped and
the flames had begun TO spread TO the
ell Of the house.
For some reason the Baptist church
bell which is connected with the
alarm. did not ring and the only noti-
fication came from the gong at the
Estey organ factory. on account OF
the echo the strokes could not be
counted plainly in the north end OF
the town and many people could not
make out what box had been pulled IN.
The flames had gained considerable
headway before they were discovered
and IL was only a few minutes aitef
the alarm was sounded that the barn
was practically beyond saving, al
though il looked as If the main part
Of the house could be saved without
difficulty The chemical engine was
the first of the department to arrive
on the scene, but the contents OF its
tank had no effect whatever ON the
blaze. After some delay two lengths
of hose We're attached to the hydrant
in front of w. C. Mitchell's house, di-
rectly opposite the burning building,
but there was not enough water pres
sure to furnish streams of any power
whatever Meanwhile the flames were
rapidly spreading TO the main portion
az the house. Steamer No arrived
.
streams had been brought into use,
but there was no fire in the boiler and
some time elapsed before steam
enough was secured to throw stream
any distance. Then it was discovered
that there was no nozzle on the
steamer hose and this caused delay
of several minutes more. by the time
n stream of any force was brought 10
play upon the fire, the main part OF
The house had been badly gutted ana
q tre li4mnss Nsiv GoIn2a lAii 1l ssit stlA
roof In a comparatively snort ufle,
however. the fire was brought under
control. and the under controI sig
na4 was rung i'm a short time after
o'clock. There is no doubt that had
tho department, responded promptly
the main portion of the house could
have been saved with comparatively
no damage.
Mr.. Adamss loss will amount to
about s. 600. covered by $4,000 insur-
ance $4,000 through C. F. r. Jenne's
agency and $1,000 through that OF
Taylor & Son. There was no furni-
ture in the house but Mr. Adams
had begun extensive improvements
which amounted to several hundred
dollars. In the barn were large
Iouantitv of wood finish to be used IN
the house. a new set of plumbing ana
several pieces of antique furniture m
Guiding an ld-fashioned clock ana
large mirror of some value.
The fire must have been shoulder
ing for some time before it was dis
covered for several of the residents
in that neighborhood were awakened
bv strong smell of smoke. y. {:
crosby and w. Fl. Proctor searched
their houses thoroughly several min
utes before the fire was discovered
and others tried to- ascertain the
cause of the smoke by looking out OF
their windows. Residents of the Co
Ilonial apartments We're awakened by
the cracking of flames which sound
ed like rain falling in heavy shower
Mr.. Adams has no means of know
ing how the fire started but he is IN
clined to think it was set, intention
allv or unintentionally Two or
three men were seen near the house
late Saturday night apparently in an
intoxicated condition, and 1t IS
Thought that one of them might have
entered the barn and accidentally
dropped a spark As soon as the loss
lis adjusted Mr. Adams will tear down
the remains of the present structure
Iand erect new dwelling house on its
site.