The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-02-10


pany. Brown Bros bank and the Mer-
camille Trust company. No one ven
lures to offer an explanation Of the re-
markable escape of these buildings in
the center OF a heat so intense that
metal trimmings of the skylights melt
ed and dripped through on to the
desks. In the Mechanics bank the
time locks on the vaults were still run
ming.
AS yet no figures on loss and insur-
ance that can be regarded as official
hre obtainable. A careful canvass OF
Insurance experts, builders and bust
ness men placed the loss in round fig
ures at 1925 100000 and the insurance
at from $S0,000O00 to $900O0.000. It
is probable that these estimates will
stand with slight change when the
final figures are written. Much val
liable property that lay in Mondays
fire path was saved by the prompt eff.
forts of merchants, and in that section
the stock losses will be lighter than
elsewhere.
In declining aid proffered the city
officials have taken pains to define
their position. The blow that has be-
fallen Baltimore has aroused an in
tense civic pride in an effort to fight
out its salvation; but, as Mayor Nc
Lane expressed it, the city will not
hesitate three minutes to ask assist
ance If it becomes necessary.
A careful investigation as to the
origin of the great fire, which start
ed in the Hurst building has been
made. 1t was at first reported that the
blaze started from the explosion of a
gasoline engine in the cellar, but this
is now given an emphatic denial
Henry S. Hurst of the firm of John
f. Hurst & Co. said that there was no
gasoline in the building and that the
fire did not have its origin in an eX-
plosion of this liquid in the Hurst
building. This statement was subse-
quently colToborated by a signed state
ment issued by S. w. T. Hopper &
Sons, insurance agents and brokers,
who said that after careful inspections
by deputies of their firm and of the
Fire Underwriters association they
We're satisfied that there was no gaso-
line in the building.
Mr.. Hurst said that he and Charles
George, trusted employee, were the
last persons to leave the building at
$50 D. H. Saturday and that all the
electric lights were turned of by a
o.. Of 4 hnt tff. fra
originated in the Hurst building, but
how ii started is yet to be learned.
One Of the most remarkable freaks
of the fire was the escape of the big
government buildings The danes
wrought destruction on all sides Of this
group Of structures except on the
north. These buildings are the city
hall, the United States courthouse,
used as the temporary headquarters Of
the subtreasury pendi ~ the erection
of the new building and by the Gus
toms office, the postoiiice buildings,
which also contained the United
States marshal's office, and the office
of the collector of internal revenue.
All to the south of this entire group is
complete destruction, but these build
ings escaped without scratch.
The military grip on the ruins has
been frightened to the limit, and for the
present it is impossible for any one to
pass the line Of soldiers around the
burned territory unless on pass per-
sOnally issued by Brigadier General
fff,s r..r. 1.Vr.fft..s.
decided upon at a conference held at
which We're present the governor, Cen
eral Riggs and Mayor McLane. 1t was
found that so many persons had Sc
cured possession Of passes or other
wise gained admission that 1t was
thought advisable to prohibit every
body. In the safes aud vaults buried
under the ruins are hundreds of mil
lions Of dollars worth Of securities,
negotiable paper and cash. which the
authorities feel they cannot leave eX-
posed to even those who were granted
passes The burned area, it will be re-
membered, includes the whole finan-
cial district Of the city, the entire
wholesale territory and many office
buildings.
All the military and police passes
heretofore issued were revoked, and
soon after that troops were sent into
the desolated territory to clear it Of
every one found. So rigidly was the
mo pass" order enforced that physi-
clan who has two patients just within
the roped off section on the eastern
side of the area was refused a pass,
but was accompanied by an officer to
the homes of the sick persons.
A revival of the fire last night in the
lumber yard of William d. Gill & Son,
at the extreme southeastern limit of
the burned territory, caused new
alarm to be sent in. Four companies
and a fire boat, the Cataract, respond |
ed, and late at night the blaze was I'M
der control.