Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-07-14
TWO AUTOS ARE WRECKED
BY FIRE IN c. A. HARRls's SHED
THIS MORNING.
c. w. Dunham's Stevens Duryea
Touring Car Badly Damaged and
MIR. Harris's Loeomobile Totally De-
stroyed-Origin of Fire a Mystery.

Fire was discovered about 2:1o this
morning in the automobile shed con-
nected with Charles A. Harris's house
on North street and before the flames
could be gotten under control dam
Il age to the amount Of $4,000 had been
done. Charles w. Dunham's new
Stevens Duryea touring car was so
badly damaged as TO be rendered en-
tirely useless, Mr.. Harriss Locomo-
bile steam wagon was practically de-
stroyed and a quantity of valuable
tools I'm Mr.. Harris's workshop were
spoiled in addition to the loss on the
building itself. How the fire started
| is a mystery, although the theory Is
that ii ignited in some way from Mr..
Harris's machine. The flames were
extinguished by the chemical engine,
which arrived promptly in response to
an alarm telephoned to the engine
house. They We're confined almost
entirely TO the inlerjor of the automo-
bile shed but would have spread rap
idly had they not been discovered as
soon as they were Neither of the
autos was insured.
Shortly after o'clock Mrs. W. II.
Brackett was awakened by the bark
ing of dogs. Thinking that somebody
was prowling about the house she
called her husband, who went to a
window on the north side of his resi-
dence and looked out. AS he did so
he heard the breaking of glass as he
thought in the direction of A. ID. wy
ats house. After looking in that di-
rection he glanced toward the rear of
Mr.. Harris's house and saw that ii
was enveloped in thick smoke. Mr..
Brackett Immediately notified c. w.
Dunham and then ran to the Harris
place and alarmed the household.
Meanwhile A. ID, Wyatt had been
awakened and he and Mr.. Bracket
hurried to box 25 to ring an alarm.
While they We're opening the box the
alarm began TO sound, Mrs. Dunham
having telephoned to the engine house.
As the signal given indicated that the
fire was in the neighborhood of box
26 Mr.. Wyatt went to the corner OF
North Main and Linden streets and |
directed the department to the scene |
of the fire so that no time was lost
When discovered the interior of the |
shed, which is connected |
with the rear of the Harris house, was |
filled with thick smoke and fame so |
that il was impossible to enter The |
smoke was blown in such manner |
that it entered the attic and came out |
the front windows, making it look as
II the entire house was burning, Upon |
the arrival of the chemical the fire was
at once put under control although not
until the flames had wrecked the en-
tire interior of the shed and eaten into |
the partition which separates 1t from
the ell of the house.
All the woodwork and upholstery on
Mr.. Dunham's car was destroyed but
the frame, engines and transmission
N,,;a do Nv 4
Harriss machine. which evidently
.ook fire first, was totally wrecked. In
his workshop on the second floor Of
he ell of his house Mr. Harris had a
luantity of valuable tools and ma
,hinery. which were badly damaged |,
~ the fumes from the contents of the
engine. Mr.. Dunham bought
lis car only a few weeks ago and was
planning to leave to-day on a trip to
he White mountains. The machine
IS it stood. thoroughly equipped for
he trip, was worth fully $4,000 and 1t
will probably take at least $1,000 to
,ut it in shape again An expert from
he Stevens -Duryea factory gave the
ngines thorough adjustment We'd /
lesday and they were in fine condi-
ion Mr.. Harris's machine was the
rst TO be owned in Brattleboro, being
ought three years ago. 1t was prob
bly, worth $500 or s400.
When Mr. Dunham left his car in
he shed about $3.50 latt evtning ev- !
rything about the place seemed in }
ood shape About a half hour later :
red Harris. son of c. A. Harris, re- /.
urned from Spofford lake with the :
.ocomobile. putting it up as usual r
ext to Mr.. Dunham's car. He took :
he usual precaution about exiting :
ishing the fire under the boiler and !
o infammable material was left :
bout the shed. !