Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-11-23

which was the only protection of the
acres OF lumber in the enormous Booth
yard, hard by.
PROTECTION OF CENTRAL YER
MONT BUILDINGS.
A force of men was kept busy on the
roof of the Central Vermont round house.
plying streams to the sides of the build
ing to keep the iron covering from become
ing sufficiently heated to ignite the wood.
Another man was plying II stream on the
exposed side of the switch tower. The in
tense heat dried tho side of the structure
almost as fast MS the water struck II
ana the ruddy face of "thc man behind
told of the suffering he was undergoing.
At length in Il frantic but futile effort to
gain relief he ducked his head under his
coat, but relief failed to come and in dcs-
pair the sufferer dropped the hose and
sought cool retreat. The force of the
flames had been spent. however. and the
tower still stands secure.
FIGHTING THE FLAMES.
AS soon as the fire was discovered the
Icmployos followed the instruction which
had been given them. They at once
| turned on the fire cXtnguishers and put
in operation three streams OF hose from
the standpipe system which ran through
| the building. The water main there is
only six inches in diameter and no head
way could be made, in subduing the
flames.
Several OF tho employees rushed to turn
in a general alarm. Frank LaTour ran to
box 50 but found that it has recently
boon painted and he could not work 1t.
D"nry Clark, who operates the tower
signal station, came to his assistance and
WAS about to send in the alarm when
it rang in from one of tho numerous sub
boxes in tho yard. Wesley Boyd had
reached one of these boxes near the water
| front and sent in the call. The fireman
made Il good run to the scene ana very
soon had seven streams on the building.
They were of little use. very little water
going through the lines. In the mean
time word had been sent from tho
Cranes office to chief Burdick of the
Ninooski tire department and the steam
or and hose cart from that village were
soon on the scene. The Winooski steamer
wa& placed on the water front north OF
the burning structure. The Burlington
steamer occupied like position on tho
south side. An average pressure of 30
pounds of steam enabled the Winooski
department to throw two excellent
streams on the fire. one from 400 feet of
hose and the other from 500 feet. 1t was
largely through the efforts of the
Winooski department that the fire did
not spread to the mill north of the scene
of the fire. They We're also able to con-
fine the fire in the engine house to the
top of that building. The first alarm was
sounded al II 20 a. m. and at 1:2O o clock
the walls of the burning structure fell
to the ground. At 1:21 a. second alarm
from box 81 was rung in. This was
caused by the burning out of the wires
to one of the auxiliary boxes in the
yard.
The flames burned most fercely in the
northern part of the building but when
it reached the barn and took hold Of
the hay placed therein on Saturday the
hrcmcn realized that it was impossible
to save any part of the building. En-
ployes assisted by frenon, succeeded in
getting several barrels Of oil out of the
paint shop and these were moved to
places of safety.
The attention of Chief Niles was then
diverted towards the saving OF surround
ing property He saw that Chief Burdick
| was doing good work at the north end
and he, with the assistance of employees
OF the yard and a large bucket brigade
which had been formed, thoroughly soak
ed the lumber piles in the Booth lumber
| yard.
The work of the firemen was excellent,
considering the great handicap under
which they worked The board OF alder
man had the matter of large water
main brought to their notice about five
years ago, but did not see the necessity
of it.
Shortly after the fire broke out Simon
Vancour Of North Bend street. ran into
the building to get his coat lie was
| overcome by smoke but the prompt
work of the fireman saved his life
In speaking of the work Of tho lirem"n,
Howard Crane said. "'rhe work of tho
fremen in general was surely excellent.
don't see how they could have done
better work"
all afternoon Chief Niles kept streams
directed the fire and soaked the
ruins prottily thoroughly. Early in the
evening the firemcn were dismissed. but
Il squad was kept at the scene all night.
Two hundred sandwiches and 30 gal
Ions of coffee We're ordered from a
downtown restaurant by the Crane
company and their office was turned into
an eating house for the fireman and their
assistants.
HISTORY or THE BUSINESS.
The present firm has operated the mill
since l>.o. purchasing ii from u. G. ana
George I.insloy. The lm,lcNs began bust
ness there a or m"rc years ago. first con-