The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-14
Italian Paper "Cronaca Sow
yersiya" Loses Plant.
ITALIAN LIBRARY BURNED
Were Located in William Hawes' House
on Blackwell Street, Which Was
Destroyed Early This
Morning.

A two-story building on Blackwell
street, in which were the editorial and
composing rooms Of the Italian newspa-
per, Cronaca Soyyersiva, was damaged
by fire early this morning, SO that there
is only the frame work OF the structure
standing. The newspaper lost about
everything that could be burned up, and
in addition a valuable library in Italian,
consisting of 500 volumes was destroyed.
The total loss viii be nearly $4,000, of
which William Hawes, the owner Of the
building, loses about half, the publish
ers Of the newspaper and the Italian
colony of the city the remainder The
house served as sort of reading room
for the Italian residents who had con-
tributed to build up the library, the
loss Of which viii be severely felt BY
them. Some Of the volumes were valued
very highly and worth from five to ten
dollars each. The newspaper publishers
place their loss at $1,000, with insurance
Iof $1,000. Their press being located in
IA building across the street, ia about
the only thing of the papers equipment
which was not destroyed. Mr. Hawes
carried a small insurance.
The cause of the fire is a mystery, and
Chief Campbell is trying to determine
it. The first floor Of the building was
occupied as public gathering place, and
the editorial and composing rooms of
the newspaper were on the second floor.
One of the employees of the paper Henry
Goffi, was at work in the place yesterday
and there was fire in the stove at that
time. The flames were discovered this
morning shortly before six o'clock BY d
member Of the Bossi family across the
street The alarm was rung IN from
box IL. The apparatus from the central
station had a stiff time getting there
on account of the condition of the streets
but the hose cart from the station on
the same street soon had a stream on
the burning building. There was no
luse for the chemical this time as the
fire had gained big headway before the
alarm was sounded, and that was taken
back to the station The whole building
was ablaze when The firemen arrived.
Two streams of water had the fire under
control in ten minutes, however But
the building was pretty well gone then.
There is another house not more than
twelve feet away and the firemen stood
on the piazza Of this house and fought
the fire. The occupants of this latter
lplace were awakened by John Bossi, but
ithey wouldn't believe the next house
was afre and told Bossi to 90 back
home. When the latter persisted and
broke a window to add emphasis to his
warning, they decided to investigate
They then lost no time in getting out.
This house steamed q good deal, but
did not catch fire.
Among the things lost in the fire
was the sum Of $50 in the treasury Of
the library, which consisted Of cigar
box.
There was d rnmor on the street this
morning that the fire was Of incendiary
lorigin, but the publishers Of the paper
do net believe that the fire was set
They think that the fire started from
the chimney, as those who rang in the
Ealarm said that the flames were shooting
lup the chimney Three men are said Il
lhaye been seen standing on the railroad
track near by when the alarm was rung
in. Chief Campbell visited the building
again this forenoon and was unable tc
find any evidence which would cause
him to believe that the fire was Of in
lcendiaTy origin. He said that there api
lpeared to have been as much fire in tho
first story of the house as in the upper
lpart, also that it was possible for the
fire to have started from the chimney.
Cronaca Sovversiva is a weekly news
paper and this weeks issue was publish
cd Thursday afternoon. The type, etc.
was lost. but the publishers are not
daunted and will get out 9 paper next
week as usual, although its appearance
may be delayed little. They viii ordel
new equipment at once