The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-02-19
FIRE BURNED THROUGH
OUT THE WHOLE DAY
Whitehall, N. Y, Sent Aid
But For Which Rutland's
Entire Mercantile District
Might Have Been Wiped
Out.


yesterday morning to early evening, the
business section Of this city was swept
~ flames, and when the last tongue Of
ire had ben extinguiShed, damage to
The amount of 100000 had been done,
and large piece OF the heart Of the
city, lying on Merchants Row an Cen
ter street, was in ruins. There was no
loss Of life, but several persons had mar
row escapes.
When the fire was first discovered in
the Ripley building hand chemical
would have extinguished It, but delay
on the part Of the fire department in
getting to work allowed the flames to
gain such a headway that the connagra.
tion was started on its path Of desola-
tion. The local firemen we're powerless
to cope with the FIRE, and had it not
been for aid from Whitehall, y. y, a
much larger damage would have result
I'd. Men who have seen many big fires
pronounced the efforts Of the Rutland
department the most miserable they had
ever seen.
At three o'clock Sunday morning three
women, Miss Francisco, Miss 0Ward and
Miss Christopher, who occupy rooms in
the Ripley building, were awakened by
the smoke. On Investigation they saw
the smoke issuing from the rooms Of
the Ncshobe club. The women rushed Go
the roof of the building and screamed for
help. They were heard by Charles Qug.
ley, night operator at tie telephone eX-
change He at once notified the fire
department. The women, who were clad
only in their night clothing, were then
rescued from the roof Mason A. Green,
managing editor of the Rutland Herald,
who has rooms in the same building, also
had a close call When he was aroused
by policeman the stairway had been
cut oil by the flames. Only partially
dressed, Editor Green seized three manu-
scripts OF books which he proposes to
publish, and hurried 10 tie street. He
lost a library Of 500 volumes.
Spread of the Flames
The Gre quickly spread through the
building and ate through the Malls and
in the Mead building az Ke corner Of
Merchants Row and Ccntm street and
the roof caught fire, grgat tongues OF
nameIeap'a.a - aJgi acfoss TO the tower
z ut the corner. The upper floors were
soon ahlaze and the occupants assisted
by volunteers FASTENED to save as much
of their property as possible. The en-.
tire building was soon ablaze and in a
short time the flames had eaten through
the Baker block on Center street. con-
tinuing with unabated fury through the
nonpareil block owned by the futile Co.
and the block occupied by the latter
company. where the fire was checked.
In the mean time the flames had
worked their way through the north
wall Of the Ripley block into the Cram
ton block, occupied by the Combination
Cash store and r. Waterman and had
also spread to the rear to the four story
brick block Of the combination store fac-
ing on Willow street. All Of these
blocks were completely Quilted and most
of the walls fell OF were blasted down.
At about eight o'clock, almost with
out warming, one OF the walls OF the
Willow street block fell over on to an
adjoining stable carrying down with IL
three fremen. The men were not In.
iured to any extent, nor did the stable
take fire. It was at this point that the
fremen succeeded in preventing further
progress OF the flames. The fire was
not finally extinguished until last night
The Losers.
The heaviest losers are The Combna.
tion Cash store Co., Wholesale and retail
general merchandise. No. 20 Merchants
Row and corner Willow and Edison. The
entire stock is probably total loss
Figures on the street say that SiO0,-
900 win not cover the stock and build.
ings.
Dr. John A. Meade, owner Of the
Meade building fronting on Merchants
and Center street. This building was
The largest mercantile structure in the
eitv and was worth $4,000. No in
surance.
The Ripley block, Nos, ~ and 33 Mer-
chants Row, occupied BY John J. kissane
4 Co. dry goods, and Hopkins & HowleY
clothing and mems furnishings. building
and stock Of both concerns total loss.
The building IS insured. II is difficult
"a obtain Official figures on the loss sus-
Famed bv occupants Of this building, but
100000 Ia given as IN estimate. lhe
other floors were occupied by J. g. Jones,
IAN office. Edgar =. Moore, health oiiiy
osr Tie Neshobe club, Mason a. Green,
ed,tor Of the Herald, Who lott valuable
library. and Mrs. Fanar, Who cared for
wilson K Reet, No 30 Merchants
raw. clothing, mems furnishing, loss
probably from $4,000 TO s4o,oooj Quer.