Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-21
FIRE LOSS OF $1,000
Clark Homestead on Canal Street
Burned Tuesday Morning
House Occupied BY Or. E. r. Lynch and
FamIIy-FIames Were Bursting Through
Barn Roof When First Seen.

Seven thousand dollars worth OF prop
erty went up in smoke early Tuesday
morning in the burning OF the George H.
Clark homestead on Canal street, opposite
C. E. Aliens premises. The fire was dis
covered soon after 2.SO o'clock and 1t was
nearly o'clock when the recall announced
fire out" Since the house was vacated
by II. p. Wesbter and Mrs Harriet Web
ster Cary II had been occupied by DR.. Ed
ward r. Lynch. DR.. Lynch returned from
night call late and was preparing to re-
tire when his attention was attracted by
a cracking sound outside. He looked out
and saw flames issuing from the barn
through the roof. He called the central
telephone office. and notice was sent from
there to the fire department headquarters.
About that time Charles A. Smith, who
lives on the south side of Canal street,
near Mr.. Aliens, saw the fire, and ne
called DR.. Lynch by telephone, also called
III. G. Clark, who replied that he had Just
discovered the fire.
On receipt of news of the fire the chem
zeal engine was started from department
headquarters and an alarm was given as
from box No. SO. The alarm went for one
round and part of another and then stop
ped. The chemical engine made fairly
good time to the fire. Meanwhile Mr..
"A.
den and other neignbors arrived and be-
gan carrying out DIR. Lynch's furniture,
saving nearly all of that down stairs,
although the flames made rapid prog
ress from the barn to the house The
hose of the chemical wagon was unreeled
but In endeayoring to operate the fluid
a coupling was blown on, rendering the
machine useless.
Soon afterwards steamer No. arrived
at the corner Of Canal and Maple streets
and pumped water from the hydrant al
that point, and little later line of hose
was laid from the hydrant at the top OF
Canal street hill. Hose company No. {
also went to the fire. The department
made as fast time as possible, but that
necessarily was slow, Canal street having
been covered with gravel within few
days. The water pressure at that altitude
was not all that was to be desired, al
though the stream from the steamer was
thrown over the house easily. Here was
an instance when the proposed reservoir
on the Atkinson farm, had it been com
pleted would have been of special service
large crowd gathered, but there was
nothing to do but to watch the progress
of the fire and there was little excitement
above that attendant upon the ordinary
run OF fires, except possibly that oc-
casion by the explosion of a tank OF gas.
oline and general discussion as to the
merits Of Brattleboro's water board
The Clark homestead was valued a
about $4,000. 1t had been put in first elias,
condition within a few years. 1t was in,
sured for $4,000 in II. r. Taylor & Som.
agency. DIR. Lynch's furniture was valued
at $4,000 or more and was insured fo
$1,000 In George M. Clay's agency. Hi
loss was covered by the insurance. In
small building adjoining one corner Of tn,
barn were stored household goods owned
by Mr.. and Mrs. Gerry Messer. The!
were valued at $1,000 and were insured To-
5000 in Mr.. Clay's agency.
AS to the cause of the fire little 4
| known. For some time before the alarm
Mrs. Charles A. Smith heard noises al
though some person was prowling abou
| the premises. She was listening in orde
to determine If possible the cause Of tn
noises when the alarm was given. DR.
Lynch walked home that night and en-
tered the house through the front door
So far as known no person entered tn
barn the night OF the fire.