Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-02-23
FIRE SWEPT
RUTLANO'S RUINS REPRE-
SENT LOSS OF 100000.
Terrible Devastation ResuIte d
From Sundays ConfIasration.
Business Section Quilted.

| troyed property worth nearly S700, 900
and seven large mercantile structures
were moved down like so much finder.
At first, while the fire was confined in
the Ripley block the use of hand
chemical would have sufficed. There
was not breath of air stirring but the
delay of the fire department in bringing
hose and water into service permitted
the fatality of time.
From four o'clock until noon. the
/ flames swept on. Until the arrival of
the Whitehall fire fighters the entire
business section of the city was in i'm
rninent danger of utter devastation as
the result of the incapacity of the Rut-
land fire department.
Several stories are told as to how the
fire started. One is to the effect that it
originated in the furnace of the Ripley
block while' another states that the
flames were seen outside the door of the
Neshobe club rooms.
Mason A. Green, managing editor of
the Herald, had narrow escape from
the burning Ripley building. When
aroused by policeman the flame had
nearly cut off the stairs. Partially dressed
he seized one of the three manuscripts of
books which he had planned to publish
and hurried to the street. He lost a
library of 800 volumes.
The fire quickly spread through the
building and ate through the walls and
in the Mead building at the corner of
Merchants row and Center street and the
roof caught fire, great tongues of flames
leaping up and across to the tower at the
corner. The upper floors were soon
ablaze and the occupants assisted by
volunteers FASTENED to save as much of
their property as possible. The entire
building was soon ablaze and in a short
time the flames had eaten through the
Baker block on Center street continuing
with undated fury through the Non
pariel 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 'Cramton
block occupied by the Combination Cash
store and X. Waterman and had also
spread to the rear to the four story
brick block to the Combination store
facing on Willow street. All of these
blocks were completely Quilted and most
Of the walls fell or were blasted down.
The heaviest losers are: The Comb
nation Cash Store Co., wholesale and
retail general merchandise. 100000 will
not cover the stock and buildings.
DR.. John a. Mead owner of the Mead
building fronting on Merchants Row and
Center street. This building was the
largest mercantile structure in the city
and was worth S150.000. No Insurance.
The Ripley block, Nos. 81 and 33 Mer-
chants Row, occupied by John j. Kissana
& Co., dry goods, and Hopkins & Howley
clothing and mems furnishing, building
and stock of both concerns a total loss.
The building is insured: loss estimated
at 100000. The other floors were oc-
cupied by J. C. Jones' law office, Edgar
B. Moore, health officer, the Neshobe
club. Mason A. Green, editor of the
Rutland Herald. who lost valuable
library and Mrs. Farrar who cared for
the building.
Wilson & Root, 80 Merchants Row
clothing, mems furnishings, loss prob
ably from $50, 600 to $40, 900; Querilio &
Co., proprietors of the Boston Candy
kitchen No. 81 Merchants Row stock and
fixtures total loss; probably $1,000 will
cover the loss.
Marble Savings bank, loss of fixtures
an6 furniture Safa u-ac fro prnof apI
it is not thought that the deposits were
damaged.
Louis A. Miner corner Merchants Row
and Center streets, stock a total loss;
estimated loss $4,000
A. H. Abraham, druggist and tobac-
conist. No 3, Center street, loss estimated
at from $25, 900 to $50 900.
David B. Twigg & Co., clothing and
: mems furnishings No. Center street;
loss estimated at $4,000.
The futile Co. loss of two blocks at
Nos. 9. / and Is Center street, with
stock $780, Geo.
Michael Dugan, liquor store, No. :.
Center street, loss to stock probably S10,-
600
J Gardner Baker block No. Z Center
street, loss to building probably, $4,000,
Louis Abraham. cigar and tobacco
|
reach $4,000.
The loss sustained by the occupants of
the upper floors of the Ripley building
including personal effects and collection
: of books is at least $40 900.
The loss to Y. NJ. C. A. in the Mead
, building is probably $1,000.
q. n. Stevens who leased two floors
of the Ripley building, loss 81 600
p F. l.. Blake, photographer, No. d
loss tritling.
Loss to the two or more families and
; occupants of the Mead building 5000
X. G. Waterman, wall papers and
/, crockery. No. 81 Merchants Row, prob
! able loss to stock by smoke and water
4 $4,000.
= All other minor losses not mentioned
: above are sustained by occupants of
. offices and apartments including: DR.
q w. j. Scott, dentist; Lawrence & Law.
renee, Butler & Maloney, and II, II
Kingsland, w. j. Lyons and William