Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-02-26

of furniture they had. 1t is almost
miracle that not a single person We
injured, a many were nearly cut of
rom exits by the dimes, and doz IN
Of tenants were obliged to run out i
the snow in their night clothes. Tn,
Thermometer stood FIVE degrees be
low zero.
The origin OF the fire Is unknown
other than il started 10 the rooms o
the Nsshobe club in the Ripley build
ing on Merchants Row, occupied be
low by two stores and above by Law
offices and about 35 families. TINS
firemen found the hydrants froz an
and before any water could be OBJ
tanned the building was doomed anC
the adjoining structures on the nortt
and south were burning fiercely. A
call was sent to Whitehall, N. Y, fol
aid, and two hose companies with {
fire engine came to Rutland on ;
special train, making the run of q
miles in 20 minutes.
Nearly all the church services were
suspended Sunday and the people
turned their attentions to caring for
the homeless families, all of whom
are poor. Fully ten thousand people
visited the city during the day to
look at the ruins. Not until noon
were the flames under control, when
they were checked by two fireproof
walls. Without nourishment of any
kind, the firemen toiled dynamiting
the dangerous walls until late Sunday
night. Streams were left on all night
so that the firms could dig out their
safes.
During the worst of the conflagra-
ton the northern part of the city was
showsred with embers borne along
on light wind, and only the fact
that roofs were covered with foot
of snow saved many buildings in the
residential district. A pathetic scene
was witnessed in an apartment house
known as the Mead building, when
the fire was at it's height. Three
women sick unto death were carried
on mattresses over Sthe roofs of ad-
joining buildings and taken to the
city hospital.
One of the biggest losers is the
Combination Cash Store company,
wholesale and retail dealers in mer-
chandise, buildings and stock, $780,
600. DR.. John A. Mead, president of
the Howe Scale Co., owner Of the big
apartment house, loses SO, GOO. The
other firms whose stocks are total
loss are:-Ripley estate, apartment
house, $50, 900; John Kissine & Co.,
dry goods, $25, 900; Hopkins & How
ley, C othing, SIC, 900; Wilson & Root,
clothing, $4,000; Qaeriroli & Co.,
fruit and candy, $1,000; Marble
Savings bank, loss Of fixtures, 81 ,000f
L. A. Miner, druggist, $40, 000.a A. H
Abraham, drugs and tobacco. $780,
COG; D. B. Twigg &. Co, clothing, S1O,-
| OOO, Lu0 IuIGl0 10, pAluOOLS dnO
bookstore, building and stock, $75 ,
900: Michael Dugan. liquors, $4,000
Gardner Baker, wooden building, $40,
600; Lew Abraham, tobacco, $10s:
600; Y. M. @. A, S5,O00f r. w.
Waterman, wall papers and crock
cry, damaged by smoke and water,
So, 900; F. L. Blake, photographer
$500.
Most of the. law firms and the State
Mutual Fire Insurance company
which were burned out, saved theil
valuable papers. The law firm Of
Butler & Maloney got out of thu
Mead building nearly all OF library
valued at $4,000. A livery stable
owned by w. E. Barer was, totally de
molished by falling wall. Twent.
horses and some valuable vshicle
| had been removed.
Most of the merchants. will at ono
seek for temporary quarters 80 com
mence business anew. 1t is said tia
the total insurance on the burne
buildings and stocks is about $50
600.