Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-07-19
THE LIGHTNING'S WORK

Large Barn on D. S. Pratt's Farm Burn.
ed Wednesday Afternoon with 60 Tons
Of New Hay.
Fire resulting from bolt of lightning |
totally destroyed the big barn and two /
smaller buildings of Stewart Pratt on |
Western avenue late Wednesday after |
noon causing loss Of about $780, fully |
insured OF the livestock only one calf |
was lost and by effective work the fire /
department succeeded in checking the |
flames before they reached the old barn
nearest the house. If this had caught, |
the house would undoubtedly have burn
ed The entire absence of wind to carry /
the burning cinders and the steady rain
which was falling prevented che fire get
ting wholly beyond control As in the
two previous fires outside of the village
the need of more hydrants and water
pressure was demonstrated. In this ca se
100 feet of hose had to be laid to reach
the fire from the nearest reservoir and
the steamer was able to do little more
than force the water through that length
of hose, although there was $50 pounds
pressure at the pumps. There was hardly
any pressure at the nozzle and the stream
played only a few feet. The nearest
hydrant is further from the Pratt place
than the reservoir and the only use made
of it was to run a hose from the hydrant
supply in the latter
Walter Pratt and the workmen en-
ployed on the farm were at the house
on account Of the heavy rain and when
the lightning struck went Immediately to
the barn. 1t was In flames from one end
10 the other when they reached IL and
nothing could be saved but a few wagons
which were pulled out. The only live
stock in the barn was a driving mare, a
thoroughbred ram. a young calf and
three pigs. Mr.. Pratt rescued the ram
and one of the men brought out the mare.
though the fire was playing all about her
IN the box stall and she was badly fright
ened. After the fire had nearly consumed
the barn one of the pigs wandered out
somewhat singed and blackened but ap-
parently unconcerned. Another pig was
rescued by a man and the third made
his own escape Practically all the hay
on the farm had been cut and Mr.. Pratt
estimated that al least 60 tons were al
ready in the barn.
1t was apparent from the first that the
main barn was doomed but an alarm
was rung in from box 45. Steamer four,
the chemical and the hook and ladder re-
sponded and made fair time to the scene.
| There was not nearly hose enough to
| reach the fire and more was sent for
causing some delay. About the time wa
1 ter was turned on the fire broke out in
/ the corn barn in the rear Of the main
}
/ a mass Of flames The chemical exhaust
| ed its first charge on the rear OF the
/ burning building without effect. The fire
spread from the corn barn TO a long ell
/ running westerly from II to the old barn
next the house and for a half hour Il
/ looked as though house and all were
/ doomed. That this part OF the property
was saved is probably due to the fore
! thought of a neghbor who damned
| small brook running through the Water
man place, west of the Pratt farm. giving
| additional water supply. Steamer three
was called and set next the brook and
| pumped fair stream in where II would
do the most good although the brook
I was pumped dry occasionally and stops
! had 10 be made for the brook to catch
| up. The streams from the two steamers
| were concentrated at the point where the
ell joins the old barn and the fire was
| checked there after a hard fight An in
effectual effort was made to dynamite a
shed connecting the old barn with a tool
house but as the fire was checked before
1t reached the old barn some property was
saved by its lack OF effect
4 large crowd gathered and stood out
in the rain for two hours watching the
fire and lending what assistance they
could George W. Pierce superintendent
the moving Of a large woodpile by a vol
unteer corps Of boys and in the excite
ment received a blow on the head from a
] uNlnE SUCK tnat knocked MN down.
/ Lewis Harris, foreman of Engine three,
had one wrist badly cut and was taken in
an automobile TO the Memorial hospital,
where it was dressed. An artery was
severed but he was able to be on the
street again that night.
AS usual the fire alarm failed 10 work
effectively. The Baptist bell did not ring
and the number Of the box did not regis
ter at the engine house The chemical
was obliged TO wait until telephone
message reached them from the scene OF
the fire.
Much comment was expressed by horse
men at the work Of the new fire horses
] Summing them all up they expressed
! keen disappointment at the showing they
made as fire horses. They ran up the hill
at a fair rate but were about all in wher
they reached the fire. Some who have
seen both the old and the new horses rur
say that the old pair would have stood
the trip much better.