The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-07
Flames Were Under Control
This Afternoon After De-
stroying Machine Shops,
Round House and Black
smith Shop--- Cause In
known.

The machine shop, roundhouse ami
blacksmith shop of the Montpelier and
Wells River railroad, located Just off
Barre street in Montpelier, were de-
stroyed by fire today and with them the
Barre railroad locomotive, Granite City,
the total loss being estimated from $25.-
900 to $4,000 The cause of the fire
is unknown.
Flames were discovered at 11;10 this
forenoon issuing from the oil room. The
general alarm was at once given from
box 81. Before the arrival Of the city
department the employees Of the railroad
had organized fire-fghting force, hax-
ing attached hose to a private stand
pipe in the railroad yard. They could
do little with this, however, as the pres
sure was low. The city department
made rather low run, but soon after
their arrival they put on two more
streams of water. The location of the
FIRE was bad for fighting, as the tracks
were on one side and the Winoosbi river
on the other. Finally they went around
to Berlin side and strung hose across
the ice on the river, and were thus able
70 get in effective work. By great eff.
fort the storehouse was saved.
Meanwhile the railroad men were
making strenuous efforts to get out the
locomotive, Vermont, which was in the
round d-house with no steam up. They
secured a heavy chain and while the
woodwork on the engine was smoking
and ready to burst into flames, the di-
minutive intercity locomotive, Arthur
Tandy ,tugged and strained and finally
pulled the heavier engine to place d
safety. II was impossible to save the
Granite City, as the great hulk was rest
ing on blocks in the machine shop. il
had only recently been sent to the shoI
for repairs. 1t was Of the heavy saddle.
back variety. Some parts Of ii may
be converted into further use, but it il
doubtful, as the engine was in the hot.
test Of the blaze.
Among the other valuable machinery
was wheel-tuning lathe which had
been installed only last fall, while al
the other machinery which goes TO make
up a wellequipped engine repair shoT
was also housed in the burned building.
and was also destroyed,
For an hour the fire burned fercely
and it was not until quarter past
twelve o'clock this afternoon that II wa
subdued. The wooden buildings, oil
soaked, made easy prey for the flames
and the heat was intense. There was
no passing by that point for the trains
either of the Montpelier & Wells Rive
or the Central Vermont. The suburban
on the former road, due to leave Mont
pelier for Barre at 1885, could not pas
and did not reach Barresunti nearly on,
O'Clock this afternoon The progress O
the fire was witnessed by great crow,
Of people,
Fears Of Explosions.
While the fire was at it's height, thert
was great apprehension lest there bl
some explosions The company keeps il
oil in a large tank Of six sections nea
one Of the buildings but the flame
were stopped before this was reached
There was fear also lest the boiler D
the stationary engine in the machine
shop explode, but the release valve o
,the engine was in good working orde
and 20 there was no trouble from tina
source.
In the fire was the automobile D
Chief Wahlen Of the Ere department
and it was destroyed with the rest o
the things The machine was stored il
one Of the buildings A FIRE alarm bo;
was attached TO the buildings, but b.
the time the flames were discovered tn
box was out Of commission, 50 that th
alarm had to be rung in from the cor
ner Of Barre and Hubbard streets.
The Insurance.
The company will not be able TO dc
termine. the insurance on the burne
property for a day or so IS all thei
property is insured under the schedul
system, that is, including al their prop
erty in this city and Montpelier, th
rolling stock and tho bridges on the lines
The Insurance il carried IN the Liver
pool. London and Globe company o
London, of which Postmaster j G. Brow
Of Montpelier Is agent.