Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-01-04

Scene-The Loss is Estimated at
100000.
Gloucester Mass.-The Colonial
Arms hotel at East Point, accounted
the most magnificent hosteTy on the
North shore, was burned to the
ground Wednesday night, Three
chimneys and a long pile of embers
sSirting the seashore was all that re-
NAMED Of the imposing edifice Mt 10
o'clock.
At about 6 o'clock Miss Bertha Cres-
sy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Cressy, residing on Beachmont ave-
nue., on Stage Fort Heights across the
harbor, saw a small fire at what she
thought was the new Sleeper cottage
now building near the Colonial Arms,
She called the attention of her fam
lily to the blaze and they watched it,
wondering as to the cause, for 10
minutes. Then the blaze was discov.
cred by Herbert j. Morrow Of the
gypsy moth commission, who rang in
an alarm from Patch's Willow at East
Gloucester.
Others also saw the blaze across
the harbor and thought at first it was
fisherman batting up. The fire was
first discovered on the roof of the
extreme west wing of the building.
At the time there was but slight
wind blowing from the west. The
fire worked its way very leisurely
along seemingly inclined to take its
time in devouIing such choice NOR.
sci.
When the firemen arrived on the
scene a second and a third alarm was
was sent In and the fire boat Philip
summoned, the regular fireboat be-
ing out of commission. There is an
eight-inch water main through the
eastern point property with a hy-
drant near the Rampalts, the sum-
mer residence of the late Henry c.
Rouse.
About 300 yards from the hotel Is
Miles pond, from which water was
taken by three steam engines besides
those at the hydrant. From the pier
adjoining, the pumps on the Philip
attacked the blaze from the water
side. But all efforts were Intellectual.
1t was seen that if the fire was to be
stayed the destruction of the west wing
| by dynamite was the only recourse.
The hotel was constructed with three
fireproof walls and shutoffs The fire
in the west wing crept leisurely along
to the first brick barrier, when it was
stayed from within for some time and
only communicated to the central sec
tion by jumping over on the roof
1t was similarly stopped in this sec
ond section and had slate roofing or
other non-inflammable material been
employed 1t is thought that with the
use Of explosives three-quarters of the
hotel might have been saved.
At 8 o'clock the central section was
well ablaze and at 900 the entire build
ing was fat. As a fire spectacle Glou-
cester has seen nothing like It. The
many windowed structure with the
blaze inside made a network traceTy
which was superb. The copper in the
cutters and the plumbing work gave
a many hued inge to the flames.
The bay and city for miles was lit
up as day Showers of live Goals arose
in air, but fortunately no high wind
was blowing and there were no resi-
dences near save the historic Niles
farm house, a colonial structure 100
years old, purchased several years ago
| by M. B. Pollard of Boston as a sum-
mer home and recently sold by him
to Mr.. Sherrard. This historic old
house fortunately was saved. That the
blaze was seen far up the north shore
| far inland to the countryside was evil
dent from the numerous queries which
came from a distance while the blaze
was still in progress. Numerous au
tomobile parties from up the shore
hastened to the scene.
1t is estimated that fully 10000 were
in the vicinity of the blaze, the man
agement of the street railway company
putting on extra cars and conveying
many to within mile of the scene,
along Western avenue, fronting the
outer bay, was a vantage point from
which many viewed the spectacle. AS
chimney after chimney and brick par
titions fell, the flames shot high in the
air, and the heat became so unbear-
able that the fremen and spectators
were forced farther and farther away.
The showers of sparks set fire to the
dead grass, and extensive patches were
burned over on Eastern point, a rare
thing for Jan. and some of the resi-
dences endangered thereby.
\ At $50 the last of the southeast wall
had fallen, the part where the help
were housed and the throng wended
its way homeward.
Following the recent destruction of
the Magnolia hotel at Magnolia few
months ago the destruction of the CO.
lonial Arms will be blow that will be
felt by many in Gloucester who de-
rived profitable employment from
them, 1t also will be felt by the bust.
ness interests here next summer.