The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-03-27
HOUSE AND BARN
BURNED TO GROUND
Fire at W. II. Alexsnder's Farm
Sunday Evening.
LANTERN SET FIRE TO THE HAY,
While Mr.. Alexander's Daughters
Were Feeding Stock Girls Assisted
In Releasing Cattle and Horses BE.
meath riames-Loss $4,000.

The home OF Mr.. aud Mr.. Walter II
Alexander ON the Jacksonville road was
totally destroyed by tirc Sunday even
ing between and I o'clock, and II the
contents Of the house all that was saved
was the piano, few chairs, two suits
IT clothing and a small trunk containing
some papers. From the barn five horses,
eight head oi cattle and a pix were
rescued, also 20 fowls from the hen
house which stood few rods irom the
harm. This building was protected from
the hire by pile Of Is cords oi green
wood which was kept wet by the men,
who came from different parts Of the
neighborhood, carrying pals Of water
from a nearby house. The burned prop.
erty was valued at about 5000. and the
insurance is $500, including $50 on the
livestock.
The fire was started by lantern. Two
Of Mr.. Alcxander's younger daughters,
aged IL and II. went 10 the barn with
their father soon after u o'clock TO "a.
sist him in caring for the stock and di'
reetly after entering the barn Mr., Alex
andcr was called back 10 the house 10
answer a telephone call The little girls
proceeded To the hayloit TO throw down
hay for the stock and after feeding the
horses they started 10 90 TO the other
side Of the barn TO feed the cattle. To
do this il was necessary TO climb over
two beams aud in doing 50 the bottom
of the lantern was caught in such a man.
ner that the globe fell off and almost in
stantly the hay was on fire. The girls
made a brave attempt 10 stamp out the
flames but soon saw their efforts were
in vain and that their escape would soon
be impossible
Grace. the older girl. went directly TO
the horses and began releasing them
while Ruth went to the house, with the
lantern still in her hand and told her
parents what had happened. Mr.. Alex.
ander hurried to the barn and with the
help Of the girls the stock was saved.
Not one of the animals was injured al
though the fire started directly over them
and the slate were falling from the. roof
long before they were all out OF the barn.
The barn was connected with the ell Of
the house and through an upstairs pas.
sageway the smoke filled the house in
very short time. The house was two
stories high and had 10 rooms and was
cmodeled short time ago. The barn
was ~ feet long by 30 feet wide and both
structures were slated. Mr.. Alexander
is well known through this section a
farmer and fruit grower Mr. and Mrs.
Alexander and six children are living IN
different families until they can arrange
for housekeeping in II. n. Clisbee's house
on Greenleaf street.
Mr.. Alexander's Oldest daughter and
his son drove to the dam site Sunday al
ternoon and did not know of the fire un.
til their return home. They had the best
driving horse, harness and carriage with
them but the surrey, express wagon and
sleighs were burned. In less than one
hour from the time the fire started there
was nothing left but pile OF ashes.
The farm has been in the Alexander
family for i3 years. 1t was owned by, ).
II. Alexander, the father of w. H. Alex.
ander. and during the last 10 years it has
been in the possession of W. III. Alexan-
der. He has spent all but five or six years
of his life there. He does not expect to
rebuild.