The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-10
GASOLINE EXPLOSION
AT START OF FIRE
Firemen We're Showered
With Tons Of Brick. Nor
tar, Plaster and Timber---
Plate Glass all Around
Shattered.

Anddlebury, April lo-0ne fireman
was fatally injured and four others were
seriously hurt in fire which burned the
Atwood building on Main street this
forenoon and damaged property in the
vicinity, entailing a total loss Of $4,000
The fatally injured:
Harry Kelley.
The seriously injured:
William Japan.
Robert Calhoun.
Thomas Penders.
Charles Shaw.
The injuries were caused BY an explo-
sion Of gasolene which blew the roof of
the structure and blew out the entire
front OF the building, tons OF brick, NOR
tar, timber and glass flying on the fire.
men as they stood fighting the flames.
That many Of the fremcn were not
KILLED outright is considered remarkable.
A great many were cut by glass, while
many spectators were slightly injured
The noise of the explosion was heard for
n quarter Of d mile and every plate glass
window within one hundred feet was
shattered.
Caused by Gasoiene Explosion.
The Gre started at 500 o'clock and
was CAUSED by the explosion Of gasolenel
IN the basement OF the store Of G. N. At
wood & Co. The fire department soon
responded to the call and within short
time had ten streams of water playing
on the burning building. the firemen hay-
ing surrounded the structure They had
no sooner taken up their positions than
q big explosion occurred of gasolene
which was stored in the basement Of
the building.
Then followed an immense shower of
missiles, completely enveloping the fire
fighters, while the building was turned
immediately into a raging furnace. As
soon as the first excitement Of the ex
plosion had passed, the work of removing
the wounded was started, while the other
firemen, regardless Of the injuries to
their fellows, pluckily stuck to their task
of fighting the flames. Harry Kelley was
found to be the most seriously hurt, and
he was removed to SheIdon's drug store,
where It was found that besides being
fearfuIly cut he bad had both legs broken
and gaping hole torn in his left side,
while every bone in his left side was
broken. No hopes were given Of his re-
coyery.
William Japan, another fireman, was
cut on the head and neck. and was taken
home IN an ambulance. Robert Calhoun,
a fireman, was severely cut about the
head, body and face by flying glass.
Thomas Penders and Charles Shaw, also
fremen, were similarly injured and they
were taken to their homes in an ambu-
lance.
The Losses.
The fire with the resulting casualties
was one Of the worst ever experienced
in Middlebury. The loss on the Atwood
building was 10000, while the loss on
the clothing, furniture and fixtures in
the store Of G, M Atwood & CO. was
a like amount. The building was new
one, having been erected only five years
ago. 1t was owned by the Atwood firm. I
The loss Is probably covered by insur-
anee.
in addition, the drug store Of II. G. /
Dutton & CO. was damaged BY fire to
the extent Of $500. j. K. Tiper, who I
had rooms in the Atwood building. lost
all his furnishings, the total damage
being $500 The loss to Allen Calhoun
for broken plate glass in his store was
5000, while shattered glass and wet stock /
made loss Of $500 for Henry joy,
clothier There was also great deal Of |
damage to stores in the vicinity from the
force Of the explosion
There was a large crowd Of spectators
about the scene Of the FIRE and when the
explosion came without warning they
were in line Of the flying glass and de-
bris Many of them received cuts and /
minor injuries, but were able to care for
Themselves