Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15
Fireman Harry Kelley Die. at
Hospital without Regaining
Consciousness. '
FIVE OTHERS WERE INJURED
stubborn Fire Destroyed the AtvooJ
Block-Explosion Buried Fircmcn
Property Loss Estimated nj
S1O,0OC--Insurnncc Covers
All but AtwOod's,

Middlebury. April 1i.-In ono of the
most stubborn and destructive fires that
has visited this village in years. the At
wood block on Main street was DESTROYED
|"Sterday morning and six fremen in
'ufed, one dying at the hospital this
morning The property loss is approx-
ihntely $1,000
| The dead and injured are:
| harry Kelley, aged A. skull fractured.
one leg, right arm and knee broken.
SPINE injured and injured internally. He
d'ed at the Mary Fletcher hospital in
burlington at ! 40 this morning without
| ieraining consciousness.
Robert Calhoun, aged IS. scalp wound
and injuries to his head, back. shoulder
| nrd leg.
Thomas Penders, aged "a, bad scalp
wounds and injuries to body and limbs
Arthur Bessette, aged 20, scalp and
face wounds.
charles Shaw. aged 2s. head cut and
bruised, conclusion of the brain
William 1.apan. arm and head cut
ana numerous bruises
OIL STOVE HAD EXPLODED.
The alarm was rung about $50 yes,er-
Gay morning for a blaze In the store OF
{. n. Atwood & Co, clothiers. The fire
evidently was caused by the explosion
OF an oil stove in the rear OF the build
ing. The department responded mmed-
e'ey Chief Engineer Rich being the
first to reach the scene. The interior of
the building rapidly filled with smoke
and seven streams were Immediately
turned on, but the flames gained such
Roadway that the efforts OF the firemen
we're unavalling Nothing was saved
from Atwood & Co.'S store except one
trunk. The books OF the concern were
also left upon the desk in the Office and
at night were found in a charred condi-
ton in the basement
The building was valued at $4,000
the Arm carried a stock Of ready made
clothing and mems furnishings valu-
ed at $4,000 and had an insurance OF
$4,000 evenly divided between stock
and building. The second story Of the
block was occupied by X. j. Piper and
family as living apartments. Their
household goods are complete loss
with no insurance. The Atwood broth
ers. who conducted the business, came
here from Woodstock about five years
ago purchasing the business of T..
A. Bond.
EXPLOSION BCRIES FIREMEN.
The building was veneered in both
front and the rear with brick and aft |
err the !Ne had been in progress for |
haf hour, and when the building was |
hiled with one solid mass of smoke |
an explosion occurred presumably from |
gas generated with tho burning wool
en- and total lack Of ventilation 1t |
raised the roof of the structure sew
eral feet in the air. and at the time
the fremen We're working in close
proximity to both the front and rear
walls which toppled over severely in
luring six members of the department.
Chief Rich and one or two other fire.
men, who We're in the midst Of the
FALLING debris. escaped without injury.
Hoseman Kelley was struck by an
ron Girder and terribly injured.
streams were played upon the red hot
sirder which pinioned him to the
ground and willing hands went to his
aid. He was lifted out in an uncon-
'cious and paralyzed condition The
'ther injured men were struck by fall
ng marble window cornices
FIRE WALLS SAVE BLOCKS.
Adjoining the burned building on the
lorth side was the Upper block and on
ne south the Ross and Bond blocks
lhese buildings were protected by fire
walls and with the untiring efforts of the
ire departent were saved The Tupper
block was occupied by H. b. Dutton.
iruggist, whose damage by smoke and
water may reach $1,000. covered by in
urance. The other occupants OF the
Tupper block were: The Moosalamoo club
lamage $500. insured; Dephia & Looms
'arbers George Goulette, boot and shoe
hop; c. A. Piper. undertaken nd furni-
ure dealer; A. c. Tabor, wall paper and
'aints; r. l., Brough. matchmaker;
ieorge Stevens. jeweler All of the oc-
upants Of the block sustained more or
ess damage which is covered by nsur-
nee and damage to the block will prob
bly, be $500. insured.
The Ross block was occupicd on the ,
round floor by Henry i. Joy. dealer in
oots shoes and mems furnishings The
amage to his stock from smoke and
'ater will probably be about $1,000 which
covered by insurance. Tho second floor {
occupied by the offices of DR.. f. H. | I
iartin, damage $500, insured. The block I
owned by c. W. Ross and the damage Y
estimated at $500. B. c, Ryder, dealer I
boots. shoes and groceries, who oc- r
upied the whole building OF F. A. Bond, (
ustained damage of 500 which was Z
overed by insurance; damage to Bonds g
lock. 500. insured @
The Dyer block and occupants on the ]
pposte side of the street was damaged
y the explosion and the inflow OF dense n
noke. The second floor was occupied t
y the Millinery parlors Of Miss l.. A. {
oodrich whose damage to stock amounts
s2Co insured on the ground floor o
ere the stores OF A. Calhoun q Sons t
umbers and hardware dealers and c. II
Rich. jeweler and stationery; Cal II
oun e. Son sustained damage OF 500 C
nd Mr. Rich places his loss at SEQ Tho h
amage to the Dyer will reach $500 in y
ired. 4
Over half Of the glass In the business O
'ction south Of the bridge on Main T.
rect was broken by the explosion.