The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-04-12
M|DDLEBURY ONCE
MORE STRICKEN
BY FIRE
One Man Killed by Falling Walls
and Others Injured
LOSS WILL BE $4,000
Harry Kelley. Struck by Iron Girder,
Died of Injuries at Burlington
Hospital

Middlebury, April 12-Five fire
men were seriously injured, one Of
them probably fatally, in fire and
explosion which completely destroyed
the three story marble and brick At
wodd Bros, block on Main street neal
the stone bridge in this town Satur.
day, resulting in a property loss OF
$3l 900.
The injured are:
Harry Kelley, aged 81, fireman,
whose skull was fractured and who
sustained fracture of one leg, the
right arm and one knee, and serious
injuries to his spine and internally.
He was taken to the Burlington hos
pital where the physicians said he
could not live through the night
Charles Shaw, aged 2S. a fireman.
concussion of the brain and internal
injuries.
Robert Calhoun, aged 80, fireman,
scalp wound and injuries to his head,
back, sides and legs and arms.
Thomas Penders, aged "a. a fireman
injuries to his head, back, arms and
legs
Arthur Bissette, aged &c, fireman,
injuries 10 his head. back, arms and
legs.
The last four are at their homes and
their condition is comfortable tonight
and they will probably recover.
Mrs J X. Piper, the wife of a
prosperous and popular butcher in
this town, who resided i'm the fiat on
the top floor of the demolished build
ing, narrowly escaped with her life
after the first explosion which caused
the fire and rocked the entire building
Mr.. Piper was away at his business
at the time of the explosion but Mrs.
Piper was in her apartments. She
rushed from the house in her morn
ing clothing and all of their valuables
and household effects, including we'd
ding presents so recently received
were lost in the fire.
The firm of b. n. Atwood e. Co,
composed of two Atwood brothers,
owned the block and occupied most
Of it as a clothing and tailoring es-
adjustment. Their tailoring shop
was in the rear basement of the build
ing which was built of brick with mar
BILE front.
About nine o'clock in the forenoon
a big gasoline stove in the tailoring
shop exploded and caused the fire.
Everybody in the building escaped I'M
injured although some of them lost
much of their clothing
The town has two excellent hose
and one ladder company, composed
of business men, and with the high
water pressure the fire was stubborn
ly fought, but il was a very fierce one
and the flames raced up through the
three floors of the building as in
furnace. The burning wool and cloth
generated a gas which. with the hot
air, united under the roof and finally
resulted in terrific explosion which
threw the entire roof several feet in
the air, and when it came down the
front and back walls toppled inside
and fell to the cellar
The two buildings adjoining the
burned block on either side have fire.
proof walls and they stood the test
and kept the fire from spreading.
Hoseman Kelley of the hose COM
pany was struck by an iron girder
and terribly injured. Streams were
played upon the red-hot girder which
pinioned him TO the ground and will
ing hands went to his aid. He was
lifted out in an unconscious and para
lyzed condition.
The other injured men were struck
by falling marble window cornices.
B. n Atwood & Co.. place their
loss al $4,000 on The building and $12.
600 on the stock and fixtures, which
makes their loss $50, 700 The firm,
however has an insurance policg of
$4,000 equally divided between the
stock, fixtures and the building.
J.-K. Piper who lived on the top
on the household effects at $1,000 and
he had no insurance.
floor of the building, places his loss