Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-01
| nine LIVES LOST
And Two Fatally Injured
In St, Johnsbury, VT, Fir,
Those Who Escaped Made Way
Down by Rope Ladders.
Firemen Save Nearly a Score Of
People at Manchester, n. \.

st. Johnsbury, VT, oct. 3l.-When
the ruins of the Citizens Savings block
had been wet down to temperature
which made possible thorough search
it was definitely learned that nine
lives were lost in the fire which prac-
tically destroyed the principal business
building of this town early Saturday.
Two other persons were probably ia
tally burned and two were taken to a
hospital suffering from severe but not
dangerous buns. The property loss is
estimated at $4,000, partly covered by
insurance.
OF the nine persons killed, two fell
from the upper stories of the building
in an attempt to reach safety by
means of rope ladders, while seven
were burned to death, their bodies not
being recovered until several hours
later
The dead-Charles r. Ranlett, 80
years old. a printer; l.. +. Darling, 40
years old, u laborer; Charles Tanner,
a painter; Mrs. Charles Tanner. S. D.
Cushman. Mrs. Cushman. child of Mr..
and Mrs Cuslman Miss Rose Massey,
Miss May sleeper
The fatally injurcd-Mrs. Jcannette
Davie, Louis Pope, 13-year-old son OF
Mr. and Mrs William Pope
The other injured are William Pope
and Roy Smith.
The block. a four-Story brick build
ing, was a combination of stores, Of
fees. tenoments and assembly halls.
A restaurant and the police station
We're located in the basement. the
Citizens Savings Bank and q number
Of stores were on the first floor, sev-
crai Offices were upon the second
iIcor the third floor was given UP to
tenem"rts, and there We're two as
sembly halls on the fourth floor, All
of the persons killed or injured were
tenants who occupied apartments on
the third floor.
Although the Cali.-r al tn" fire his
not been determined definitely, the
flames are believed to have or Eina.od
in the basement of the Building. in
the restaurant of G. T.. Stoiilcr &
Son. There was no one in this part of
the building when the fire broke out,
ana the flames had shot up the eleva-
tor well and spread throughout the
upper stories before an alarm could
he given.
1t was in the carly morning hours,
while all the inmates of the third
floor tcnementS were sleeping, that
the fire broke out. The first known of
the blaze was when Chief of Police
Oliver Hall attempted to open the sta
ton door about 1 O'Clock and was met
by d great sheet of flame.
BY the time the firemen arrived the
stairways were ablaze and escape by the
inside was impossible for persons on the
third floor. Ladders were raised, but they
were too short to reach the third story
windows. in which could be seen a few
terrified tenants. who had been aroused
by" the cracking flames. Many others, it
is believed We're overcome by smoke as
they slept and persisted by suffocation
before the flames could reach them.
Those who were fortunate enough to
make their escape from the building did
so by means of rope ladders with which
each apartment was equipped. Two per-
sons who tried to slide down the ropes to
safety We're killed. Charles Ranlett, a
printer, fell while descending and was in
stantly killed H. +. Darling, in attempt
ing To grasp the rope at thlfd story
window. lost his balance and fell to the
street. He died a few minutes after being
taken to the hospital.
Everything above the street floor was
complete destroyed. The flames did not
cause any damage on the first floor of the
building, although heavy loss was
caused in that part by water. 1t is known
definitely that the contents of the bank
vault are safe, inasmuch as no water
could penetrate, and the fire was not hot
enough to cause any trouble. The bank
will probably resume business on Mon
day Banking operations were suspended
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