Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-13

A fire which proved to be the most
disastrous Of any that has occurred in
Burlington since tho burning OF the old
American House just about three years
ago. and which greatly exceeded that IN
amount Of damage done, broke out in the
south end O, tho Hotel Burlington about
$3.50 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Six
hours later the .wo upper floors OF that
building were burned to the outer walls,
the two lower floors were soaked with
tons Of water, and the three-story Walker
block adjoining the hotel on the south
was In ruins with the exception Of the
walls. the southwest corner room on the
second floor and the drug store of w. =.
Hall on the corner of st Paul and Main
treets
The alarm from box i3 quickly brought
hundreds to the scene and not since
President Taft came to Burlington during
tercentenary week last July have there
been so many people In any one place
in the city as tho crowd which shvered
in and around City Hall Park und mid
night. The fire had gained great head
way by the time the alarm was sounded
and. because of the strong south wind
experienced observers We're quick to
realize that the hotel was doomed. Many
expected that the fire would 90 through
to College greet and the occupants Of
the buildings TO the north Of the hotel
either removed their property or made
preparations to do so on short notice. In
this case the expected did not happen but
the unexpected did.
To the south of the hotel and supposed
~ separated from It BY a tireproof wall
stood tie Walker block with three stores
on the street floor and two floors above
divided into apartments. Ladders We're
raised ~ the roof, the hose carried w
and tons Of water We're poured into the
burning hotel, the wind carrying the
flames, sparks and smoke to the north
Some Of the tenants as Il precautionary
measure, prepared to move lneir property
but were assured by the fremen thai
there was no danger Of the block burning
ond therefore carried nothing out 1t Is
SAFE to say that this belief was shared 10y
practically everyone who was WATCHING
the fire and TWO hours after the alarm
was sounded many returned to thei
homes satisfied that the flames would b,
confined to the hotel and that even thu
buildings to the north were no longer II
danger. An hour later the fire had work
ed It's way through the supposedly FIRE
proof wall which separated the hotel an,
Walker block that portion OF the build
ing under tho roof was mass Of flame,
which were rapidly working down Ia H.,
ground floor and all realized that the
building was doomed Five fircincn vrr,
on the roof with no way of getting down
as the ladders had meanwhile been moved
elsewhere. Means Of descent were quick
~ provided for them and they vacated
their position rs nothing more could b,
done there. The tenants also had to ge,
out in hurry and most Of them saved
nothing except none, 1ewelry and per
haps n few articles which they car
RE with them in heir nasty exit
STORY OF THE FIRE.
The fro originated in a sink room o,
the third floor ~ the Hotel Burlington
In tNe south end Of the building. 1t wal
discovered about 4:30 p. m. by Miss Carri
j. Drew, the housekeeper. who imme
diately rushed TO the Office for the man
ager OF the hotel, r. F. Colamer.
When Mr. Collamer reached the sinl
room the fire had penetrated to al
adjoining air shaft and was making goo,
headway toward the roof of the building
lie hurried to the Office, turned IN n still
alarm, and then rushed back to the seen
of the fire with what help he could sum
mon at the moment They were powerless
however. before the rapid spread of tn
flames, and 1t was only with the arriva
of the department that effective wor
could be done.
In five minutes from the time the fir
was discovered an alarm was turned i
md within five minutes more the engine
hf ha rtr ha m
The fire climbed the air shaft rapid
and ran along the tnrred roofing 80 III
cupola which was above the central pal
Of the building, Smoke was pouring frol
the southeast windows Of the hotel almo'
before tho fire Itself was discovered an
IN less than fifteen minutes fames wei
streaming up brightly into the gray
the afternoon.
A stream Of water was turned on II
burning air shaft from within the bull,
ing and ladders were run up at eth,
corner of the front The firemen wei
soon playing water upon the now iamir
cupola but the fire speedily workt
along under the roof and thence dow
ward into the two upper stories. ev,
while the hremen were getting their lin
" hose up to the roof.
The maids. fortunately, had all be,
put for an hour or moro and there w;
no one In the rooms near the fire when
hrst started. Mr.. Colaner thinks that
must have been caused by the electr
tight wires. He ran from room to roo
through the building to notify his CUES
and the employees, and even broke in q
Soors of all the rooms. with the except,
Of n few on tho third floor II is large
owing to the presence of mind of NJ
Eolomer that no one is missing to-day.
GUESTS LOST PROPERTY.
The total loss will mount up to oy
$4,000 The large losses ere of cour.
mostly covered by Insurance, and It
he small losers who will suffer. Of t
guests at the Hotel Burlirgto Mr.. a
Mrs. Il T. Putnam OF Bos'on who {
cupied room No % on tho third floor, We
the heaviest losers. Saturday nlornl
th"y drove to l'sscX Junction and Milt
ana returned in the evening to find tn
temporary acme ana belongings in fam