The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-03-26
FIRE WAS WORST
IN VILLAGE IN
LONG TINE
H. C. Roster & Co.'s Store
Damaged
LIGHT GOODS BURNED FAST
Fire Was on Second Floor But Water
Did Much Damage Down
Stairs
LIGHT GOODS BURNED FAST

of damage was done by fire and wat
er at H. c. Roster & Co.'S. store this
forenoon.
The fire. started in the millinery
department on the second floor.
Miss l.. NJ. Barney. manager of the
millinery department picked up
lighted oil stove. The bottom fell off
spilling oil which promptly ignited
and blazed up. The light and gauzy
material used in the millinery de-
partment caught instantly and
spread rapidly to the goods in the
bargain department which is on the
same floor.
The employees of the store saw in
stantly that it was case for the fire
department and an alarm was rung
in from box As.
The Starks and Putnams respond
ed promptly but the fire looked so
menacing that second alarm was
ordered by Chief Hayes and the
Eagles turned out, but their services
were rot needed.
The Starks had on IA stream in
short order followed promptly by the
Putnams, but when the firemen went
up stairs they were met by such a
hot last. owing to the lightness of
the combustibles that the situation
was dangerous for them and several
were nearly overcome by smoke.
The hook and ladder truck was de-
layed owing to the team being at a
distance. This was unfortunate as
the ladders were badly needed to get
at the second story windows.
The firemen, by prompt hard work
had the fire under control within a
few minutes after they got at it but
had to fight it from some distance
and in a dense smoke and were there
! fore obliged to use a large amount of
water which poured down through
the floors into the main part of the
store. especially in the suit depart,
ment and into f. j. Kennedy's shoe
store
The suit department stock was
moved forward into the front of the
store but was damaged in handling
as well as by water Mr. Kennedys
stock was partially protected by
placing rugs over the stock but his
damage is considerable
The goods in the upper part of the
store were pretty badly damaged by
fire, Where the blaze did not reach
the heat, smoke and water did
Down stairs the water and handling
damaged nearly everything to a
greater or less degree.
Miss Maude Galusha, bookkeepei
and stenographer was in the bust
ness office on the second floor right
next to where the fire started but
she did not lose her head and got ou
the store account books and money
and also the books and accounts o.
Roster & Cottrell.
1t was fortunate that the new par
of the building was tight and wei
built for had the fire got ven
when it first started 1t would have
cleaned out the building.
The building in which the store /,
located is owned by William L
Hawks and is not badly damaged
though it will cost several hundred
dollars to put it in as good shape a
before.
H. C. Roster and Co. are heav,
losers, not only directly through fir,
and water but also indirectly through
loss of business The fire could no
have come at worse time than jus
before Easter with a big stock o
spring merchandise Their loss i
probably $4,000 to $1,000 Their stool
and fixtures were insured for Sill
600.
Miss l.. NJ. Barney who owns tn
millinery department finds her stoc
totally destroyed Not so much wa
burned but the heat and smoke prat
tically ruined the goods, including
large stock of trimmed hats. He
loss is probably fully $4,000 with il
surance nearly enough to cover
Miss Barney and Miss Swift, he
assistant, lost their hats and wrap
and Miss Swift lost a suit which sh
had at the store.
Mr.. Roster at the first alarm save
a new union suit, his fur-lined owe
coat and Mrs, Rosters new Easte
hat. Then he went back after hi
books and papers. The girls dow
stairs, Miss McDermott, Miss Roc
wood and Miss Barber worked liB
Trojans in helping move the stoc
and protect it from damage.
Every effort will be made to g
the store open as soon as possib
but not much can be done until Il
4 insurance adjustors reach here.
: +. j. Kennedy had no insurance {
+ his stock of footwear but was &c
r tunate in that a sag in the flo
J, overhead carried the water away
J, that It did not come down on b
4 goods.
e The fire alarm was rung in by +
d ward Woodman who was in front
G the store at the time and heard {
first call DR.. l.. II, Ross was In t