Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
LIVERY STABLE BURNED
H. g. Smith Suffers Fire Loss for
Third Time.
Surrounding Property in Much Danger
but Saved by Energetic Work on
the Part of Firemcn--Loss Es-
timnted Mt $4,000.

At five o'clock yesterday afternoon the
livery stable OF Henry c. Smith In Me
chanics lane burned for the third time.
and dense columns Of black smoke lifting
Itself skyward made IL appear as though
n whole block in the heart of Burlington's
business district was threatened with
total destruction. As though by magic
the smoke and flames burst from under
the roof of the livery building, where
many tons Of hay were stored, and be-
fore the fire department had really got to
work 1t was In the midst OF a veritable
inferno. The fire was as short lived as 1t
was active, for an hour later 4. was under
complete control; the smoke and flames
had disappeared, and the hundreds of peo-
pie that had gathered from everywhere
were vending their ways homeward
The livery stable and Its contents, with
the exception OF the 20 horses and II
wagons of different types. are a total loss
Last evening Mr.. Smith estimated his loss
at about $4,000. The building and con
tents were insured. but not to their full
value because of the high insurance rates
The place has long been considered fire
trap. All the other property that was
damaged was fully covered by insurance
Although the intense heat warmed the
windows in the Hayward block and the
two adjoining blocks west owned by
l3rownell & IIawley; damaged the news
room OF the Daily News; charred the rear
Of the Craven and Henderson blocks
on Church street and partially
destroyed small barn in the
rear of the livery stable, owned by
Brownell & 1Iawley. the total outside loss
is not considered large. The owners and
occupants of these buildings, as well as
the buildings facing on College street
South Winoosk avenue. Main street and
Church street. have no complaint to
rake, and consider that they were lucky
in escaping loss.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Newshoys. 1t Is thought smoking
in the small barn of Brownell & Haw-
ley. located in the rear Of the Smith
stable and with entrances from Main
street and Mechanics lane. started the
fire. The boys had been playing in
the loft, and II was they who gave tho
alarm TO employees in the Daily News
press room. which adions the barn.
II. e. Smith and some of his employees,
who We're seated in front of the stable
heard the news and ran down the alley
to investigate. Learning that his
stable was in danger of burning. Mr.
Smith hurried back. falling down
twice. Then began the work Of saw
ing the 90 horses and the carriages
The horses were all gotten out but by
the time that the fourteenth wagon
had been rolled out the stable was
roaring mass of flames and several
carriages were destroyed. Mr.. Smith
did not know last evening how many
We're lost.
At the Daily News building the en-
ployes were actively al work. a large
rubber covering was placed over the
press, and type and other movable
property was carried to place Of
safety The office furniture was moved
to the sidewalk In n small shed all
Joining the Brownell x Iawley barn.
whore it is supposed the fire originated,
were stored "A rolls Of print paper.
Six of the rolls were pushed to a place
Of safety. hut the remaining rolls were
ruined by water
G. w. BrOwncll said last evening
that his barn was empty and that he
could not imagine how fire could
start there unless it was originated by
newsbOys. a mystery puzzling both
/ fremen and Mr.. Brownell is how
the fire from this harm could be com
municated to the Smith stable. as the
latter structure was covered with thick
metal shea thing The flames in an in
credibly short time however. pene-
tratcd through this sheathinR and
made their way into tho hay NOV Of
the Smith stable Then. like a vol
cano, II crackled and roared in seem
ing glee, and neither water nor cheml-
calls could stop It,
HOW THE FIRE WAS FOUGHT.
The fire alarm clock stopped At Just
five o'clock. and three minutes later the
fire department had three streams on
the small stable in the rear of the
Brownell x Hawley block, where, it is
believed, the confederation started.
From study of EurnSon's fire dis
tricts the department knew what to ex-
/ poet when they saw fire the size of
yesterdays and as fast ass the men arriv-
| ed hose was strung from every ConceiV-
able quarter When the livery stable
burst into flames il became evident that
the firomcn ought ty cunfine ttcr efforts
to saving the nci-hhoriug property. and
this they did SO v.lI that nothing but
praise of their work waa heard
In Il short time ii streams were playing
| on and around the fire. The first three
were sun at work through the alley
way between the Brownell & Hawley
and the Hayward blocks The nrcmen
soon had the fire in the small stable UNI