Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06
CLUB HOUSE A TOTAL LOSS
Walls Are Standing but One Side
Of Lumber Is Burned.
Insurance OF s3,JOO on building and
5000 on Furniture and Fixtures
VIII Not Cover the Damage
Done-Thcory As to Origin.

RI ono Of tho keys on the oharred and
scorchcd piano in the Lake Champlain
Yacht club house should be struck IT.
would sound a discordant note that
would describe quite accurately the con-
dition the yacht club house itself Is in.
after Saturday mornings fire. II would
he weak, plaintive note very mel
nncholy sound.
Although three members Of the gov
erning board of the club met on Saturday
evening to make future plans. nothing
was decided upon I'VE shall have to
wait" 1t was given out. "until the In
surance adjusters make report Then
we shall know how we stand financially
Insurance of 81 go was carried on the
club building with $500 on the furniture
and fixtures. The club house. It is said.
cost $500 to build. and this did not In
clude the wide veranda that circled two
sides Of the building. The insurance
money, It is thought, will fall quite
little short of paying the total loss. It
is not expected that full insurance on
the building will he received as the large
beams that uphold the main floor are
intact as are some Of tho other beams
and grders. Insurance on the dock
proper will not ne reckoned as that part
| of tho property was not damaged
| The club house and it's contents are
reckoned a total loss by the club mem
bers. They declare that the hunong Will
have to be razed ard a NV ono erect
ed If the club is to go on. Although
from a distance the four walls and the
roof appear intact. n close examination
reveals the fact that the structure Is
| hDDcNCDp1ho1 In a
house OF charcoal. The contents includ-
ing the piano, rugs. tables chang cigars
and cooking utensils. are total loss.
The club steward. T.. r. Loud, VINO lef'
the building about Is minutes before the
fire was discovered by Officer Barry.
thinks that the blaze originated in a
locker situated between the main hall
and the buffet room. The small alley
leading between these two rooms ap-
pears to have been burnei more than
any other part Of the building although
some of the clothing and yachting ap-
PeratnS stored in the lockers were I'M
damaged. Numerous telephone and
HGhtinG wires tangled in tho ruins and
the opinion was expressed by some that
the blaze might have originated from
; defective wiring No easolene or othe,
combustibles were stored in the building
IT IL said. Tho clock in the main hal
stopped at 1 :35 o'clock
The steward. Mr.. Loud, when he learn
ed that the club house was ablaze rar
back and entered the small pantry
where he had s72 hidden. Officer Barr,
erasped the mans coat during the oper
alton, for he was afraid the stewart
would be overcome with smoke. Lout
not only saved his money but severa
bottles of champagne and a quantity o
cigars. II was aware of the danger
he said, but ! thought 7 might as wei
be dead as broke. The So was all ha
In the world"
Following the ringing Of the a,ar7
f from box i5 by Officer Barry genera
. confusion was caused by the city's fir
= whistle which could not be shut off.
. | locomotive whistle also added to the dir
= The ire department strung five lines q
= hose along the wharf and worked abou
| an hour before the blaze was subdueC
$ Upon the arrival OF the department IN
= fire was licking its way under the roo
2 and had gained great headway on tn
$ western side of the building, wlerc tn
r damage was greatest
V ON the night of November Is the frs
- and original club house, a more preter
o tious structure, was burned. The fir
5 originated it wa thought. from T.,
Il storage room. where gasolene was ken
= Two wears later the present house wa
>. built.