News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-09-24
Another Fruit Store Fire
The Store is Gutted-WOk Of An Incendiary

At about 40 last Thursday morning
fire broke out in the Alexander fruit store
in the Spaulding block, corner of Main
and Eden streets. The fire was discover
ed by the Italian girl, who slept in the
rear of the store. She was alone that
night and had been for several nights
the Alexanders giving attention to their
store at Johnson. The girl says that
when she was awakened by the fire the
entire front store was in flames and that
she escaped in her nightdress through the
rear partition and got out of the back
door. She aroused the Debuque families
! living in the basement below and the
| Nichols family in the rooms above. She
also notified several of those living near.
by.
The fire department responded prompt
ly aud it was not long before the flames
were extinguished, but not before the
store was completely Quilted and the
front of the building badly burned. Moth
ing whatever was saved from the store,
the flames having got under great head
way before the alarm was given.
The damage to the tenants below by
water was considerable, as they got out
but a very few articles of furniture
before the floods came down upon them.
The Nichols apartments and furniture
were paddy damaged by smoke.
There is no doubt whatever that the
fire was the work of an incendiary,
as the store was completely in flames, in
dicatng that kerosene had been literally
applied to the interior Of the store, and
there was no cause for accidental firing,
as the night was warm and no fires in
the building; neither could it have taken
from electricity, as the village plant had
shut down the power at midnight.
Alexander had $3.50 insurance, divided !,
$1312 on the stock and the balance on |
furniture and other fixtures. His stock |
of goods seemed to be very low
Spaulding insurance on the building
was $17OO, which he claims will not
pay him for the damage.
At the suggestion of mauy here, States
Attorney Maurice held fire inquest last
Friday, at which twenty. seven witnesses
were examined. The hearing took place
before Judge Moore, y. A. Lafountain
taking stenographic notes. Sheriff Town
the witnesses and the entire
day was taken up in the examination.
If sufficient evidence was elected there
from further action will be taken later.
NOTES
The fire department responded prompt
ly and it was not long before two big
streams were on the flames.
Insurance Adjuster Hayes of Bellows
Falls was in town Monday, adjusting
the loss of Mr.. Alexander.,on the stock
and fixtures.
What stock there was that was not
burned was carried off by the armful.
true was this with the tobacco
and cigars, several secured pretty good
stock ofthe weed in various forms, some
what dampened, but good enough"
Several were drenched by the stream,
but Sam Morey got it more than anyone
else. He was at work in the rear of the
building when a stream of water struck
him squarely in the solar plexus, knock
ing him backward several feet and giving
him drenching from head to feet.
That we have plenty of water is evil
dent by the fact that an examination of
the reservoir the next morning showed
that the water was lowered but three
inches below the overflow. Plenty of
water and good pressure can always be
-elied upon from our excellent water
system.
This is the second time the building has
been atre within year. Last October
t was set, it is said by mice at matches,
and the stock badly damaged, but not
10 much but what an auction was held
several nights afterwards disposing of