The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-16
Firemen Kept Money Loss
at Comparatively Low
Figure
IN CONSOLIDATED CO.'S
TRANSFORMER-HOUSE
Twenty-Five Granite Firms
Had To Shut Down for
Lack of Power

4
Lighting Co.'S transformer station at tn
corner of River and Granite streets thi
forenoon at s:45 o'clock compelled TWEEN
: ty.nine granite plants dependent upoi
the company for power to shut down
and caused II fire in the interior of tn,
structure that will result in a consid
cradle loss to machinery and other ap
pliances in the station. Earl A. Young
a meter tester, who with two linemer
was in the transformer room when the
blowout occurred, was severely burned
about the face and hands and Guy Nor.
ris and Charles Woodes, the company's
local foreman, had narrow escapes from
being burned.
All OF the electric lights in the city
were eXtinguished and as a precaution
the power of the Vermont Power &
Lighting Co., which extends to a large
number of stonesheds and other bus.
mess places. was suspended until the
danger had passed. Managed Clinton r.
Millar OF the Consolidated, Co, had a
gang of electricians working to repair
| the damage within fifteen minutes after
the fire was eXtinguished and by noon
several of the ammeters affected by the
over-charge were in working order, al
though it was not expected that opera.
tions in the stonesheds could be re.
sumed until tomorrow. 1t was stated
that the city would not be without lights
tonight.
The west side of the station is given
over entirely to the transformer APP
paratus and the damage by fire was con-
fined to this room. Adjoining parts of
the building were stored with insulated
wire and other stock and if the fire had
not been stopped in time it is likely
that it would have reached serious pro-
portions. The fire. station was notified
of the blowout at a50 o'clock or around
that time and the auto fire truck with
several OF the regulars aboard responded
to the call
Owing to the oily composition which
forms part of the insulation used on
the wires. the fire was extremely diff.
cult to fight and the firemen were handi-
capped by gaseous fumes that some
times threatened to overcome them.
Pyrene, the new chemical extinguisher,
which was adopted by the department
sometime ago, does not act as con-
ductor and it was used with good eff
feet around the wires, where the appli-
cation of ordinary chemical solution or
water would have placed the fremen in
jeopardy. Fifteen minutes after the
short circuit occurred, the danger OF
bad fire was over.
Woodwork about the room was
by the flames in many places
and several ammeters were also dam
iged. although the loss to these appl-
lnces will not be known until they are
.ested. 1t was said this forenoon that
he loss of time and the inconvenience
o the granite manufacturers would in
'entory the larger portion of damage
aused by the blowout.
The River street transformer station
,erforms function for the Consolidated
o.. similar to that of the Vermont
'ower Co.'S station on Blackwell street
\ watchman remains at the station
urng the night and frequent visits
o the place are made throughout the
ay. This morning Mr.. Young, Nor
is the lineman and Foreman Woodes
appened to be standing in the trans
1rmer room when the short circuit oc-
nrred. Young was near an ammeter
hat received a heavy charge of elec
-icity through the blowout and this
accounts for his burns. AL.
Rough he was not rendered unconscious.
ne burns were of painful nature and
e may be unable to work for a few
,ys as result. Realizing what had
appened, one of the trio ran to the
lephone and notified the fire station.
anager Millar was advised of the sit
ltion at once and he took immediate
cps to avoid further damage by tenn
,rarily shutting off the Vermont Co.'S
,wer Stoncsheds and others depend
It upon the latter company for pow
were able to resume operations at
:l0 o'clock.
The fire department fought hard
title with fire in the ee-tenement
use at l2l Hill street last night aud
fore the blaze was subdued, several
les in cellar partition and the ground
or had been punctured A telephone
\ at 9;20 o'clock brought the auto
e truck to Hill street. where smoke
is pouring out OF the house. The
It of the fire was found TO be in
, basement. where a partition extend
7 through three floors had taken fire
antilles Of chemical solution were
It through the partition and two holes
the floor made it possible TO douse
tions of the house in danger. With
ten minutes after the fire truck
lived, all signs of fire had been smoth
4, although 1.-TWO Of the regulars were
at the house TO prevent a further
break.
The building is occupied by the fam
: OF A. Gilmore, Frank Batchelder and
third family Damage j. confined
rely 20 the basement and the first
~. although thick smoke which per.
ited every room in the STRUCTURE win
Sc no little Inconvenience and a
inkling Of damage Losses sustained
each family are Wen covered by
france and the damage 70 the buid-
j. also covered
iremen believe the blaze was drs
hot ashes in the basement The eei-
partition was found 10 be crammed
D shavings and once the lathe and
ter which enclose the diling became
ted communication 70 the floor
Ve vas rapid zEd sure.