The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-02
By Prompt Alarm Saved 2
Families and Averted De-
struction of Buildings
HOUSE AT 449 NO. MAIN
WAS THREATENED
Cause of Earl 5 .orning
Blaze Cos, - $3.50 Is
2 ,cery

| Fire broke out in wagonshed at
tached to the dwelling of Paul Kingston
at 449 North Main street early this
morning, communicated to the brick
house adjoining which stands back from
the street little way and did damage
amounting to $3.50. The buildings, val
ued at $1,000, are owned by Mr.. Kings
ton and are jointly occupied by his fam
lily and the family of A. Cerasoli. A
small loss on the latter's household
goods is not covered by insurance, but
the damage done to the buildings and
to Mr.. kingston's personal effects is fully
insured in the j. G. Brown agency of
Montpelier and the G. II. Pape agency
| here.
| Paul Kingston, young son of the
owner, was awakened at $3.50 o'clock by
the cracking OF flames. He aroused
other occupants Of the house, among
them John Kingston, who ran to the box
near Whtcomb Bros plant and turned
in an alarm, general call No. Is. Even
then the fire was licking up the wooden
structure where it had its origin and by
the time the fire apparatus arrived it
was eating its way through the roof of
the main building. At the east end of
the property is a small barn, also at
tached to the string of buildings, but
the constant application of water saved
it from destruction.
Men and women were hurriedly NOV
ing household effects to the lawn as the
firemen began to combat the flames.
Small hand chemicals were used to good
advantage in smothering sporadic out
breaks about the house, but most of the
real effective work was accomplished
with two streams OF hose. The regu-
lars entered the house with one stream
and fought in the face of the approach
ing flames for several minutes before
their efforts began to tell. Smoke was
billowing from every ereyice, but the
men made persistent stand and with
in a half hour after the alarm was rung
the fire was under control The recall
was sounded at 4:l5 O'Clock.
just how the fire originated could not
be explained to-day. The wagon shed is
constructed of brick and wood; the
dwellinghouse, one of the oldest in the
city, is also built of brick, with granite
facings. The blaze seems to have bad
its start at the base of rear staircase
which leads from an outdoor entrance
on the north side of the shed to blind
garret. A door also at the foot of the
stairways and leading to the kitchen OF
the Cerasoi apartments is said to have
been locked. Once the fire got a fair
start draught from above swept it to
the roof, which was covered with shin
giles. Among the shingles the flames be-
gan to shoot high in the air and for
time it looked as though the entire
string of buildings was doomed Fire
s,x L., - l.
first to leave the station could see the
blaze distinctly, as they started. People
in all quarters of the city who took the
pains to look could discern the fire, al
though in some instances it could not be
exactly located.
In the dwelling proper the fire did not
do any appreciable damage in the lower
story. The iremen were compelled to
chop holes in the roof, but once an easy
of egress for the water was gained
the progress of the fire was stopped
On the west side of the barn there are
a few charred timbers, but the damage
there is negligible. Water and smoke
havoc on the ground floor and
from those two sources a considerable
portion Of the damage proceeds.
The bulk of the loss was incurred on
lHt DulIulHSS. u hstpS pofV VIII bc it-
luired to repair the shed and house.
Tenants OF the two apartments worked
with such agility in removing their ef-
fects that they will lose little on fur
A. Cerasoi thinks his loss viii
not exceed $50. Mr.. Kingston, being
fully protected by insurance, is satis-
fed that the outbreak might have been
good deal worse for him. He will pro-
,eed at once TO make the necessary re-
pairs, although both families will have
% seek other living quarters for the
lime being. A bag of chickens reposing
IN the hearth within the house survived
he smoke and water long enough to al
ow some of the occupants to effect their
'eseue. 4 big watch dog. the property
VI the Kingston family, made an early
kit and was resting comfortably this
morning in the dooryard on the sunny
ide of the house.
In ringing the all out call one of the
assistant engineers accidentally encoun-
cred the lever which rings the regular
lumber. The call, l3, was sounded once,
md for just feeting moment people
hought the department was calling for
more recruits. In other moment, how
yer. the two short blasts sounded in
eassuring tones.