The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-16
FLAMES DAMAGE17 900
Continued from first page.)

Barre he decided to stay in his office
over night. He says his Office was I'M
usually hot at that time.
| He was aroused some time later by a
commotion in the hall crying Fire"
| That was about 2 O'Clock Sunday morn
ing. 1t is probable that the fire was
| first discovered by DIR. j. Il. Dewey, who
was in his Office on the second floor of
the Union block. His attention was at
tracted by the smell of smoke and he
went out and saw smoke pouring up
through the cracks from the Temple
store below. DIR. Dewey rushed back
into his office and telephoned the fire
headquarters, and later general alarm
was sounded from box Is at the corner
of State and Main streets. Still later
a second general alarm was sounded, as
Chief Pattee of the fremen realized that
his men had hard task ahead.
At that time great clouds of smoke
were pouring out of the Easements of
the Temple and Boyles stores into State
street, although there was no sign of
flames. -Four streams of water were
poured into the basement windows, while
other firemen went to the rear of the
block, where there is fire escape.
Three streams were poured into the
building from the rear, and for nearly
an hour the seven streams poured their
deluge into the building; but in spite
of all the efforts the flames gained head
way and presently burst into view from
the street floor, while smoke beloved
from the upper part.
Mr.. Whittier's Dash.
II was at this time that Mr.. Whittier
made his risky venture into the building
and assembled to the second floor, creep
ing along the wall to the office OF Patch
& Co. He seized few books and then
fled back to the street. A little later
some fremen essayed the same perform
ance but were driven back choking from
smoke. Thus resisting the fremen, the
flames mounted 10 the second and third
floors of the building, also spreading out
to the Phillips & Lucas jewelry store.
For time the fire seemed to have
been placed under control and people
began to breath easier-but only for
few moments. as flames broke out anew
in the rear of the structure and they
mushroomed out in the store of c. +.
Boswell, from which some of the articles
had been removed earlier in the fight.
Presently the whole building was en-
yeloped in flames, and it appeared that
everything in il must be a total loss.
Firemen went to the roof of the Heaton
block, but were soon driven from this
vantage point.
Aid Called From Barre.
Fearing that the Ere might sweep the
LII -, 81 ,lp Laf ha rah ra Dis
driven by the high wind might set FIRE |
to property in other parts of the city, |
the Montpelier department decided to
telephone to Barre for assistance. |
Countless embers were flying toward the |
city hall at this time and buildings in
the southern section of the city. There |
was good fortune, however, in the fact |
that heavy blanket of snow had fallen
during the day, protecting the wooden
roofs of all the buildings. IL is likely |
that if it had not been for this eondi-
ton, dozens of fires would have been |
started. Even as it was, people stayed |
at home generally in order to look after |
their own buildings.
Chief Gladding OF the Barre fire de- |
partment was prompt to respond to the |
call for assistance and gathering about |
a dozen men and taking 1000 feet of |
hose, he went by the special train which |
had been sent up, arriging at the scene
of the fire shortly after o'clock. The
Barre firemen Joined their efforts with /
the Montpelier men and using the addi-
tional hose and equipment attacked the
flames in an effort to drive them back. :
BY this time Chief Pattee's men were
tired from their long exer-
ton and suffering somewhat from the
severe cold weather.
The walls OF the Union block began
to topple and soon those on the north
west side fell into the North branch. i
Soon, too, the front wall toppled into
State street, barely missing several fire.
men.
Meanwhile occupants of the Heaton
md Dieter blocks were taking some of
their property out. Mrs. Perinda Pres
,ott, an invalid, was removed from apart
nents on the third floor of the Dieter
block to the home of Mrs. L. ID. Taft for
.he time being. The fire erept into the
upper part of the Heaton block and did
thousands of dollars damage, but the
Dieter block escaped practically undam
Iged, although occupants sustained some {
osses from smoke and water. The rear
# Wayne Reeds store was Quilted and
lis stock was damaged or ruined in the
light the fremen made at that point.
tut glass and hollow-ware were de-
troyed, while silverware and iewelry,
tc., suffered. Along after daylight the
iremen of the two cities began to get
ontrol of the flames and efforts were
,ept up so vigorously that the fire was !
topped before it could get foothold in
he Dieter block, although it had par /
tally destroyed the Heaton block.
The fremen were handicapped some
What by broken hose which became froz- {
n and from breaking apart of couplings.
The water pressure, however, remained
GOD throughout and all day Sunday ]