The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-01-23
GUESTS SAVED PART
OF THEIR PROPERTY
The Fire Broke Out Shortly
Before 2 A. NJ, Presum-
ably in a Closet, and
Firemen Fought 1t for
Over Four Hours Loss
Partially Insured

In the most disastrous fire that has
visited Barre in many years, the CITY
hotel, the Oldest hostelry in the city, was
Quilted by fire at an early hour this
morning and 2l persons, including 10
guests, We're compelled to make hasty
exit from the building and seek quar-
ters elsewhere. Bitter cold weather pre.
vailed and many suffered from frost
bites and not few received minor burns.
The loss is $4,000, about one half of
which is covered by insurance. The fire
is believed to have started in a closet in
the cloak room back of the office on the
first floor. although there are various
theories as to its origin Arthur S. Mar
tin owned the building and the business
was conducted by Mr.. and Mrs. w. II.
Snow.
The fire had several thrilling features.
Some OF the guests were cut off from
escape through the stairways and the
firemen put up ladders before rescues
could be effected.
Early this forenoon Landlord Snow
carefully checked off the list of guests
and ascertained that all had escaped
Several times the Perry Auto Co.'s ga
rage and Cutler Bros livery barn in
the rear of the burning structure were
although the Aldrich public
library and the First Baptist church, To-
Gated nearby. were never in danger.
John Bligh, the night clerk, discovered
the fire and notified the fire station by
telephone at ] AS o'clock The auto
truck was the first to reach the build
ing and three minutes later general
alarm was sounded from box 23 at the
corner of Prospect and North Main
streets. From that hour on till o'clock
this morning, when the all out signal
was given, the firemen battled hard
against the flames, and at the same time
labored to keep from freezing in the low
that prevailed.
Following is list of the guests who
were registered at the hotel last night:
G. II. More, a New York granite dealer,
and his niece, Miss Margaret Reed; c. Fl.
Kerwin of Philadelphia, Pa, mechanic
who is installing a monotype machine
for the Lanston Monotype Co. "a the
Bottinelli printing shop on North Main
street; granite retailer from Wiscon-
sin. who arrived in the city last night
and whose name as registered was lost
with the registry in the hotel office; Carl
Robinson, travelling salesman from
Boston; a granite retailer who arrived
in the city last night from Teresa City,
Mich: Martin l.. Bundheim, salesman
for the B. Annes Co. of New York;
g. L. Martin, Burlington travelling man:
W. II. Young of Pittsburg Pa, a sales
man; Mrs c. II. Noyes of White River
Junction, demonstrator for the Yer
mont Baking Co.; w. Z. Lappin of Bos
-on, dry goods salesman; w. ID. Myers
IF Boston. salesman; \. Louis Shriver
IF Cambridge, Mass. a salesman from
.he Swedish Iron & Steel Co., of Brook
yn. n. Y; G. H. Belknap, an organ
nender who is repairing the pipe or
ran at st. Nlonica's church; David Nc
yean. Williamstown.
Besides the guests, Mr.. and Mrs. Snow
we're sleeping on the second floor, the lat
er's parents. Mr.. and Mrs. John Ruddy.
lad rooms in the same story and the
hef, Charles A. Preston, of Morrisville,
vas quartered in the rear of the build
ng. With the exception of the chef and
he night clerk, all of the help had quar-
ers outside.
There were many stories current TO
lay of the narrow escapes encountered
" the occupants of the house. In a
MEASURE these stories tally with the
acts, for none of the guests had ample
ime to make their way out and it is
ikely that some of them would have
net injury had it not been for the cool
eaded work of the firemen. who were
ided by the police and spectators. For
he first time in several years, the long
ldders which form part of the depart
lent's equipment, were used to good ad
antage in aiding people to leave a burn
ng building. At the very outset, it
las seen that prompt work only would
vert fatalities and for that reason the
remen We're quickly scaling the walls
n the east side.
Guests Directed to Exits.
Mr.. Snow was one OF the first to reach
he ground floor when the alarm was
iven. Quickly sensing the seriousness
+ the fire he retraced his steps and was
oon directing guests to the exits
moke blocked every attempt TO make
second descent through the main stair
'ay which leads from the street en-
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