The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-28
And Children Scurried to
Safety as Fire Attacked
4-Tenement House
so. MAIN ST. DAMAGE
EARLY TODAY $1,50O
Fire Probably Started from
Ash Barrel in Rear Part
of the Second Story

One Of the most stubborn tenement,
house fires which the fire department has
been called to cope with in several years
broke out in the building at 65-67 South
Main street this morning soon after g
o'clock. John w. Nichols OF South Barre
owns the property and the tenements
were occupied by the families OF Joseph
Kenney and Wade Dutton on the second
floor and John Wilfore and Paul Wilfofe
in the first story. The loss will aggre-
gate 81 800, and while Mr.. Nichols is pro-
teeted by insurance which he holds in
the Montpelier agency Of ]. G. Brown,
most of the tenants win suffer losses not
covered by insurance,
Several of the occupants on the second
| floor were able to escape only by hastily
hurrying from their sleeping quarters
without waiting to dress. Mrs. Cora
Dutton, mother of Wade Dutton, was
carried to the street by her son within
few moments after the fire was discov-
cred. Owing to her advanced age, rela-
tiyes OF the woman were apprehensiye of
her condition and she was removed to the
City hospital In the early morning. Lat
er in the day it was stated that Mrs.
Dutton appeared to suffer no i'll effects
from the shock of having to leave her
home so suddenly, although it was
deemed wise to have her remain at the
hospital for a time. Justus Smith, aged
IS. was assisted from the apartments OF
John Wilfore, aud while his daughter,
Mr. Wilfore's wife, was assisting her
husband in removing articles of value
from the tenement, Mr.. Smith was cared
for by neighbors. Despite his advanced
age Mr.. Smith took things coolly and
seemed but little perturbed by the ex-
citement about him. Four little Kenney
children were helped 70 reach the street
and three. children living in the apart
ments rented by Paul Wilfore were able
to make their escape unaided Mrs. John |
Wilfore, who was suffering from erysip- |
elias. was removed from her home 10 the |
house Of d. d. Webster, where other per /
sons rendered homeless also found tenn /
porary refuge. All told, II people were
housed under the iron roof.
Smoke pouring into her sleepingroom
awakened Mrs. Kenney at o'clock. She
ran 10 the door leading 10 an ell of the
house and found that section OF the
building in flames. After arousing other
tenants, she set about TO save some OF 4
her valuables, after being assured that +
help from the fire station had been sum-
noned. A telephone alarm was sent in
10 headmcrters from the residence Of
0 L.. asr 4
ust as the auto truck was swinging into
me. a general alarm was sounded from
lOx p near the Trow & Holden plant
Within few moments all Of the citys
Ire fighting apparatus, with the regulars
md large quota Of callmen. were max
ng a vigorous attack on the flames. II
-Four Streams Of Water.
Like many other large tenement build I,
ngs in the city. the house is blanketcd
" an iron roof laid over shingles This !
ir7lmstance had the effect Of keeping
he FIRE confined TO one building. although y
onditions were unbeamble within and G
be first attempt 90 subdue the flames
ad 10 be made from the outside. In the
vicinity Of the Nichols build {
lg are 4 number 81 tenemcnthouses iu- p
'uding the South End hotel and after :
ssuribg themselves that the structure n
I'd been cleared Of human beings, the
remen took tho usual precautions
gsinst the possibility Of fire spreading
p and down the street 10
-Four strea me of water were used from
10 outset and after water had its way
ith Gre directly under the roof. attsr.
or was turned - inoipient outbreaks {,
the second story When the fremen y
rived che inside of TIE house Was like 9,
furnace and il was ouly bv choprinr q
iies through thc roof that the progress =
the famcs was temporarily stayrd. @
nlf an hour after Ire first alarm sound
a. a570 o'cloek thc all-out signal pas q
ven. BAT it vas after : O'Clock before l
% hisre pas finally ruinruisled. ~st- I pr
81 times uhen 10 fre burst thrQurh g
= roaf vith seemingly rfmrws5 virar q
was thought fhaf the work ~ subiu y
? the fawes bad iusi begun. but wafer ~
rolumes bod Rad he uav end 81 ian. ~
r of e murh uafe ssfiols fre had van
red ht 9 a0 o'r.ok