The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-22

| EaStOn-l lnOrpc Dlochi iuoueIH tiicc'
story brick building at Church and
John streets. II was about $50 o.
clock when David Baer, member of
the firm OF Baer Brothers, rushed in
to the drug store of w. l.. Thorpe
which was situated in the corner Of
the buildings and informed S. c. IIaw-
thorne, employed by Mr.. Thorpe
that there was fire in the cellar
Mr.. Hawthorne, who had charge of the
building because of Mr.. Thorpe's i'll
ness. investigated and found the cell
ing over the boiler ablaze and the
flames already eating into the parii-
| tions. With small hose he attempt.
ed to fight the fire, but was driven
out The alarm was sunded and the
| department responded promptly. The
| fire had not yet assumed serious pro.
portion, but as the boiler room was
situated under the entrance to the
upper floors of the building, the fire
| spread quickly through the halls
Nevertheless with good water pres
| sure the firemen battled with 1t on
| even terms until the explosion oc.
Cured This explosion was caused
by gas pipes that the excessive heat
had cut and the gas created by the
! fire. Immediately after the explos
ion it was seen that other property
was going to be damaged and then
outside aid was called.
T,x of tha n ct Thorn
and Lurie blocks and their occupant,
the losses were total. Mr.. Hawthorne
saved some money from the safe Of
the drug store, but lost his overroat
in his zeal. The Baer Brothers could
rescue but little, while Llrie's sal.
wage is hardly worthy of mention.
The loss in the .astatiiee. is also COM
plete, although the contents of the
vault were not harmed and Post
master Hyland has arranged to move
the office to the Riley building. The
Beckett residence and home of the
Elks on the opposite side of Church
street were saved by the direction OF
the wind When the fire reached the
Garabino property the aid had arrived
from the other places and in all
twenty-five streams with pressure
OF about eighty pounds, we're playing
on the burning buildings. Besides
preventing the stores on the north
side of John street from getting
more than severe scorching, the
fire fighters drove the flames away
from Dougherty's hotel which adjoins
the Garabino building and which
seemed likely to go with the rest. At
the same time the fremen had to give
their attention at almost periodical
intervals to the Municipal building.
the Phoenix garage, the Phoenix hotel
J. J. Burke's market and barns and
McMartin's grovery at 10 Church
street where ii is suspected a fire
was started in hallway. The roo.
of DR. Reardon's barn on Wilder
avenue caught from sparks, but the
attendants smothered the blaze.
Village President Clark and Chief
Hoctor are very proud of the waite.
system which was put to an eXtraor-
dinary test by the conflagration. y
pressure of from 80 TO l05 pounds
was maintained throughout the fire
The villages pumping station fur
nished most of the pressure, but the
pump at the Wood factory was also
of assistance. No steamers were
needed from other municipalities
Hose only was required. The Ben.
nington and North Adams firemel
had their apparatus transported by
train, but the Cambridge men loaded
hose on big motor truck. The Of
ficials stated that the fire occurred
at a very inopportune time for ;ho
Welfare of the village. Because of
the war In Europe the factory of the
Wood company Is shut down and
BUSINESS conditions are very depress.
ing 1t is not known If the burned
structures win be rebuilt, Suitable
stores were very much IL demand
yesterday. The Reynolds building
On Jonr street, .he front OF whic.
was burned, is new and has only re.
Gently been completed
One OF the losses that will not be-
readily replaced is fine library
owned by Dr. Putnam and which WAS
the result OF many years collection