The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-24

/ About score of persons were in tn
hotel building and there were man
| thrilling rescues as the ifremen climbe
/ to the windows and brought imprisonet
people to the ground; and several wer
more or less seriously hurt in reaching
safety.
The Dead
MRS. EMMA CLOUGH BENJAMIN o
Northfeld.
Discovery of the Fire.
The fire was discovered at 3 o'clock by
James A. McMann, a clothing dealer here
who resides in the hotel His room was
on the third floor. He was awakened BY
the cracking of flames and on looking
out of the window he found that part OF
the building which was used as a dining
room and kitchen to be mass OF flames
He hastily gathered some OF his clothing
and then rushed downstairs, giving the
alarm as he went The fire alarm was
soon rung in and the department re-
sponded promptly.
BY that time the rear of the hotel was
a roaring furnace, and the firemen laid
2,l00 feet of hose and used eight streams
of water during the strenuous fight
against the great odds. The fire, as al
ready stated, had made big start, and
the nature of the hotel construction made
the building highly inhammable. The
fire spread through the entire structure
most rapidly.
Clung to Window Sill BY Fingers.
While some of the fremen were direct
ing the streams of water, others put
ladders against the building to rescue
those who were imprisoned within,
Several who had been unable to
make their way down the staircase were
carried down the ladders, not having
time either to save any of their prop
erty. Cora Henry, who was an employe
of the hotel, was overcome by the smoke
and was carried from her room in the
fourth story. Lawrence Burns, who lived
in the hotel, had most trying expert
ence as he was forced to hang by his
fingers from the window sill of his room
on the fourth floor while the fremen
were hosting a ladder. In addition, his
torture was accentuated by the fact that
the window had slid down and was rest
ing on his fingers as he clung desperately
to the small board. Mr.. Burns is a
heavily built man, weighing in the vicin
ty of 23O pounds.
George S Bennett, who was occupying
/ room with Sergeant b. f. McMath, in
L. 20 a,-l
lurt one heel severely as he made his
Fay down a fire escape, Others were
more or less bruised in getting out.
Mrs. Benjamin's Body Badly Burned.
1t was not until daylight came that
he body of Mrs. Benjamin was found.
She was 20 years of age. Her home
vas in Northfield. but she had been liv-
ng in the hotel for the past six months.
Ter room was on the third floor. and the
,ody was discovered on the first floor,
laving fallen with the ruins of the upper
,art of the structure. The remains were
,adly burned, especially about the head
nd shoulders.
Those Who Were Saved
The guests of the hotel from out OF
own, as taken from the register to-day,
we're: F. A. Cleveland OF Hemingsford. /
a.. Mr. and Mrs. c. A. Cleveland of
lrmstown, Ia, (the party being in this
.feinity with purpose of buying a
arml: Frank Colvin of Pawlet, G. f. !
'utnsm of Boston, G. Blake of Fitch |
,urg, Mass, and C. L. Kempter OF
Wilkes Barre, Pa Nearly all lost most !
+ their clothing and effects. Mr.. Blake,
rhen seen this morning. told of getting |
ut with his coat, vest overeoat, pajam- |
5 and trousers but had to leave his or
er sheets and S25 in money.
Local people who were stopping in the
otel were Lawrence Burns, James A.
lcMann, W. J. Roberts. manager of the I
Itlantic & Pacific Tea company. Charles
ate. p A. Rogers. L. Bisseau, Sergeant
!. f. McNIsth and George ;. Bennett.
'wo other regulars in the hotel, Charles
iorehouse and Ray Bellows, were out Of
own. the former being in Barre and the
litter in st. Albans. While all suffered 4
,sses OF their clothing, Mr.. McSlann lost
iost Of all the bosrders because he had 4
D part with S7j in money. two watches,
$50 in wearing apparel and the furni-
4