St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-10-25
HOTEL BURNED
One Life Lost Lost AT NOrthfield
$4,000 Loss In COnflagratiOn
Which Destroyed NOrhfield House

Northfeld. oct. 24.-One life was
lost and monetary damage Of $4,000
was done this morning by fire which
swept through the Northheld house,
four-story wooden structure, and
damaged the upper part OF the Jud-
-Huntley building just adjoining.
That the entire east side of the viii
lage square was not wiped out was
due to the heroic efforts Of the North
field fire department, which worked
from 3 o'clock until before the fire
was checked.
About a score of persons were w
the hotel building and there we're
many thrilling rescues as the firemen
climbed to the windows and brought
imprisoned people to the ground. and
several were more or less seriously
hurt in reaching safety.
Mrs Emma Clough Benjamin OF
Northfield lost her life.
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 lie
vas awakened by the crackIia.g Of
flames and on looking out Of the win
dow he found that part of the build
ing which was used as a dining room
and kitchen to be a 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 responded promptly.
By that time the rear of the hotel
was a roaring furnace, and the fire.
men laid 2100 feet of hose and used
eight streams of water during the
strenuous fight against the great
odds. The fire, as already stated, had
made a big start, and the nature of
the hotel construction made the
building highly iHf1ammable. The
fire spread through the entire struc-
ture most rapidly.
While some Of the fremen were
directing 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 STAIR
case were carried down the adders,
not having time either TO save any Of
their property. Cora Henry, who
was an employee of the hotel, was
overcome by the smoke and was car
ried from her rom in the fourth
story. Lawrence Burns, who lived IN
the hotel, had a most trying experl-
ence as he was forced to hang by his
fingers from the window sill OF his
room on the fourth floor while the
firemen were hosting a ladder In
addition, his torture was accentuated
by the fact that the window had slid
down and was resting on his fingers
as he clung desperately to the small
board. Mr.. Burns is a heavily built
man, weighing in the vicinity Of 23O
pounds.
George S. Bennett, who was occu-
pying a room with Sergeant B. E.
McMath, instructor of the Vermont
National Guard, hurt one heel Sc
verely as he made his way down a
fire escape. Others were more or less
bruised in getting out.
1t was not until daylight came that
the body Of Mrs. Benjamin was
found. She was 70 years of age,
whose home was in Northheld, but
who had been living in the MOTEL for
the past six months. Her room was
on the third floor, and the body was
discovered on the first floor, having
fallen with the ruins of the upper
part of the structure. The remains
were badly burned, especially about
the head and shoulders.
The guests of the hotel from ont OF
town, as taken from the register to-
day, were: F. A. Cleveland Of Hem
ingsford, Ia. Mr.. and Mrs. c. A.
Cleveland of Ormstown, Ia, (the par
ty being in this vicinity with pur-
pose Of buying a farm); Frank Col.
vim Of Pawlet. G. E. Putnam OF Bos-
ton. G. Blake Of Fitchburg, Mass,
and c. e. Kempter of Wilkes Barre,
Pa. Nearly all lost most of their
clothing and effects. Mr.. Blake. when
seen this morning, told OF getting our
with his coat, vest, overcoat, patam-
CONTINUED on page four)