Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-27
ORPHANS AROUSED FROM BEOs
Watch Early Morning Fire $50
Feet Away.
Small Structure At Rear Of 81. Joseph's
Orphanage Practically Destroyed
Adjoining Buildings Saved
by Good Work..

Approximately 200 orphans and the Sis
ters Of Charity were aroused from their
beds, a few hundred dollars damage was
ion and several firemen were AXE
n chilled with water, when a two-room
building at the rear Of st. Joseph's Or
phanage on North avenue was almost de-
stroyed by fire early Sunday morning.
The burned building was located about
$50 feet from the main structure. The
room upstairs. where the fire is thought
to rave broken out, had been in use as an
Isolation hospital, where children afflicted
with contagious diseases were confined till
the period Of quarantine was over. The
other room (downstairs) had been used as
a school room, and about the floor yester-
day could be seen the charred remains
of drill uniforms. drums, flies. ETC., used
by the orphans In their drills. No child
had been upstairs in the building since
Friday afternoon, therefore the origin
OF the fire is a mystery to the sisters. 1t
is probable. however, that some one stole
in there to sleep Saturday night and acci-
d~entally set fire to the place. The loss is
not heavy. as the building can be easily
replaced.
TIL fire was discovered by a little girl,
an inmate of the institution, who hap
pened to be up at the time. The child
promptly notified Sister NJ. Bernard, and
the sister called to a passing hackman
to ring in an alarm. This was done. The
time was 4:04, aand box 413 was the one
sounded.
Stations one, two and four (the hook
and ladder truck) responded promptly, as
did also the chief Of the fire department,
Carl Stockwell. AS soon as the chief got
to the institution, he realized the small
number of men at his disposal was en-
tirely inadequate to cope with the situa-
ton, especially as the large barn to the
west of the burning building was being
scorched by the flames. With the thought
Of disaster to this building and the imme-
date danger to the orphanage itself
from burning firebrands upuermost in
his mind. he decided to call out the entire
department, and followed out this i'm
pulse by sounding three taps on the fire
alarm.
With all apparatus on the scene as the
result OF the general alarm, 1t was found
the part OF prudence to lay three lines
OF hose. This was done. but two Of the
~hydrants were In such remote spots that
1t necessitated the laying of $500 feet
OF hose by the fire laddies to reach the
building. However, water was soon being
poured on the burning building, as we'll
as the large barn, which was cracking
by this time. This was continued until
shortly after five o'clock, when the re-
call was sounded
Too much cannot be said Of the work
OF the fremen, as they battled against
wind and smole while drenched with
water. A better Illustration Of the work
they accomplished cannot be given than
by showing that while the building burned
was long in flames before they arrived,
they saved an adjoining building, also
composed Of two rooms, which is used
as a storehouse. At first view one would
think that both buildings were one. but
such proves not to be the case. The
west wall In this building. the ono near.
est the burned building. was burned
somewhat, 1t Is true. but only a hole
large enough for a man to get through
was made by the axes of the firemen
In the two rooms In this building were
chests Of tea. etc. In the cellar Of thu
burned building were several barrels OF
pears that the little children of the or.
phanage had been collecting all the week
for the winter.
ON feature that stood out more prom.
inently to those who visited the convent
during the early morning FIRE. was thu
sight of the large lumber Of children
which the institution takes care Of stand
ing in fire drill order. ready to march
from the building should hrebrand.
threaten it with destruction.
The insurance on the Providence Or.
phan asylum. including outer building,
and contents, is with the T. s. Peel
Insurance agency.