Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-11

Ing scorched by the heat. Al times he
assisted tho hremen to pull the hose
hither and thither, and only when his
efforts wore no longer needed, after the
south wall had fallen In. did he desist
from his attempts to help keep the are
under control.
The work Of the firemen Is deserving
of all the praise that can be bestowed
upon them. They worked like demons
to save the building on the corner Of
Church and Maple streets, and At times
seemed to be In imminent danger Of
being baked alive. The police depart
ment also did hne work In tho able
manner in which they kept the crowd.
which numbered thousands. behind tho
fire lines so they would be no hind
drance to the flremen. In these efforts
they we're ably assisted by tho military
police from the Post
DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.
Mrs. w. J. Casey Of 179 Maple street
sent the first alarm of fire into station
one. This was done at 1888 by telephone,
Her two daughters called her attention to
light in the toy shop. Approaching the
window she preceived that flames we're
coming out Of the south windows, and
creeping slowly but surely UP the side
OF the building. 1t was then that she
rushed to the phone When she returned
to her window the flames were leaping 30
feet or more in the air.
The fire alarm was sounded at $3.50 by
George "Moneycash" Zeskind from box 43,
in front of the police station. Zeskind,
who was in the vicinity of the police sta
ton. heard cries of fire, ring the alarm"
from people running in his direction from
the vicinity of Pitchers restaurant. These
cries were the result of Charles A..
Richards warning. who was running UP
Church street in the vicinity of The Will
son. Mr.. Richards was one of the first to
see the fire. He was at work in his tire
vulcanizing shop in the Collins blacksmith
shop directly across from Mr.. Hoag's Of
flee in the old skating rink building.
Mr.. Richards told a Free Press man
that he was hanging a newly repaired
tire on q hook on the wall near the front
door Of his shop He had just completed
this task when. on glancing through a
glass window in the shop door. he per-
ceived a reflection Of what to him ap-
peared to be fire. He hastily opened the
door and found the Office of the toy shop
on fire.
Running at an exceedingly fast rate
Of speed for a man Of his physique, he
kept up the cry Of fire, fire. fire." This
was carried on by those ahead of him
until 1t reached the vicinity Of the city
hall. When Mr.. Richards perceived that
others ahead Of him were bent for the
nearest fire alarm. he turned his steps
toward the skating rink building and had
almost reached the northwest corner
when. he said, there was a terrific ex-
plosion Of fire and dust (probably SMOKEY
that went through the center Of the entire
building. The building in the twinkling
Of an eye was a mass of flames from
north to south and from stills to roof.
TRANSFORMER BURNS OUT.
One Of the incidents of the fire occurred
when a transformer in front Of Pitchers
restaurant burned out. With the trans
former burned heavy voltage wire. the
property Of the Burlington Light & Power
Co. The wire lay suspended in midair
across several other telephone and tele-
graph wires and was a deadly menace to
the throngs Of persons who were passing
on their way to the hre. The chances
| Of it's dropping down were 80 4cute thai
a policeman was detailed to tho spot &c
direct the people away from the danger
| In short time the power was shut of
, however. and the places of business
| Whereabouts will be devoid Of power unit
| some time this morning.
| BELLBOY CAUGHT IN ELEVATOR.
Adolphus Freeman. bellboy at the
| Hotel Vermont was one young man who
will not forget the fire in some time
Freeman was on one Of the elevators
between the sixth and seventh floors
when the electric current that runs the
elevator was shut OFF. The young mar
was at his wits end as to what to dc
| when he found himself suspended in mid
air. After a few minutes Of reflection
he got out Of the cage and. hand ovel
hand, slid down the cable. He was none
the worse for his experience when seer
! at tho fire later.
The fire was still smoldering at ar
] early hou- this morning.