Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-23


furnished in abundance from the giant
electric pump at tho reservoir on the hill
and the skillfully directed and faithfully
carried out work of the Burlington fire
men saved the "Old MIL" the Oldest OF
the buildings of the University Of Vermont
from total destruction by fire Monday
night
A bolt Of lightning which struck one OF
the electric wires on the building during
the heavy thunder shower about seven
O'Clock caused one of the wires to lose its
covering and the resulting sparks from
the uncovering set fire to some burlap
under the tower.
This fire was extinguished by some OF
the drafted men, who are at the univer-
sity as members of the mechanics train.
ing school, with a couple of hans
chemicals. The local fire department was
called into action only as advisors in the
matter, arriving after the fire had been
extinguishcd
On the suggestion of Chief of the Fire
Department c. D. Stockwell couple of
the men, Corporal Arthur M. Wade of
Springfield and Corporal Davis, of the
Mechanics school, were placed as guards
to watch the spot for few minutes to
see If the flames burst out anew. Accord
ing to the men they watched for more
than an hour and not a sign of flames or
smoke could they see, so after eight o'clock
they returned to their respective duties.
Shortly after ten o'clock. Acting Cor
poral Frank T.. Patnaude of Burlington,
one of the draftees at the Mechanics
school. came out of the gymnasium where
the local boys are billeted and he saw
| some smoke coming. as he thought. out
of the roof. He went to the side of the
south wing which faced the signal corps
and discovered the top floor in flames. He
pulled in an alarm and about the same
time the janitor 'phoned
There were about IS boys from all parts
of Vermont. members Of the mechanics
school. In their hunks on the second and
third floors, all attired in pajamas.
These men were hastily marshalled by
| the corporals and marched in an orderly
way down the stairs and into the gym
| nasium and without a mishap. The uni
forms for the men have not arrived SO
| the men were in civilian clothes and
many of them left their clothes at their
hunks, but as soon as the fire was
definitely located they were allowed to
return for them. Ono young man got
excited and threw his trousers out Of the
window. They caught on some tele-
phone wires and hung there until morn
ing.
The fire was famed by south wind
which was blowing at quite stiff pace
and the flremen were handicapped by the
lack of hose for time, but the Burling
ton water department sent a truck load
up and the situation was relieved.
Starting from the tower, the flames
| spread south and seemed to find cas-,
sweeping In the rooms Of the top floor
| Then II swept on to the rafters of the
roof and soon the heavy slate, loosenet
from their fastenings, began to hur
downward to the ground. The roar tha
they made sounded like cannon and thu
1remen were In constant danger from
the flying pieces. 1t was very difficult
to work under such a situation, but tn,
fremen stuck bravely to their Job, ant
acting under orders from Chief Stock
well, turned their attention to fighting
the flames from the inside. This prove,
to be a well-ordered move and abou
HIS o'clock the FIRE was under the con
troll Of the department. but not out b:
any means. Parts Of the cornices an,
the window castings fell, az did some o
the roof on the west side. The "all
out" signal was sounded at 1880 Tuesda
morning.
| AS far as could be ascertained earl
Tuesday morning, the entire top door ha.
been consumed. and the greater part O
the third story. The roof had falle
In but the walls were standing and
good condition. The first and seoon
floors were not damaged by fire at al
but the water damage will amount to con
siderable.
j. w. Votey, dean of the Engineerin
College, and who knows every nook an
crook of the "Old MIL" was inside wit
the fremen on the north side Of tn
building. assisting In the directing Of tn
| streams.