Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-25
BRTDPORT VILLAGE
HAS $4,000 BLAZE
Barn, Blacksmith Shop, Machinery
and Truck DESTROYED

Starting from an unknown cause in
the hay loft, fire totally destroyed the
barn and blacksmith shop of J. N
Spaulding and Son in Bridport in the
wee hours of Monday morning. Nu-
merous pieces of farm machinery and
a quantity of hay and tools were in
cluded in the loss. The loss is esti-
mated at not less than $1,000, only
partly covered by insurance. A truck
valued at $500, the property of Their
ton c. Carpenter of West Addison,
which was stored in the shop, was also
lost, The villagers had been sum-
moned by telephone and prevented the
fire from spreading to the dwelling
houses nearby.
When Mr.. Spaulding's slumbers were
converted into restlessness early Mon
day morning by a Slight attack of
heart trouble, he turned over on his
side to redieve the pain. AS he did so
he was surprised to see a bright light
playing in front of his window. He
got up at once and called his son to
accompany him in an investigation.
They found a lively blaze already well
started in the barn roof. Forcing a
way through the dense cloud of smoke
they reached the stable and succeeded
in saving the horse, COW, and pig before
the smoke had penetrated sufficiently
to suffocate the animals
When the lone pig had been kicked
on his squealing way, the neighbors
began to arrive to lend their assistance.
Their combined efforts were made
powerless however, by the rapid spread
of the flames, and after the salvage of
a wagon and sleigh, with one set Of
harness and light parts of machinery,
they wer forcd to quit.
The wind was fortunately from the
south and blew the sparks away from
the dwelling houses adjoining AS it
was however, the volunteer department
was forced to work hard with wet
blankets and buckets to protect the
roof Of the Spaulding home from kind
ling. The store too was in almost i'm
minent danger during the progress of
the barn and shop destruction
Mr.. Spaulding is local distributing
agent for farm machinery and imple
ments. He had stored a considerable
part of his stock on hand in the barn
The blacksmith shop was new build
ing, having been erected during the
past winter. Alva Carpenter, the
smithy. lost all his tools and his ac-
count books.
The highest praise was given to the
night operator at the local telephone
exchange, Miss Mary St. John, for her
assistance To her prompt and con-
tinued efforts in spreading the alarm of
the fire to all the subscribers df the
central was due the immediate re-
spence of the villagers incidentally,
Miss St, John was beginning her last
week at the Bridport exchange, as she
has been transferred to the Middle
bury office of the telephone company.
Another Fire in Bridport
The neighbors of H. E. Buzzell in
HBridport assisted him in extinguishing
the beginning of what might have prov
I'D a serious house fire Friday after
noon. The blaze was seen in its ef
ort to eat a way from under the slate
Roof soon enough to permit OF its
;mothering before the high north wind
+ hat was blowing at the time could
carry it to the other buildings nearby.
The damage did not exceed Sl00 No
sause could be ascertained for the fire.