The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-28
TWO FIRES
SAME NIGHT
And Both Broke Out in Ad-
joining Buildings in
Bethel
FIRE-BUG BELIEVED
WAS AT WORK
Top Of Kittredge Block
Burned Off; Martin Block
Slightly Damaged

Bethel. March 2s.--Evidence that a
firebug was at work in Btthel on
Saturday night was discovered late in
the night when smouldering fire was
discovered in the Martin block on Main
street a few hours after fire had
broken out in the Kittredge block ad +
joining. Damage in the Martin block
fire was slight, but considerable loss
was sustained in the Kittrdge block.
The Kittredge block fire broke out
about $3.50 o'clock and was under con
troll in a few minutes after the fire
men arrived. The Martin block fire
was discovered at ii o'clock by +. l..
Martin, owner of the block and store
keeper in the building, shortly after
he had closed his store and gone TO his
tenement in the upper stories of the
same building Detecting smoke in the
building Mr. Martin investigated and
found that fire had been working its
way in clothes press off bathroom.
Some clothing had been burned, and
other articles were smouldering. Mr..
Martin was able TO put out the fire,
and the damage viii probably not ex.
ceed S25.
Although the Martin and Kittredge
blocks, both of wood, sdjoin each 9th
er, it is thought that the fire discov-
cred late in the evening could not
have started from the Kittredge fire.
II either fire had gone beyond control
both blocks would have been destroyed
There is a general feeling that the
cause of both fires was incendiarism,
although no motive is known.
The Kittredge block fire broke out
in the unottupied third story OF the
building and made its way to the
attic and roof, which was soon ablaze
over most of its area, both front and
back. II was the worst looking Main
street FIRE for several years, but Chief
Whitney and his men soon had three
streams playing upon the roof, and the
flames Welded IN few minutes. Scores
of people in the Saturday night street
crowd knew nothing of the fire TIL It
was out. A large crowd saw it, how
ever. and cheered the good work of the
fremen
The Kittredge block is occupied on
the ground floor by F. I. Hollands hsh
market, VI. f. Gaskells clothing store
dina b. Fl. Smead's barbership. Some
of the underwear and hosiery in the
Gaskell store was damaged by water.
Ordinarily the second foor is occupied
hv two families but at present the
only tenant above the ground floor
il Mr. Holland. who lives alone in
three rooms Of the northern tene-
ment. His belongings were pretty
badly soaked with water. Mr.. Kit
tredge was renovating the southern
tenement with view to its early oc.
cupancy.
So far as can be learned nobody had
been on the third floor, but the fire
undoubtedly started in a pile Of refuse
near the side wall Of a room on the
third floor. at least eight feet from
the chimney Indeed, the fires origin
certainly was in no way related to the
chimney, although, as it followed the
rafters and roofing. il, Of course, soon
surrounded the chimney
While the shincled roof Of the build
ing burned rapidly the fire probably
was put out much more easily and
much sooner than il the roof had been
metal or slate. It is said that a Young
man declares that an hour before the
outbreak Of the fire he saw smoke com
ing up through the roof Of the build
ing and spoke of it to certain com
panions.
Prof. Ernest IT, Kittredge. the own
er Of the block, had it insured The
Gaskcll stock Is insured but Mr. Hol-
lands household goods are not insured.
Mr. Martin carried insurance also.
The escape Of the village from the
worst FIRE in wears is considered ex
tremely fortunate.