The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-10-20
FIRE IN WALNUT
STREET RECTORY
Damage of $4,000 in Home
of Rev. ]. p. Rand
Today
PRINCIPAL LOSS
CAUSED BY WATER
Flames Start in Closet on Kitchen, but
There Had Been No Fire in Kitchen
Stove = Accident TO Apparatus Mar
rOwIy Averted.

rOwly Averted.
Damage which was estimated at not
less than $1,000 was done this morn
ing to st. Michael's Roman Catholic
rectory on Walnut street, when fire
broke out at $50 in closet off the
kitchen in the rear part of the house.
The fire burned up through the partitions
to the floors above and in a short time
smoke was seen issuing from all parts
of the roof even in the front part of the
house.
The alarm was rung in from box 6
by Walter s. Pratt, who was asked TO
do SO by Mrs. Walter Spear, who lives
next door. and who in turn was notified
of the fire by Miss Mary II. Rand. sister
Of Rev. James l.. Rand. both of whom
live in the rectory. Happening at the
time when children We're on their way
to school, the fire was seen by large
crowd Of children and grownups who
gathered in few minutes after the
I alarm had sounded.
The firemen made a quick run to the
scene, all the apparatus responding, and
their quick work resulted in the blaze
being put out in comparatively short or
der. Ladders We're run to the roof over
the rear yerauda from which point the
{
smoke was pouring, We're easily access
| ble. 4 window on the third floor neaI
the apex of the roof was broken and q
! line of hose inserted and the blaze at
tackled. After the dense smoke haC
cleared somewhat. the firemen entered
the room and tore down the partition
| walls, and chemicals were used there tC
good effect.
The blaze is believed to have started
! m electric wiring in a closet parti
/ ton near the kitchen. There was no fir,
/ pa the kitchen stove this morning, neither
/ was there ii fire in the furnace. but tn,
electric current was being used After
/ setting fire 10 the innner walls. the blazt
/ tlared up through the interior walls II
! the rooms above.
4 Most of the damage was done by tn,
l water which IL was necessary to use ii
I order to eXtiHguish the blaze. From I'll,
I third story, it leaked down through thi
| walls and ceilings and through the dan
! ing room and the kitchen into the cellar
Much of the damaged part of the hous,
/ represents work that had been complete,
/ only short time, including new bath
! room which cost several hundred dollars
| New. studs. new partitions. ceilings an,
much of the furniture and furnishing
! will have to be replaced. About tw,
/ inches of water covered the kitchen foo
! and there was much water also in SOM
! ot the other rooms and on the rear stair
| way.
An accident was narrowly averte,
| while the apparatus was responding {
| the ire, when a man proceeded to DELHI
! erately back his automobile out of hi
yard on Walnut street directly in tn
| path of the Oncoming ladder truck driver
| by Richard q. Chamberlain. Only tn
quick application of the brakes by Nh
! Chamberlain prevented the horses fron
running directly into the automobile
| The narrow escape was seen by severa
persons. among them being Village Com
! missioner Henry +. Whitney, jr., VIII
stated that many people in town have Al
utter disregard of the approach of fir
I apparatus and seem to consider .onl
/ their own interests by impeding the fire
| men in getting to the scene of a fire
| Mr.. W hitney said that some time age
when the IRE apparatus was respondin
to blaze. an automobile was warne,
to get out of the way. bHt the driver an
Swered, To hell with the fire depart
| ment. Mr.. Whitney added that it seem
to be an unwritten law for people to ge
an the way as much as possible an,
! unless people are more careful in thi
| particular, steps will be taken to Sc
that they are properly reprimanded