The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-10-04
NOT ONT 5rICK
STAN GIG; SOME
Fuv SlTURE SAVED.
Includ e N Loss is 15-Room
House, One of the Best
Farm Houses in This vi
cinity - Seasons H a Y
Crop Of Over 300 Tons in
the BarnsCaus Of Fire
Unknown


Of Ora f. Whitney, better known as the
George w. Lynde property, in Will
Jamestown, five miles from Barre, were
burned last night and with them we're
lost % head of cattle, swo horses, four
pigs, about 20 hens, over 300 tons OF
hay, large quantity OF grain, nearly
all the farm machinery and implements
and considerable amount of household
furniture. The loss is estimated from
SOS, 600 to $4,000, on which there was
an insurance of $4,000 in the Granite
Mutual Fire Insurance company Of
Barre.
The loss is one of the most serious
sustained in farm fires in Vermont fov
many years, and it falls particularly
hard on Mr. Whitney al ne had bought
the farm only three months ago and
had just completed getting in the sea
sons crops and products. There isn't
a building left on the farm except an
old sugarholse, toward which the
flames spread but which was spared.
Altogether, seven buildings were
burned, not including connecting sheds.
The house was one of the finest farm
buildings in the state, erected AZ years
ago, finished in fine material and well
equipped. Another farm nearby and
owned by Mr.. Whitney contains
small set of buildings.
The fire broke out at about s O'Clock
and was first seen by neighbors Mr..
Whitney and his hired man, Edward
Sprague, had finished the days chores
nearly two hours before that. The lat
ter had gone to his home on the Dexter
Jones farm short distance away, Mr.
Whitney had hitched up mis- horse and
started for South Barre and Mrs. Eliza
beth Whitney, his mother, had LAID
down on couch for a rest until her
son returned.
Neighbors Discovered Fire.
Neighbors Just south Of the Whitney
farm were out rounding up stray
animal and on returning to their house
glanced in the direction of the Whit.
ney place and saw smoke billowing
from the large horse barn. They rushed
To the Whitney house and informed
Mrs. Whitney the barn was afre. The
alarm was soon spread around the
and many people assem-
bled; but the barn was large struc-
ture and there was no chance TO save
that as the open spaces permitted the
flames to he whipped about by the
lraft. The other chief barns were con-
nected with the large barn and it was
soon seen they could not be saved, o.
The house either
The volunteers then turned their ef
forts toward removing the furniture
from the house, and they worked there
until the smoke and flame drove them
,ut. one man having a narrow escape
because he delayed making his exit.
)nly a small part of the furniture was
aved and much of the salvsged prop
'rty was damaged in removal. Included
n the loss we're many World war relics
which Mr.. Whitney, veteran of the
18th division, had brought from France.
\ German firearm was picked out NJ
he ruins this morning. damaged be-
-ond repair. A set OF war snapshots
sas saved almost entire. but a Ger
nan helmet and gas mask were de-
troyed.
The FIRE burned with great intensity
nd almost incredible swiftness ami u
'as not long before the entire set Of
uildines was a mass of flames. from
Ihich the heat was so strong that the
-atchers. Of whom hundreds had gath
red. were forced % take 70 the high
-sy or far away in the fields. The
uildings were situated AZ the top Of
be hill and hence the reflection Of the
re was seen for many miles around.
hree roads converging q few hundred
,et east Of the house were lined with
automobiles for a long distance dur
q the height Of the FIRE. Mr.. whitney
as notified Of the fire at South Barre
nd he FASTENED home but eoaid do lit
e except to help save some Of the fur
fure.
Al one time there was report that
le hired man. Edward Spragas. had
zen burned to death; but he later re-
,rted.
May Be Insane Firebug al Large
The cause Of the FIRE i . mystery
Mr. Whitney The barns we're not
ired for electricifys the chaf-s wers
ne before dark % that no light was