The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-04-22
$35,OOO FIRE
RACES AFTER
NEWPORT BALL
Buck Garage, Is Cars,
Tires and Accessories
Destroyed

EIdSluS DUCK ana ll1teen autOmO-
biles, the Newport Storage Bat
terry Co., the entire stock of tires
and vulcanizing tools belonging to
Elton MCGOWAN were completely
destroyed by fire between two
and three o'clock this morning.
Mr., Buck estimates his loss as
at least $4,000 with some insur-
ance, and other losses may bring
the total up to $35, 900.
A new car belonging to Dr., f.
l.. Miller was saved and his three
horses rescued after the flames
were well under way. Other own
ers of cars burned were: Theron
Meader, Buick car, the Barton
Auto Exchange three trucks; c..
M. Bailey, new Ford car; Frank
Burns, a new Chevrolet, no insur-
ance; Buick from Greenfield,
Mass, owner Mr., Barber; Arthur
True, Ford car; Mr.. Carter, Max
well; Mr.. Powers, Buick; the
Richford Phonograph Co., a truck;
Arthur Pelkey, Overland and O.
S. Searles, Ford car, insured S4O0.
Besides the cars, there were also
stored household goods, and
three danger lights which were be-
ing stored for the state until they
could be installed.
The origin of the fire is as yet
unknown. The alarm sounded at
two o'clock or to be exact at 1.55
and in less than an hour the
building was laid low and COM
pletely destroyed. The Buck ga
rage, which is in the rear of f.
ID. Flint's store and very near the
c. P. r. tracks was the old barn
belonging to the Memphremagog
House, and had been put in per-
feet repair by Mr.. Buck. 1t had
a capacity of so cars. Mr.. Buck
had about 20 cars stored in the
building but some of them had
been taken out within a few days.
The fire company responded
very promptly and fought heroi-
cally, but the building was SEEM
ingly all ahame at once. Sparks
and burning shingles were car
ried across the lake to Glen road
three fourths of a mile. Very for
tunately the wind was northwest,
and this fact was of very great
significance as there are wooden
buildings very near on the west
side. The Monarch Evaporator
storage house only a few feet
west, was saved, as were the small
garages on the east.
Elton MCGOWAN had only re-
Gently opened a vulcanizing bust
ness and had a very large stock
of rubber tires and tools valued at
$1,000.
The Newport Storage Battery
company's loss could not be deter
mined exactly but will probably
run into at least $4,000.
When it was learned that three
horses were in the burning build
ing, Merle Leavens, broke open
door with the aid of railroad
tie and the frightened animals
were led out to safety.
A fifty gallon tank of gasolenc
in the building exploded and the
flames and smoke shot skyward, a
grand but terrific sight.
Much concern was felt over the
two hundred gallon gasoline tank
south of the building which
would have been extremely dan
gerous if it had exploded, with
other buildings so near.
The fire alarm sounded Just as
the crowd was leaving the armory
after the ball and the streets were
thronged with men and women in
evening dress on their way to the
fire.
Mr. and Mrs. MCGOWAN and Mr..
and Mrs. Dclos Buck were among
those who we're at the party and
who rushed out only TO learn that
the fire concerned them very close
ly.