New Britain herald., 1924-02-15
Hero of Fire Who Ran Through Burning Building To Arouse Others Believed To Have Been Killed.
Two Entire Families Wiped Out-Man and Wife Die When They Leap for Life Net and Miss.

Montpelier, Vt, Feb. 1.-Two per sons were killed and nine are missing and believed to have lost their lives in fire which destroyed the Law renee building on Main street, early today. number of others were sc- riously injured. The loss is ostimat- ed al sa0o,00o
 The known dead are Walter Wash . burn, q prominent insurance man and Mason. and Mrs J. r. Water man. Both sustained fatal injuries when they jumped from windows and missed the life net.
 List Of Missing.
 '"ho missing are:
 Dr. Ryder, an aged paralytic.
 J. F. Waterman.
 Ernest Waterman. his son.
 Mrs. Miller.
 Mrs. Lupien.
 William Gisbourne and his wife.
 Mrs. Walter Washburn and her baby.
 Those taken to Il hospital are;
 Miss lrenc Dingwall. broken hip.
 Mrs. Harry Dodge, seriously burned. @
 Miss Eda Clough, serious injuries ito bach.
 Claude \, Martin, probably fatally injured.
 Mrs George J. Paige. moi seriously hurt
 Amle Mnard, badly nstur"1,
 Mrs Anhc Mlnurd. ao 8ciTousl, hunt.
 David F. Sp.cer burns ay,uI facn and nerk.
 Mrs. David r.. Spicer eag ts.' B. ts- ousls hurt unl wos taEsn ip the home of fficnd.
 Fire starts in iias nn'ni.
 1hn fonr-slory br'c. bgiid n, Mas occupied on tha .rpuu duur v. tBe stores of r.. N. Bailey \ e.. slyiu; the Grand tD;ou Tea cc. aHJ Pock Brothers piaHb rs un .a SC lnj floor were numerous vlt r,s ,I It, ,bo two uppur floors cOntu.Gai u number oi apartments.
 The firc started in Inc baspincnt, supposedly from n hoiier vNF. S,uu. l. spread upward so rap iiy ha, aii the stairNpys were eGi og before any ot the occupants could escap. Those Nhu were saved ctbcr made their wny down tirc escopcs or jumped into the firemcns ncts.
 Hero piobabi, Dies.
 William Gtsboarnt one uf the first to awaken disrcgardod his own safety and rushed through thc hall ways of thc two upper t'ools arous- ing the other occupants. II is be. lirred that he nnally succumbed to ihe flames.
 Long after daylight ihc ruins were still too hot for the liiemen 10 make thorough search for inc bodies which they believed were there The burned building adjoined the city hall and the fremen had hard fight in zero weather Co prevent further spread Of the flames. Those who escaped in their mght clothing sur- tered severely from the cold. The local He'd Cross chapter quickly set up station for their relief.
 Two Families Wiped Out. Claude N. fartin, one Of those s.- riousiy injured and not expected to recover. IS the local agent or the Montpelier and Wells River railroad. Ernest Waterman. who is among the missing. has been engaged in ncws- paper work and formerly was em- ployed on the Springfield (Mass.) Union.
 The dead and missing include two entire families, those Of Walter Washburn and J. F. Waterman. At noon the ruins were still smoul- dcring and the police and firemen had been unable 10 penetrate them 10 search for bodies. They turned their attention 10 tearing down two walls left standing after the fire. Both police and fire department officials said they were unable to throw any light on the cause of the ] fire. With the exception Of C1aud \. Martin. who was in a critical condi- 1, ton hospital physicians expressed 1 the opinion that all the injured ] would recover.