Envelope or Cover
1825 · Middlebury, Vermont
by Charles Linsley
Middlebury, Vermont, 1825. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This three-page stampless folded letter measures 16” x 10” unfolded. It was written on August 28, 1825, by Charles Linsley at Middlebury, Vermont to his friend Edgar Ormsber in Rutland. It bears a manuscript “10” rate mark with a faint circular Middlebury postmark. In nice shape.
Linsley’s breathtaking account of this factory fire, which takes up most of the letter’s third page, is composed entirely from snippets of shouts, commands, and alarm from firefighters and spectators. I cannot recall a more hectically exciting description of a fire. Linsley’s exhaustion at the end is palpable. The letter reads in part:
“Alas; [my] splendid visions, were . . .thrust away, by an unearthly sound hurrah – fire, fire fire, run away, ring the bell, where is it – get a pail – oh dearest brother Warrens factory – it on fire cupola and all. Up I jumped turning a sumersit – slipped a leg into my pantaloons, dived down stairs, and run like a devil – Good Lord, what a smash, men, women, boys, girls . . . Every throat wide open – Break down the door – get on the roof – form a line – where’s a rope – get a ladder – why don’t you stir and the machinery – water, water – See there, the garrets all afire get out of the way you little – why don’t you pass those empty pails – Get out that speeder, its worth a thousand dollars – Look out for that plank - why don’t you keep a line. Come out of there the roofs falling in- For Gods sake save them cards, take care, that wall’s coming down hurrah, the fires catchd the other side . . . run, fly, you devils . . . put them blankets on the roof – Burst through that window. Why the devil don’t you go under that . . . go through the door – throw it out the window then – take hold and run men, all together. . .. Have you seen this trunk it’s a poor means . . . its insured for $8000 – than God. Whines an axe. Let me come up this ladder – hmm take this water. Im glad it hant burnt the wall down - How did it catch afire . . . I cant go on, I’m almost sorry I began –
“The result was the factory was burnt. . . and I do not feel in condition for continuing this letter.
“Yr friend Linsley. “ . All first-hand accounts of city and town fires in early America are scarce, but such an animated blow-by-blow retelling of the event like this must be unique. . (Inventory #: 010359)
Linsley’s breathtaking account of this factory fire, which takes up most of the letter’s third page, is composed entirely from snippets of shouts, commands, and alarm from firefighters and spectators. I cannot recall a more hectically exciting description of a fire. Linsley’s exhaustion at the end is palpable. The letter reads in part:
“Alas; [my] splendid visions, were . . .thrust away, by an unearthly sound hurrah – fire, fire fire, run away, ring the bell, where is it – get a pail – oh dearest brother Warrens factory – it on fire cupola and all. Up I jumped turning a sumersit – slipped a leg into my pantaloons, dived down stairs, and run like a devil – Good Lord, what a smash, men, women, boys, girls . . . Every throat wide open – Break down the door – get on the roof – form a line – where’s a rope – get a ladder – why don’t you stir and the machinery – water, water – See there, the garrets all afire get out of the way you little – why don’t you pass those empty pails – Get out that speeder, its worth a thousand dollars – Look out for that plank - why don’t you keep a line. Come out of there the roofs falling in- For Gods sake save them cards, take care, that wall’s coming down hurrah, the fires catchd the other side . . . run, fly, you devils . . . put them blankets on the roof – Burst through that window. Why the devil don’t you go under that . . . go through the door – throw it out the window then – take hold and run men, all together. . .. Have you seen this trunk it’s a poor means . . . its insured for $8000 – than God. Whines an axe. Let me come up this ladder – hmm take this water. Im glad it hant burnt the wall down - How did it catch afire . . . I cant go on, I’m almost sorry I began –
“The result was the factory was burnt. . . and I do not feel in condition for continuing this letter.
“Yr friend Linsley. “ . All first-hand accounts of city and town fires in early America are scarce, but such an animated blow-by-blow retelling of the event like this must be unique. . (Inventory #: 010359)
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