BIG BLAZE AT BERNE. Last Saturday Threatened to Wipe Out Village — Hotel and Other Buildings are Destroyed. The Berne hotel, two dwellings and several outbuildings were destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon causing a loss of $15,000, and at one time threatening to sweep the main part of the village away because of a lack of fire fighting apparatus. Bucket brigades, snow, and wet blankets were the only means available to fight the flames. Hot ashes, it is believed, started the fire, which was discovered in Jess VanderWerker’s home in the heart of the village shortly after noon.

The buildings burned were all of wood. The first destroyed was that of Mr. VanderWerker owned by F. T. Brunk of Voorheesville. A garage containing two autos, and two sheds in the rear of the house also were burned. The Berne hotel, E. P. Crary, proprietor was the next to go, and with it went the ice house and stable in the rear. The home of John W. Adams and a shed in its rear were also burned to the ground. The fire was prevented from spreading to the law office of D. A. Hinman and to the residence of Dr. W. E. Deitz adjoining on the west by blankets saturated with water and snow.

A half hour after the blaze was discovered the VanderWerker home and all the outbuildings were in flames, and the volunteer firemen saw that the Berne hotel, separated by only a scant four feet from the burning building, was doomed. An effort was made to save it, however. Guests in the hotel were advised to leave and in a few minutes the fire had a good hold on the building. Flying sparks soon had the stable, sheds and the ice house in the rear going.

For a time the villagers thought they could save the Adams home, only a few feet from the hotel, but their efforts were in vain and it was soon ablaze.

Realizing the house was doomed the villagers made a last stand at the law office of D. A. Hinman. All the available blankets were hung on the side nearest the fire. Snow was piled about the foundations and on the roof, while the bucket brigade poured water down the sides of the building as the Adams house burned to the ground and the fire was conquered about five o’clock in the afternoon.

OUR ALBANY LETTER. Glynn’s Attitude. From the first Governor Glynn expressed the opinion that the election of Mr. Osborn to succeed Mr. Palmer would be satisfactory to Democrats in general. While in no way dictating that such a step be taken, the governor has not been backward in exploiting the good points of Mr. Osborn and his apparently disinterested attitude has been interpreted by powerful Democrats to mean that the former legal advisor to Governor Dix was the only man that he desired for chairman.

In bringing all factions of the Democratic party together Governor Glynn has again demonstrated his political astuteness and influence in Democratic circles and proved to the satisfaction of most every one that he is the real leader of that party.