Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-26
FIRE on WATER STREET.
Destruction of n Dwelling House, Store,
and blacksmith Shop-LOss $1,000.

Destruction OF n Dwelling House, store,
and Blacksmith Shop-LOss $1,000.
AT about five o'clock yesterday morning, a
| few minutes after putting the Daily to press, an
alarm of fire given, and the north end Of Wa
| ter street was illuminated by what seemed large
| confagration. The alarm was most mserably
given, the bells ringing only few inmates and
then subsidng into silence, as though the danger
were all over.
The fire was first discovered breaking out Of the
old wooden blacksmith shop, situated on Mt. Yer
| non avenue, leading from Water street, and occr-
pied by Mr.. Fred A. Williams. The shop was two
stories high and burned like finder, being soon
levelled to the ground 1t was utterly impossible
to save any Of the stock tools from this shop.
| Mr.. Williams finds himself without stock tools
| at a season Of the year when the blacksmithing
| business is always the most lively. The building
| and its contents were owned by Mr.. Williams,
whose loss on building is 500, on tools S300-to-
| tai $1,000; no insurance.
Fire almost Immediately communicated to a
| small dwelling house west of the shop, owned by
| the Sprague corporation, and occupied by MIR.
Sylvester Gordon. This was soon consumed, al
though Mr.. Gordon able to save all his house
hold goods. Loss on building $500; no insurance.
The next building to ignite Mr. Benz. S.
Woods stable situated west of his two-story
| wooden store on the corner of Water street and
Mt. Vernon avenue. Previous to this the fremen
| with their machines got to work, notwithstanding
| the feeble alarm The steamer drew water from
| a reservoir on Water street, below the railroad
bridge and the hydrant connecting with the works
Of the Augusta Water Company. The hand en-
gines drew their water from the river. The fac
tory fire apparatus, close by, did good service and
all the officers and fremen worked we'll at the first
fire We have had for many months, and the largest
one for over year. The fire from the stable soon
communicated to the of the store, and here the
fire department had its chief contest with the Gle
ments. Mr.. Wood lived in the second story Of his
store, and not only his place Of business, but his
home has been broke up. Most of the housekeepi ne
articles were saved. He had large stock Of gro
cerics in his store valued at $1,000. 4 good part
of this stock was saved, though of course in bad
ly damaged condition, as it strewn about the
streets. In the basement were stored about $50
barrels of flour, and several barrels Of kerosene
oil. As the principal part of the main building
was saved the -four was not burned, but it is prob
ably in a most damaged condition. A part of the
building was owned by the Sprague corpo alton,
and part ian addition recently made) by Mr..
Wood. The part owned by the corporation
was valued at 1920; no insurance. Mr.. Wood
valued his part of the store at $1,000, on which he
had an insurance of $500, and $500 ON furnit ure.
lie had an insurance of $500 on his stock, which
will nearly cover the loss. We understand that
Mr. Wood has secured store on Cushnoc heights,
and will carry on trade there.
The total loss by the FIRE is about 5000; total
insurance $500.
Good work was done in saving any part Of the
property, and it was fortunate for the Sprague'
valuable works near by, that Bonds brook sep
arated them from the fire, and that the morning
was quite calm.