Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-15
l0ral anD State Nems.
THE CONFEDERATION.
Fall Particulars of the Fire on
Water Street.
LOSS $4,000. INSURANCE s27,2OO.
SCENES AND INCIDENTs.-FU-
TURE PROSPECTS.

Our account Oh tue ufe yesterday Ou
street. gave the facts far they could be ascer-
tanned. We are able to-day to lay before our
readers the full particulars.
About two o'clock yesterday morning, the night
watchmen discovered smoke issuing Fl ON the side
walk in front of Wadsworth's clothing store on the
river side of Water street. The reports disagree
so widely in regard to the supposed origin Of the
fire, that 1t would be unwse to venture a guess in
. that direction. 1t may have come from the spon-
taneous combustion of some material. Suffice it
to know that in few minutes flames darling
hither and thither, enwraPped the of wooden
stores. The bells and the steam whistle sounded
the alarm, but the persons at the bell ropes raised
such q faint and feeble alarm that it soon died
away; mutitudes on the upper streets re-
NAMED in their soundest sleep of the morning,
and only learned of the news as they were sip.
ping their morning coffee.
As people began to arrive on the grounds,
doubtless great deal of the contents of the
stores could have been saved had the extent Of
the devastation been foreseen. Mr.. Alex. Nc
Causland, in his quarters at the engine house,
was enabled by having the horses and the steamer
in the same place, to make his appearance on the
scene ten minutes after the alarm was given.
Cushnoc steamer has the honor of getting the
first water on the fire. This is disparagcment
the Atlantic and Pacific boys, who acted with
their proverbial promptness. The steamer
placed at the large reservoir in Bridge street
square, where after play ng for few hours it was
removed further up street TO the hydtant connect
ed with the works of the Augusta Water Compa-
ny, where it played a continuous stream from nine
o'clock in the morning to one o'clock in the after
noon. The Atlantic and Pacific took places
the river, drawing their water through a hole in
the ice; they remained there working faithfully
till they were driven away by the heat. 1t required
the nature of a salamander to stand in the street
between the fiery elements and the buildings
the opposite side; but the noble fremen, led by
Chef Engineer Morse were equal TO the emer-
gelcy. To "hold the fort was to prevent from
blrning the large Granite Bank block and Potteis
wooden building, on the opposite corners Of Oak
aud Water streets. They were the keys TO the
tier of stores stretching northward to the bridge,
and southwark to Market square These build
ings must be sayeJ at all hazards. But the heat
from the opposite side was cracking the window
glass Of both these places like pipestem, and roll
ing up the paint like a stalk of corn 10 summers
drouth No man could stand that hea: Bat they
did stand 1t, the noble boys, fighting the insa,iste
FIRE feod inch by inch with two solid streams Of
water, till victory came The folt held
We desire to speak in the strGnges. terms Of
praise Of the valuable services rendered by the
Fire-Fy steamer, kindly rendered, with its foil
company, by Maj. j. P. Farley Of
the United States Arsenal. But for this
timely aid the loss and hard work must have been
greatly increased. The steamer was in charge Of
Sergeant Barrett who assisted by Mr.. Fred
Haskell, efficient and intelligent fireman, rem
DEL ed service for which the city will ever be CRATE
ful. The FREELY took position upon the wharf,
playing two mighty streams from three O'Clock
in the morning to about one IN the afternoon.
Many curious incidents occurred at the fire
the man smashing the looking glass and taking
good care of the tongs was around. a funny in
cident Of the disaster was that eN-Chief En-
gineer rushed TO the scene Of action and worked
hard and long of the hand engines, but
after while, seeing the building of Mr.. Hendee
and the printing Office of Vckery & Rogers both
in flames, it suddenly dawned upon him that he
had decidedly intimate personal interest in the
affair, which he had not until then thought of.
Tie left the brakes, to endeavor to save some Of
Ii. property, but it was too late. good many
leople had their hands in their pockets. content to
be simply lookers-on
The Messrs. Couy Brothers generously furnished
hot coffee aud sandwiches for the fremen.
Finally the fire was crowded into narrow quar-.
tiers. the south burning wall of the Banner office
being just far enough from Robbins store, to adj
NIT q stream of water. The wall fell inward,
and the fire under control. The fremen,
however, continued to put water on the burning
ruins nearly all day yesterday. We shall now
s,eak in detail of the property destroyed, insur-
a1ce &C.
The Gospel Banner Office, neat and substantial
wooden structure, was built and owned by Rev.
Geo. w. Quinby d. d. 1t was built in 1873 The
first basement story occupied coal and
wood store h use the second basement story
press-roou, containing one Of Cottrel & Babcock's
power presses, run by steam. A new engine, built
by Allen, Small & Co., was put in some
time during the past summer. All the gearing was
run on heavy frames, so as to prevent any jarrng
or trembling of the building. The building was
60x2S feet. In the street story was elegant
and commodous store occupied by j. II. Deliver
dealer in furniture who also had store room in
the second street story. The most of this story
however. was occupied the office of the Banner
counting room, and composing room, with good
appointments, PIooaply, Us any PliHius oihCe Vi
its size in the State.
When the alarm was given the night hands from
the Journal office-who by the way, did good SER
vice in spreading the alarm-rushed to the Ban
ner press room, and saved the inside forms, the ID
aud Sd pages of this weeks edition, that had been
worked off. few cases of type, the subscription
lists and account books, and few theological and
and other publications on sale, comprise about
all the property saved
DR.. Quinbys loss on building is $4,000; insured
ia the Etna company for 5000; loss on machin-
cry, paper, etc, 5000; insured in the same com
pany for $1,000.
Mr.. J. IL. Delivers elegant stock of furniture
had to be removed summarily from his store and
placed in Market square. He lost all that had
been slowed elsewhere, and the portion that was
removed suffered material damage. He had So
mn mouth Of ,rnitura m hand Who.oya, 10 loss