Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-12
CONFEDERATION At Bo0THBAY.
The knickerbOcker Ice Com
pany'S Extensive Build
ings Burned.
Total Loss $3.50, 000--S Sixty Thou
sand Tons of Ice Des-
troyed.
The Origin Of the Fire Supposed to be
Incendiary-Many Men Thrown Out
of Employment-Description
of the Premises.
A Vessel Parts Her Hawser and Goe;
on the Rocks While Endeavor-
ing to Escape.

BooTHBAr, April IL.
The entire works of the Knickerbocker Ice
Company at Boothbay were destroyed by fire
Wedne sday morning. Eleven buildings, all
the engine houses, the piers and sixty thous-
and tons of ice are destroyed. The total loss
is from Sl50 900 to $3.50, 900. Three schoon-
ers that were loading had a narrow escape.
LATER, 12.3O p. M.-Tke extensive build
ings of the knickerbocker Ice Co. at Booth
bay, and all the runs, engines and engine
house, hay and store houses, were totally
destroyed, and 60, 900 tons of ice was ruined.
The wharves were also destroyed. The
stables and offices were saved, which the
fremsn can protect unless the wind changes,
in which case nothing save the offices,
stables and dwelling houses in the vicinity.
Several vessels were at one dock loading ice,
and being in great danger. were hauled out
with difficulty in heavy wind. The schoon-
err Julia A. Berkeley of New Haven, Captain
Crosby, was at the wharf, and in hauling her
out her hawser parted, and the vessel went
ashore on the ledge, where she now lies in a
dangerous position with hole in her bot
tom. All the other vessels were got into the
river without damage. If the wind had been
more to the east all the vessels would have
certainly burned. Great excitement pre-
walls. rumor that one of the tremen was
killed by the falling of the wall of the ice
house is not confirmed. The wind is still
blowing a gale and the wharf and coal sheds
are burning fiercely. The cause of the fire
is unknown, probably incendiary. The loss
is estimated at Sl50.000 by the manager.
Probably there Is partial insurance.
The knickerbocker works, which were to-
tally destroyed by fire this morning, were
located at North Boothbay, about five miles
from the village, the SheepscOt river.
This is branch of the knickerbocker Ice
Company of Philadelphia, and was estab-
Hshed here in 1875, and has been every year
enlarging its works, until the storage capac-
of its buildings was over 10 900 tons. There
were extensive docks connected, that sew
eral vessels could receive cargo at the same
time The machinery was sufficient for the
loading of three vessels at one time, besides
sending ice into the buildings. The works
were as large as any in the State, and a very
valuable privilege, shipments were made
in winter direct from the pond. The works
were running yesterday, and three vessels
were receiving their cargo, The fire was
discovered about two o'clock this morning,
and when the fire company got there the
buildings were mostly consumed. The en-
CINE did good service in keeping the fire
from the offices and stables. How the fire
caught cannot be learned, as many men were
at work about the place. The fire broke out
about half way from the engine house to the
pond in the main run, and spread both east
and west very rapidly. Some of the men
say they were repairing machinery in the
run yesterday near where the fire broke out
and that they used fire for that purpose hui
the superintendent, Mr.. T.. ID. Loring, sus-
poets that the fire was of incendiary origin
that it could not have caught any other way
Care was always taken to prevent fire. There
were twelve large houses, a trussed covered
run quarter of a mile long, two engine
houses, store houses, hay and dunnage hous
es, coal sheds, etc, and capaciuus docks de-
stroyed. The works have employed large
number of rnen at all seasons, as they shipped
the year round. great many men will be
thrown out of employment 1t is understood
however. that the works will be rebuilt as
soon as possible, but the deision on that point
must come from headquarters at Philadel.
phs. The company has two other large
works in this vicinity.
GARDINER, April 10.
The insurance on the property of the
knickerbocker Ice CO., destroyed by fire a,
North Boothbay, amounts to $4,000 in the
following companies: Phoenix, of Hartford,
North British Royal of Springfield, Hanover
of New York, Niagara of New York, and the
Fire Insurance Asspciatlon