The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-05
THE FIRE FIEND
Destroys the Agricultural Works at Win
throp-Loss $4,000; Insurance $IO,-
Special to the Press.)

Special to the Press.)
WINTHROP, Dec. 4.-The old-established ag-
ricultural works at this place, known as Whit
mans Agricultural Works, were totally de-
stroyed by FIRE early this morning.i The alarm
was given soon after midnight when flames
were seen issuing from the blacksmith shop
which was situated at the western extremity
of the works. The chimney of this shop had
burned out the day before and this was the
probable cause of the fire as the flames were
first discovered in the vicinity of the chimney
Connected with the works were machine shop,
foundry, wood shop, blacksmith shop and saw
mill, all of which were burned to the ground.
The fire also destroyed large amount of lum-
ber, coal and goods in different stages of man
facture and the machinery and castings were
entirely ruined. The flames ragged fercely for q
while and had it not been for the prompt &C.
tion of the new fire department other property
in the vicinity must have been destroyed also.
But fortune seemed to favor the firemen and a
northwest wind sprang upswhich took the blaz-
ing cinders out over Lake Annebescook in an
opposite direction from the village. The large
factories of the Winthrop Mills Company are
ClOo0 W tuO dSiiOultutdl WOiho dAO Ahuoe hdto
suffered seriously had the wind been in an op-
posite direction.
The works were destroyed by fire once be-
tore. many years ago, bat were rebuilt. They
were established by Luther Whitman who
was the inventor of many of his manufactures
including the threshing machine and many
other agricultural implements. Mr.. Whitman
died about two years ago and since his death
and in fact FOR several years prior to that event
the business was conducted by his son, Will
liam e. Whitman. The st. Louis msnufac-
turers of that name are also sons of Luther,
having got their first ideas of the business in
this place. The water power on which the
works were situated was the lowest on the
stream and for that reason was seriously affect
ed at times by the Gardiner Water Power
Company at the other end of the pond, raising
their dam to hold back the water for their own
use. There has been considerable fighting in
court over the fact and the matter was at last
settled by the latter company purchasing the
property and leasing it again to Mr.. Whitman
for a term of ten years.
The loss on the buildings and what was con-
tanned in them is estimated at $4,000. The
insurance on the building, in favor of the
Gardiner Water Power Company, was 5000,
and on the tools, machinery and stock in
favor of Mr.. Whitman, 5000, placed in va
rious companies. How the loss is divided be-
tween the two is unknown but Mr.. Whitman
states that his insurance will not cover % pei
cent. of his loss. The loss to the men of their
employment will be serious one as although
there was not large crew, some of them had
been many years employed there.
Payson Tucker Hose Company did their first
real work at this fire. The new apparatus
work finely although in the excitement there
was considerable delay. But after it was
started it did good work. The stable belong
ing to Mr.: Augustus Thompson caught in
three places but no serious damage was done.