Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-13
DESTRUCTIVE coNGLAGRATIoN
In New edford.-TremendOus Loss of
Property-Several of the. Largest
Business Houses in New
Bedford Laid in
Ashes.
New BRproRp. Dec. I2.


AT $50 o'clock this morning fire broke out
in Haskell & Trips dry goods store on Pur-
chase street, New Bedford. Il extended to
the three other stores of Haskell Tripp.the
jewelry store ofJ. B Dexter, the building
occupied by Robert Gordon. a tailor, and
Michael Cairnes, shoemaker Three
alarms were sounded, and the whole fire de-
partment was at the scene. Many cellars
were flooded in tine vicinity The loss will
be heavy. The cause of the fire is unknown.
1t is supposed to have started in the boiler
room.
At.ll o'clock the fire was still progressing,
In addition to the fire steamers of New
Bedford, one was sent from Fairhayen. Has
kell & Trips stores are completely gutted
and torn down.
The fire which broke out at 8. 20 in Haskell
& Trips extensive store, called out the en-
tire fire department and a steamer from Fair
haven. The fire extended from No. AZ to As
Purchase street. and to the store on the east
side of the street and south side of William
street. Haskell & Tripp's whole basement
was on fire when discovered. The smoke
poured up the stairway in so dense a volume
that the clerks were obliged to quit in a
hurry.
On opening the front doors the smoke was
so dense that the fremen could not gain an
entrance. Soon the skvlights were opened
and many goods removed by the Protec-
ting society and taken to places of safety.
When il was discovered that the fire was
working through the walls of the buildings
and beyond the control of the firemen. a sec
ond alarm was rung. and third followed
which called out the entire department. A tel
ephone message brought the steamer Contest
from Fairhayen, The firemen then attacked
the building from Purchase and William
streets, the fire having worked into the jewel
~ store of Josiah A. Dexter and over the
buildings and roofs of the buildings from
Halls court on the east.
A line of hose was run into the front door
of B. II. Waite & Cos, the store next to the
building on the south. down to the basement
and a window in the north wall was broken
open and a stream poured upon Haskell &
Co basement fire. This partially destroyed
the foundation of the fire, but cid not check
the upward progress of the flames,
This line of hose gave rise to a report that
Wate's store was on fire, which created great
excitement. At one place in the second story
of Waites building. where the timbers went
through the wall, the fire followed but by
using Hardens grenades the flames were ex
tinguised.
The fire worked eastward, entered the two
story building occupied BY Robert Gordon,
tailor, and Michael Cairns, shoemaker The
flames were confined to the upper story, but
the front of Cairns part was pulled down by
the hook and ladder company. This allowed
the firemen to work on the next building
east, occupied by Samuel Bennett as crock
cry store. and the upper stories by Charles
II. Wood as a boarding house. The fronts
of Haskell & Trips and Dexter's stores
were pulled down and good service was done
by the department. The flames had then
penetrated the roofs of five separate stores.
Waite & Co.'S basement was flooded, and
the upper store considerably damaged by
smoke and water. The losses on the build
ings are as follows
Cyrenius w. Haskins $1,000; insurance
$1,000. Edward Haskell's estate Sc 900; in
sured for 81 900. Benjamin Dexter's heirs,
1000; insured for l,500. George Tap
pans heirs. 81 800; insured for 81 900, The
estate of Ward NJ. Parker Sl,500, insured
for 81 900.
The losses on stock are as follows:
Haskell & Trip, $4,000: insured for
S60,500 Benjamin H. Waite. 81 500.
One or two fireman were slightly injurd by
the falling of a ladder.