Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-26
twenty Men Thrown Ont of
Employment.
Loss Estimated at Twenty-Five Thousand
Dollars.


smoke which penetrated his ROOM He imme-
diately arose and notifying family on the
moor below of the danger, rushed to the street
where he found policeman. They at once
proceeded to investigate and found that the
smoke apparently proceeded from the base
ment of Herrick & Varney's store An alarm
was at once given and the clang of the en-
CINE house bell, at three minutes of twelve.
awoke fireman and citizens who rapidly made
their way to the street. Those who arrived
on the scene could hardly believe that fire
was i'll progress. No light was to be seen and
but very slight amount of smoke.
Both engines arrived immediately and a
stream was flowing from each at II. 10, hardly
an instant intervening between the two. In
the beginning, the water was directed into the
Herrick & Varney cellar, as it was evident
that the fire was there. The irst impression
was tina the fire was so slight that it could be
extingulshed without difficulty, but as time
wore on, this idea gave place to the one that
the conflagration was of most obstinate
upon the fire, two from each engine and one
from hydrant. No flames, with the excep-
ton of a dull red glare flashing at intervals
at the windows, were to be seen. dense
cloud of smoke and steam arose. permeating
with suffocating denseness, every apartment
of the building. The occupants fled from
their rooms in haste, carrying with them what
articles they could lay their hands on.
At As o'clock, the water in the reservoir
in the square became exhausted, and the en-
gines removed to North's wharf close by the
river. At the same time fresh alarm was
rung. Here an interval Of twenty minutes
occurred, when the hose ceased their work ;
and it was well improved by the smouldering
fire. 1t now began to make itself manifest,
and observers troln the Bridge, saw the flames
playing fitfully at the windows of the rear
projection of the block. At o'clock it be-
came evident that the fire was gaining dan
gerous Roadway and the Arsenal steamer was
sent for while the Hallowell fire company
was telephoned to stand in readiness for q
call.
The fire department worked like heroes and
did all that was in their power The fire was
one of the most obstinate and hardest to sub
due which has ever been seen in this section.
The hidden flame lurked in every partition
and burst forth in unexpected places. 1t was
impossible to gain the slightest foothod with
in the walls, so dense was the smoke. Chief
Engineer Morse was every where, and did
everything possible under the circum-
stances.
The rear of the block was so situated that
it could not be reached by the hOseman with
any effectiveness. The foundation is twenty
feet above the river, which was COW
cred with ice and snow, and wooden pro-
lection extended from top to bottom, This
was the ruin of the building and acted as
conduit fer the flames. Slowly but surely
they made their way upwards here, and the
windows in the second and third stories be-
came lurd with fire. One stream Was d.
rected upon the projection from the BRIDGE
while another came from window over the
river in Beal's store. The need of nook and
ladder appliances was manifest, and with
them, the firemen say, they could nave saved
the structure. At 5 O'Clock the third story
was 4 sheet of flame, and the clumsy extern
sion ladder housed on the bridge,was brought
ont and erected against the front after much
bord work. and stream directed into the
| fiery mass.
A little later the flames burst triumphantiy
from the roof Almost simultaneously one
If the steamers gave out and very wisely the
ua,,oweIl fremen were sent for, as the pros
nect looked very dubious. After some delay
the steamer was again placed IN working or
der and the Arsenal steamer commenced OPP
ora,;ons. Seven streams fell into the burn
;ny building. Hosemeu climbed to the roof
of parrot's Block, on the north, and poured
water over the wall. At $50 o'clock the rooi
fell in with crash and gradually the hre was
GOT under control, but not until the noor Vi
the upper and fourth story had fallen 'n. Az
4 o,clock the Hallowell fremen arrived, out
.,a;- services were not required, and after
partaking of a hot breakfast at the ooh'
House, furnished by the Augusta department.
thew returned home. BY request we puon'"
the following announcement;
AuGusUA, Jan. 26, 1855.
In behalf of the Augusta Fire Department;
desire to extend thanks to the Hsllo~e'
Department for the willingness ana promp aiI
ness with which they responded to our GU.
| for help. at the fire in this city OF yes'etu-'
morning. HENRY T. MORSE, ~.
'no' ''"e' Chief Augusta Fire Dept
The fire department continued their iaoof'
during the morning hours, wetting down 'he
cbsrred remains and extinguishing any rem
,ant of ;gnited wood that might be fouha,
tho last steamer not leaving the scene uh'..
flor II o'clock A. NJ. crowd fingered al
day gazing on the ruins p-,o..
The block was the property OF 5. s. bfooAs
ESQ and, although the walls are In good
state of preservation, it will be necessary 10
entirely rebuild the interior. His loss s. WI
reach $1,000; insured for $500 in Mac0m-