Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-08
Destructive FIRE.
Gardiner Again Visited by a
Great ConflagratiOn.
-Four Ice Houses and Several
Dwellings Destroyed.
The Loss Estimated at Three Hun
dred Thousand Dollars.
Special to Kennebec Journal. I

his AFTERNOON the busy city of Gardiner, |
noted far and wide for it's many fiourishinp
manufactures and extensive business inter-
ests, was again visited by the fire fend and
S5oC.OOO worth Of property swept out Of ex-
lstence in two brief hours. Four years ago
the eighth Of next August, fire devoured
buildings and property valued at SlSO,OOO,
and now after this brief period our thriving
city again grievously suffers and the smoking
ruins are all that can be seen tonight of what
were, few hours since, four valuable ice
houses containing a valuable commodity
AT o'clock P. NJ,
Flames We're Seen
issuing from the top of the towering elevator
of Bodwell & Aliens ice houses, just above
Putnam Classon's saw mill. on the Pittston
road. The alarm was given with promptness
and the fire department responded with all
possible despatch. Oae hosescompany was
upon the ground almost Immediately, but the
steamer was mile away at New Mills and it
necessarily took some time for it to arrive. 1t
took but an instant. seemingly, after the
flames were first seen to
Burst Forth in Fury.
The ice houses being empty and perfectly
dry burned like pitch. A great volume of
smoke and flame arose and was swept across
the river obliquely to the north. Directly in
their path lay the mammoth new ice houses
of the Knickerbocker Ice Co. at Bowman's
Point in Farmingdale. Hardly had the alarm
been given when the lurd flame shot up from
these houses, too. North, about twenty rods,
on the Farmingdale side, were more ice
houses belonging to the Knickerbocker
company, known as the "North' houses.
But few moments had elapsed when these
of Knickerbocker houses, located in Chelsea,
about half mile from the Bodwell & Allen
houses, became involved in the general de-
struction, and kinded into blaze. 1t was
not more than half an hour from the first
kindling ere all four of the houses were
Masses OF Lurid Flame.
"Why," said an eyewitness, sit seemed to
be all done in a flash. l saw the blaze from
the Pittston houses and few minutes later
looked around and all the buildings were
| blazing"
| The fire department worked with vigor.
| After the steamer had arrived on the Pttston
side, water was obtained from the river and
every effort made to save the mill property
and yelling houses in the vicinity. Two
| houses belonging to Budwell & Allen and
another owned by by j. r. Goodwin, were
destroyed, however, but the mill saved, the
wind fortunately blowing directly away from
it. One of the hose companies in the begin.
ming had been sent to the Knickerbocker
houses when it was found that they were on
fire and every means taken to
Stay the COnfagratiOn,
which threatened to become more general,
even, than it was. Thanks to the Gardiner
water works a hydrant connected with a six
inch main, was located conveniently by and
in brief period the firemen had their hose
attached and were emptying four heavy
streams upon the blazing buildings. But so
great was the extent of the fire that it was, of
course, beyond their power to handle it and
the men devoted their attention to saving
buildings untouched by fire, and
Were Quite Successful.
The stable. a two story structure, between
the two Farmingdale houses and containing
SIC, 900 in co. tly ice tools was protected. and
also BraGstreets houses filled with ice and
80 10 IL L,..I A.
the beginning of the conflagration the steam
er at south Gardiner was sent for, but the
distance was so far that it did not make its
appearance until about two hours. 1t was
it did effective work. The Hsllowell steamer
and the Cushnoc from Augusta, were sent for
and came down, but their services we're not
required and they returned. The flames
were confined to the ice houses and other
buildings mentioned. Sparks sailed through
the air in all directions and the owners of
buildings in the vicinity we're constantly
busy keeping close guard to see that roofs
or walls did not ignite.
The Running of Trains
was somewhat interfered with. The accom-
mediation train had no difficulty in passing
but about o'clock the west all of the North
houses tottered and tumbled, falling squarely
across the track. 1t was composed of heavy
timbers and would have made trouble, but
the railroad company were alive to the exi-
peucies of the case and had despatched con-
struction train from Brunswick to save its
property and clear the track. There was q
large number of cars loaded with gravel and
an efficient force of fifty workmsn. These
went to work and cleared the debris of the
rails 80 that the eight O'Clock train was de-
layed but few minutes. Trains passed as
usual during the night. As usual in such
cases there was
Multitude of Witnesses
drawn to the scene and they thronged the