Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20
A HOT FIRE.
Inree Buildings at the North End Fad
the Flames.
HHe Loss Estimated at -Four Theme,
Dollars,

q, az IL 10 T. NJ, as Mr.. Danial
Sueenan was passing along Water street ina,
'eiow the railroad bridge, he discovered vh.,
appeared to be smoke issuing from the h.sa.
ment window of the wooden bp;,d;no
pied oy Mr.. E. S. Colburn as grocery store
On the nrst floor. 1t was the window a, tho
right hand of the entrance and on invest;..
ZION Mr.. Sheehan ascertained that the int
rior OF the building on the south aldo ..
0iazing briskly. He Immediately CAV. the
a'arm and then ran to alarm the family of =
l. kurdish, who occupied the upper .torv
Inc occupants. Mr.. and Mrs. Kurdish and
tneir four children barely escaped with tbe;,
ii'es' ~hiie almost in twinkling the lurid
name shot forth from the roo,
ol the structure. At the north, adjoining
$1,000 another wooden structure similar IN
THIS, while south, all on the river s;ds ~,
" ater street, stood Mr.. Frank Gaslin's large
livery stable filed with horses and vehicles
useo In MS business. The flames of necessity
communicated at once with both these neigh
Dorlng structures and an extensive and das.
wooden buildings extended up and down the
street Tor some distance. But the fire de.
partmeht, with its usual alacrity, came to
hand and attacked the blaze very success.
July, getting the fire under control in abou,
on hour, after both the wooden stores had
bee thoroughly Quilted. 1t seemed at one
time that the stable must GO. The flames
caught in the hay in the loft, while smoke
poured from every crevice in the roof. Blu,
by generous application of water the build.
ing was saved in damaged condition.
The stable was owned by Frank H. Gaslin
and was completely repaired one year ago
last fail. The interior was well scorched
also the north wall and roof. Loss, $500
insured for $500. The teams, some thirty
| in all, were removed without loss. Two tons
OF hay were destroyed and nine hogs in the
basement suffocsted. Mr.. Gaslin with his
usual enterprise will continue his livery bust.
ness today with headquarters at his fathers
store.
The two buildings above we're owned
by VIM. II. Kurdish and are total loss.
They were valued at $1,000 each; insurance,
$500 on the two.
Mr.. E. S. Colburn, in the building where
the fire started, loses his entire stock of GRO
ceries valued at $500; insurance, $1,000.
He saved his books, Will Hopkins, his clerk,
grabbing them from the very teeth of the
flames. MIR. T. T. Furbush lost his furniture
worth some 5000. 1t was uninsured.
The third and last wooden building was
occupied by Mr.. Charles Cram, the street
floor as saloon and cigar shop and the
second floor as residence for his family. A
lady of the family, who was seriously i'll, was
carried out of the house. The larger part Of
the furniture and fixtures was saved.
The origin Of the fire IS hard to fix. 1t
caught In the ba., III 1T OF the grocery store.
The clerk lett at 10 10 z. M. and all was
right then. gentleman from the east side
said that he first saw the flames burning up
around the chimney at the rear of the build
ing apparently, as though they had caught
there.
The need of hook and ladder appliances
was very manifest. With these the fire could
have been handled with much moro ease and
certainty. The water in the reservoirs was
exhausted just as the fire was partially sub
dued, necessitating delay in changing one
of the steamers. 1t was very fortunate that
the weather was mild and the air quiet, as
otherwise the damage would nave been much
greater.