Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-30
OYER THR EIBERS.
Searching ID. Victims lnid hs
Do1ten Rains.
n CsalilRatiaa lttnlsisl 70 IN
OYuhead viFes.
BoP0nucano H00oSoo Iyu m oOo0noctaIIc
Mayor. that He lGay Continue Wogk
Of 1sltof ios Sufferers

Bosrox, Nov. 29.-At dark the search fol-
the bodies Of the missing 6femen supposed
to be buried in the ruins Of yesterdays FIRE
vas suspended. IL will be renewed in the
morning. Most of the rains are yet too hoi
to permit careful overhauling. The ruins
have been visited by crowds Of sishtseers
during the day and evening.
Two more ffemen, Michael Murnsn, dfiv.
er, and John Brooks. pipemsn Of hose Z.
we're reported missing this morning and they
i,s s,s: ssi;,ss Ss;,.. e be in hs q the Brown
Telegraph linemen we're early on hand
attempting the veil nigh impossible task of
repairing the broken circuits. The walls Of
some Of the gutted buildinas are in . very
dangerous condition, and the owners are con-
templating rszing them to prevent the posi-
biliiy Of accident.
Without doubt the origin of the fire can be
laid to the overhead electric wires and their
heavy currents. II appears that the Boston
Electric Time Clock Co had their ofices
and vorkfooms in the building occupied BY
Brown. Durrell & Co.. on the ground floor.
and it 10 the very building in which the
flames we're 6rst discovered. Throughout
the city the clocks Of tie company were
stopped At 7.4s o'clock, and in very many in
stances the backs Of The clocks and the walls
on which they hang are badly charred. In
City hall the electric clock il stopped at the
above time. both the wires forming the cir
cult are burned OF and the back Of the
clock and the walls badly smoked and
charYed.
All over the burned district ran the wires
Of almost every electric company in the city
and especially on the higher buildings the
wires we're perfect network before the 6re.
The damage done can hardly be estimated,
cables of electric wires. single vine and
whole poles Of virls were hanging in every
street, alley and afea. In many instances
the insulating material enclosing cables and
electric light wires, were burned on and the
bare wires were hanging in the streets, caus-
ing the hremen considerable apprehension.
In = jewellers store on Court street the
clock is stopped At the same hour, and the
wall shows signs Of fire BY the smoky and
charred aspect. An incipient blaze was
caused in City Hall by the uires attached to
the clock coming in contact with the wires
on the switch board. ON which are the electric
bells and electric buttons connecting with
all the departments in the hall. There
10 but little doubt that this vas the cause Of
the FIRE. the immense proportions the fire
had assumed when the department arrived
on the spot 10 90 accounted for. ~ it WAS S.l3
o'clock when the frst alarm was given, no
wonder that Chief Webber should report
that the granite blocks we're 90 hot - to ex
plode, and shower the fremen with pieces of
hot granite.
Jonn c. Pages insurance agency estimates
the total loss at elO, ,OO0, 900. Other estimates
are lower. The assessed value Of destroyed
buildinQs in e796. 900. individual losere e.
q rule are men abundsntly able TO stand it.
The electric clock in Cardley 4 Co.'S bank
ing house stopped at 6.35 r. NJ, Wednesday.
Insurance companies are likely to profit
by the fire in the long run, a. the demonstra-
ton that the so-called 6re-proof buildings are
not are-proof, is likely to result in property
being insured more nearly up to its full
value.