Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-29
Help Sent From Brunswick Lewiston and Portland and all the
Firemen Did Splendid Work.
Some Of the ndsomes and Best Business Blocks the usng
Shipping City Now in Ruins.
Heaviest Blow City Ever eceedHde Light Guards Called Out to Pro-
tect Property

BATH, Jan. 2S.-( Special. "A fire that
modestly started in the stable in the rear oi
the Sagadahoc house at the time when citi
zens were just taking their extended Sun
day morning nap, succeeded in getting 8
drm hold on the business heart of the city
and before it was conquered some of tht
handsomest blocks of the city were in ruins
and about $3.50, 900 had gone up in smoke
A break in the water pipe at New Mead
ows shut off the water supply, and before
Lewiston. Portland and Brunswick had sem
their help it looked as sthough the whole Of
Front street was in flames.
The Sagadahoc house, Marine National
Bank, John o. Shaw's large store, Lincolr
National Bank, Hallett & Co., J. L. Doug
las store, D. T. Percy & Sons, crockery
and dry goods stores, ]. B. brakes offices,
Central house, with Hayes and Gilmore s
stores, E. S. Crosby's insurance office with
tenement overhead, Shannon & Huse't
stable, the Loach millinery store, F. B
Parks cigar store, Harold M. Sewalls law
office, Charles n. Norton's store, Peoples
twenty-five Cent Saving Bank, Samuel
Melcher's shoe store, Dr.. A. J. Fuller's
office, Knights of Pythias and Forester's
halls are fat.
The Daily Times office, Palmer's dry
goods store, Webber's drug store and sey-
eral offices are damaged.
A bad chimney is credited with starting
the fire, and the fact that itwas well under
way before it was discovered, and then the
men, finding the hydrants empty, were
bothered until they got the Kennebec river
hooked on, after which things went smoothly.
1t is too early to estimate individual
losses, as the men themselves are uncertain
regarding the amounts, but John o. Shaw
md the Percys are the heaviest losers
,mong the merchants, while the Sagadahocb
Real Estate Association owned the larger
part of the buildings.
The Hyde Light Guards were ordered
out and did excellent duty in protecting
property.
The citizens worked like heroes, as at
one time it seemed as though the entire
busircss portion of the city would go.
When it is known that the valuation Of
the city of Bath. fixed by the last valuation
in 1890, was sG,4l9, ,4sl, it will
b, seen that the FIRE of today wiped out of
existence over Il per cent. of the city. and
some idea of the tremendous loss the city
has suffered. Fire after fire has visited the
fair shipping city, but never one that ap-
in severity and loss that of today.
The citizens everywhere are speaking in
terms of the promptness with
which Col. Philbrook ordered out the Hyde
Light Guards, when requested, and the un-
firing and splendid work of the men. They
doubtless have and will save hundreds Of
dollars worth of property to its owners.
Martial law in our city is an unusual thing,
but the soldier boys were welcome today.
The streets in the neighborhood of the
fire present cad and desolate sight. The
firemen are tonight still playing on the
blazing ruins and hundreds of people are
about. Where once stood some of the
finest business blocks in the city is now
nothing but heaps of granite and brick,
charred timbers and debris, the work of the
FIRE fiend.
Citizens by the score are exhausted, to-
night, having fought with the desperation
Of men who see their all being destroyed.
Some Of them-yes, lnany-were not di-
rectly interested, yet fought with valor in q
common cause.
Those whose buildings we're not fully de-
stroyed are busily engaged making tempo
rary repairs and arrangements to protect
the stocks and other contents. None Of
them are discouraged, aud business will be
carried on in Bath, just the same as be-
fore.
The escapes from injury reported are
numerous. At one time large section in
the heart Of Baths bushes, quarter was
: very dangerous place. Falling bricks and
timbers were numerous. and it is wonder
that someone was not badly injured or
killed.
The firemen from Brunswick, Lewiston