Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-12-12
POOR FARM FIRE.
Barns With Contents, Two Cows,
Bull and Six Hogs Burned.
!, Is Supposed That Two Foolish Boys There
Started It.

At9.2O, Tuesday morning, fire broke
ont in the middle barn at the city pool
farm and before the fire department could
rerform any effective work the entire
harm buildings were consumed with
contents together with two cows, a
hill. three hogs and three calves.
The fire originated in the center
harm, which was long one, and was con-
nected with the shed. About this time
DR. LeClair city physician, was making
calls at the aims house and the driver OF
the 10 cent team, John Blanchard, saw
= small curley headed boy, come out OF
this middle barn. But few minutes
afterward he went over to the barn and
fonnd Sol Gordon, an inmate of the aims
house milking the cows. Sol went across
the stable and opened door leading into
this long barn. He entered and very
shortly after came rushing out shouting
fire Blanchard jumped into his ten cent
team and hurried down to. fire alarm box
20 but for some cause was not able to
ring in an alarm. He then went to the
Cusbnoc engine house and was again I'M
able to make the alarm ring Entering
his carriage he fastened down State street
and got Alex McCausland, driver Of the
city team, who soon reached the poor
farm with hose.
During Blanchard's active work the
flames had moved with lightning rapidity
and got well under way. Gordon fought
manfully and was successful in rescuing
two horses, over Is head of cattle, and
some ten hogs. The firemen did not reach
the spot till about half an hour after the
fire broke out, owing to the alarm being
ont of fix and not sounded until the fire
had gained great Roadway.
The firemen were able to save the house
by hard fighting and did excellent work
after they got started. A line of hose was
laid from the corner of North street to the
aims house and two lines from the ny
drant near the city farm buildings. The
roof of the aims house caught once, but
the blaze was soon put out. The barns
being about 70 years old, and filled with
hay and straw, the flames soon swept
through every apartment, being famed
with slight breeze The long, low barn
was burned fiat and all that was left of
.ho o,o an tbo aoct corner was n niece of
the shell. The animals mentioned were
burned alive and the odor was not pleas
ant By any means.
The barns contained about 100 tons Of
hay, $50 bushels of grain, and about 80
bushels of beans. Not a solitary thing
was saved except the horses and cattle that
Gordon drove out. Henry Hartung who
runs the farm had gone out to Manches-
ter for o paupcr and returned in time to
see the remains of the buildings being
consumed. Not anything was removed
from the aims house, with the exception
of a few choice articles The inmates
We're greatly agitated. 1t was but a short
time when many spectators were on the
scene to witness the progress of the flames
and see the gallant fire laddies save the
main building
Strong suspicious were attached to
Harry Stoves, as being the 7-years- old
chap that set the fire, he being the boy
that Blanchard saw coming out of the
barn but a few minutes before the fire
broke out Young Stoves was caught,
the previous evening, kindling fire in
the cupboard at the foot of the aims house
stairs on the ground fiat, and had not one
of the inmates happened to pass that point
just as the young rascal had the IRE
started, the aims house would probably
have been on fire in very short time.
This boy will be taken to the Reform
school, today.
Besides the loss above named, oo
bushels of corn were destroyed, five tons OF
ensilage, two tons of mashed feed ano
some supplies. <.-
The total loss will be about $4,000, WIFI
$4,000 insurance 1t is quite probable thai
operations for the erection Of new build
ings will soon begin.