Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-07
THE WATERVILLE FIRE
is Thought Beyond Question to Have
BEN Incendiary.
The Less Will Be Over $4,000, With but
Little Insurance.

Waterville. May 6.A(SpeciaD. far
the most serious fire which has occurred
in this city for the past three or four
years, was discovered about 1. 80 Monday
morning, in the moulding and stock
room Of A. G. Bowies' sash and blind
mill, at Crommett's Mills" An alarm
was rang in for fire in the dry house of
this mill last Thursday, and at that time
there was fire loss amounting to about
$780,
The fire Monday morning, was dis
covered by gentleman living opposite,
who had gotten up to take the Pullman
at O'Clock. When discovered the whole
stock house was all ablaze, 50 that by the
time the department arrived the building
was nearly ready to fall in. This was a
two-story wooden building and the flames
at once spread to piles of lumber and an
other shed building used as a store house
and from there to the main building. All
the force of the fire department, including
the steamer company, was hastily called
out and about ? IS the fire was under con-
troll.
getting water ON TO the fire, Mr.. Pollard
with Hose No. 2, having line of hose
laid in less than five minutes from the
time of the first alarm, and Mr.. Vose with
Hose No. l, was at the hydrant less than
minute after. The hand carriages No
3 and No 4, made good time in getting
there AID the steamer was playing two
streams in about ten minutes after the
call for it. In all seven streams. one the
double stream of the Eastman Delugc set
as playing on the fire at one time.
There was strong wind blowing from
the South and twice did the two houses of
Thomas Smart on tho opposite of the
street take fire from flying sparks and
burning cinders rs large as mans hand
were carried by the wind as far north as
the top of the hill on College avenue at
least mile distant. Only the slight rain
and heavy mist during the night which
wet the roofs all over town saved gener-
al conilagration.
Great credit is due to Chief
Engineer Plaistcd, Assistant Chief
Proctor and the entire force of men in the
fire department for the able manner in
which they handled the fire. The signal
for fire OUT was not sounded till after
Z Of clock.
In all there We're four buildings
burned all owned by Mrs. ]. Furnish and
W. B Arnold These were the mill,
moulding and stock room which was the
two story building where the fire started
a storehouse and dry house. The loss on
these buildings Will be over SO, 600 with
insurance
The plant was operated by A.
g. Bowie, contractor and builder, who
loses actually about $4,000 on lumber and
one planning machine and he will also
suffer considerable loss on account Of de-
lay in his business as he was all ready to
commence on two or three large contracts,
one the building at Good Will, another the
wood work on Hanson, Weber & Dun
hams new block in this city A large part
of the finish for both of these contracts
was in the mill He carried an insurance
of $500 which will about cover the loss on
the machinery which he lost.
About half dozen workmen who
were employed in the mill lost
their carpenters tools valued at from
$3.50 to $500 each none of which were
insured.
B. f. Towne also lost about 5000
on lumber which he had in the
mill and yard for his new house on Tenn
pie court. There seems to be no question
but that the fire was of an incendary
oripip