Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-27
RICHMOND'S LOSS.
Burglars Rob Post Office and
Fire the Building.
Post Office, Four Business Firms and
Library are Heavy Losers.
Loss Will Reach Over $4,000; Partially
lnsured-The Burglars Escape.

Richmond, March 26.-(Specia).
largest burglary for any years and the
most destructive fire since the great fire
of 1870, occurred at an early hour, Tues
day morning. Atabout /. 80 o'clock, Alfred
Ella, guest at the Richmond house, was
awakened by the sound Of muflled ex-
plosion, and, arising and going to the
window Of his room, heard someone out
side say: Stand behind that post.
He soon saw Pickering light in the
post office, across the street which soon
grew and burst into a threatening flame
Immediately after he saw two men step
down the street and disappear. The alarm
was at once given and the fire depa, tment
promptly turned out, but such was the
position of the fire and the nature of the
contents of the building that it was very
difficult foe to fight
Before it was extinguished the entire
building was Quilted and nearly all the
contents destroyed or badly damaged. in
Guiding the stocks of G.. Il. Ames, book
| store, periodicals., wall paper, Western
| Union telegraph office and telephone ex-
change; Herbert Mansir book store and
| periodicals; post Office, g. r. Theobald,
postmaster; w. A. Voter, meat and pro
visions; j. +. Flynn, tobacco and cigars
and the Richmond public library.
| 1t was found that the post office safe
had been blown open and rifled of its con-
tents, the burglars getting, it is reported,
about $500 in money and about $3.50 in
stamps. The men got away and have not
been apprehended.
The Richmond Library Association had
rooms on the second floor and its valuable
library of 44O0 volumes is damaged to a
considerable extent Among the valu-
able collection of books in the library was
about $3.50 worth donated by tn Countess
of Aberdeen in memory of her son George,
the sixth Earl of Aberdeen, who once
resided here under the assumed name
of George Osborne, and whose event
full career was brought to sudden close by
his being swept from the deck of vessel
during a storm at sea while on voyage
to Australia, several years ago. This
library is said to be one of tho finest in
New England of it's size, having had the
personal attention of it's librarian and
chief supporter, MIR. w. H. Stewart, for
many years. The selection of books i
said to have been extremely careful and
wise. Some of the volumes can never be
replaced and it IS doubtful if $4,000
would replace the remail r.
The building, or rather the buildings,
there being two so joined to ma Ike prac-
ticalIy one were of brick, each being two
stories with attics. The o ie occupied by
Mansir's bookstore was owned by the
heirs of the late Samuel W. Jack. The
other. containing the remainder of the
stores and the post Office, was owned by
W. H. Stewart. They will have to be re
built on Main street from the foundation.
The following insurance companies are
affcc ed by the fire: Phoenix, Spring
field, Hanover, German American, North
British Mercantile. Connecticut and Con
tinentil The loss to the several agencies
is divided as follows Spaulding q STU
arts. $4,000; Newell's, $1,000: Hall s,
$500; Meals $1,000.
The loss to individuals may be sum
married. as follows: George Il. Ames,
books and stationery, $500; insured
$4,000. Herbert Mansir, books and sta
tionery, $500; insured, $4,000. W. 5.
Voter, meat and provisions, $500 insured
$500. W. H. Stuart, building. $4,000
insured, $4,000 e. W. Jack, building,
$500; insured. $780, J. f. Flynn,
tobacco and cigars, $500; no insurance.
Western Union Telegraph Office loss not
known. Post Office fixtures, $1,000; in
sured, 300; public library, loss several
thousands, partially insured
The parties burned out made the best
of things and those who could secured
temporary quarters. Postmaster Theo-
bald engaged quarters in Hathorn block
and began to deliver mail matter before
o'clock. The Bee sanctum was captured
nv the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, where il is doing business as usual.
Herbert Mansir has rented the houdlette
building on Front street and. w >. Voter
, has moved his stock into the basement OF
Judge Halls building. George e. Amos
is doing business i'm the Bee office.
There is no clew to the burglars Three
men who have recently been about 1ceboro
arc suspected. So far as is known there
is no evidence to connect them with the
crime. A reward of $50 has been Offered
for the arrest of the parties.
Their descriptions severally are;
Twenty five y.ars of age, 5 #. in. in
height. weight $50 lbs. Smooth face,
full cheeks Black suit, dip hat, blue
bingham shirt, necktie with pin, black
overcoat
Thirty five years of age. TT. s in. in
height, weight $50 lbs. Has clean
). shaven face which is slightly pitted.
Black suit double breasted vest, dip hat,
and gold watch and chain.
Twenty two years of age. s TT ii In. In
height, weight 100 lbs. Has smooth
face a brown mixed suit with dark
wooden shirt and dark necktie, dip hat.
The tools found in the postoffice, left
by the burglars were stolen from the
shops of Isaac Spaulding and Benjamin
Costellow, Southland street. Monday
night.
The Richmond Bee, with commend
able enterprise, issued an extra, Tuesday
afternoon, giving the f, II particulars OF