The Portland daily press., 1895-04-29
BLEW A FOG HORN.
How the Sleeping Piremen Of Rich
mOnd We're Reused
TO FIGHT A FIRE THAT THREAT
ENED THE WHOLE VILLAGE.

|
cape of Young Girl at Augusta-Tribu-
lations of a Lobster Seller-Biddeford
News.
| Especial to the PRESS.)
Richmond, April 27.-Soon after 4.S0
O'Clock Saturday morning. an old building
that stood next to the river, near the foot
o: Gardiner street. was discovered to be on
fire. An alarm was blown by the cotton mill
whistle at 4.40. BY that time the flames
were catching on the south end of the large
wooden shoe factory on Front street, re-
Gently occupied by VIM. &. Morgan & Go.
| When the hose companies arrived the pres
sure from the reservoir was found to be in
sufficient to force water to the caves OF the
shoe factory, and before pressure from the
| pumping station could be obtained the fire
had gained such Roadway that the building
was doomed. A few feet from the north end
| of the shoe factory stands the brick
| Southard cotton mill, recently purchased by
a new company. and which has been run
ming ABOUT two months, after long period
| Of idleness. Much anxiety was felt for the
safety of that building. but it was saved
| uninjured, and the hands went to work at
the usual hour this morning.
| The wind was nearly north. Nothing
could save the shoe factory, and a perfect
| rain of sparks and burning brands was fall
| ing on the dry grass and roofs of buildings
along the east side of Front street, and on
Water street south OF the IRE. In their
order, south of the factory, are the houses
of Mrs. John Blair, j. L. Robinson, A. B.
Gauhert, G. G. Lowell and DR.. K. ". Small.
! Most of these and other buildings were on
fire at different times, but, with one excep-
| ton, comparatively little damage was done.
| While precautions against the spread of
| the flames among all these houses were be-
| ing taken, a smart fire suddenly developed
| in DR.. Smali's stable, and before it could be
controlled the stable was ruined. and ad-
| joining ell of the house was much damaged.
Sharp work saved the rest of the house.
| AL $40 the fire appeared to be under con-
| troll in both places, and at 6.25 the ''all OUT
whistle was blown, though streams of water
were poured into the shoe factory ruins for
some time longer.
| Tie Fire was discovered by Frank Reed.
who had got an early start down river in
his boat and who gave the first alarm by
blowing his fog horn about the streets. Why
the fire was not sooner seen is a wonder.
Had it been. the shoe factory could h9ve
been saved. The origin of the fire is unex.
planned, but is considered to have been in
cendiary.
The building where the fire originated was
an old structure. formerly used as hay
barn, but for several years packing FOXES
for W. F. Morgan & Co. had been made in it.
1t had not been in use since last August.
The shoe factory stood about dfty feet
| - foot
wide. and so feet. or four stories and an
attic high. 1t stood near and partly on the
sites formerly occupied by the shoe factory
| Of Hagar Brothers. and brick factory oc-
cupied by VIM. T. Morgan & Co.. which
were burned. W tn several other buildings.
in the disastrous fire of April 21, 1880. Nor
gan Co. then removed their business to
Pittston. but the citizens of Richmond took
immediate action 10 build another factory
for the firm. May 18th following, work was
commenced upon the grading for the foun-
dation, and early in September of that year
in September of that year the firm was
| back in Richmond. installed in the new
factory. which, as report written at that
time says, was built and completed for busl-
ness in ninety days. and which was well
adapted to the purpose for which 1t was
built. Morgan Co. occupied 1T until last
August, when the business was suddenly
and uaaccountably removed to Pittsheld'
N. Ii. Since then the building has been
vacant. 1t cost $4,000. mortgage of Ssooo
on it was held by the Richmond Savings
bank. now in the hands of receiver. wn1cn
controlled the building and which was par
TALLY covered by $4,000 insurance, placed by
the agency of VIM. T. Hall in the following
companies: Lancashire, $500; Granite state
$500; North British and Mercantile, Slouu;
Northern Assurance, $500. The remaining
| loss to the bank is partly met by the sum
of S1s00 paid by Morgan & Co. for account
of repairs. Numerous efforts had neen
made since the removal of Morgan Co.,
to get some firm to occupy the building. out
withou, success. 1t will probably not De re-
placed.
DR.. K. VI. Smal's insurance was placed
by Spaulding Stuart's agency. S2OC0 III the
Hanover Insurance company. and slouo In
the Phoenix. but so placed that the loss Will
not be fully reimbursed. The old barn was
owned by Job Mansir and was probably un-
insured.
Mrs. NJ. W. Lovell's goods were removed
from her house, which stands across the
street from the burned factory, but the
house escaped serious damage.
Burning brands ser fire to grass nearly
half mile away, and lively efforts were
required to save distant buildings.
Considerable criticism has been causeo oy
the apparent lack of pressure from ene
reservoir.
Under the recent law an investigation as
to the cause of the fire. etc., by tAe
municipal officers is required.
ARRESTED FOR SELLING sHoRI
LOBSTERS.