Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-19
COMFORTS LOSS.
Its Wooden Building Destroyed
by Fire, This Morning.
Loss on Building and Plant Estimated
at $4,000 to $4,000.
Loss to Firms Business. SIOO. O00-Only
$4,000 insurance on All.

1
its contents, early this morning.
| AT ~. 43. the fire was discovered by Off
Ger Mcdonald while near Wyman's mill.
After hard run to the police station, he
notified Officer McKenney, who rung in
box ~, at the corner of Bangor and Cony
| streets. Officer Mcdonald was the first to
arrive on the scene and attempted to open
the door Very shortly after, the Cushnoc
Hose Company arrived and stream of
water was put on the flames
| As the fire was at once seen to be a large
| and stubborn one, Assistant Engineer Ped
| der gave orders for the entire department
| to be called out, the companies
| arriving on the scene In the following or
| der: Atlantic, II. L. Morse Hook & and
Ladder Company, Pine Tree Hose Com
pany, Capital Hose Company and the
Volunteer Hose Company.
The firemen set to work with will, but
| the fire was hot one. 1t was not long
| before part of the roof fell in and most
of the contents of the establishment were a
total loss
| The flames lit up the surrounding coun'
try for miles, and an immense crowd of
people was soon assembled about the burn
ing building,
! The water service was magnificent, and
the absence of wind was also an important
| help to the flremen in staying the pro
sress Of the flames
The fire had obtained such o start when
| discovered, that it was impossible to save
| the wooden building, and the efforts of the
dremen were largely directed toward pre-
venting Its spread to the brick building, a
task IN which they were entirely success
| full.
| The large press upon which Comfort
vas formerly printed was located in the
end of the wooden building, adjoining the
brick building, and here some specially
lively and effective work was done by the
| fire department. 1t remains to be seen
whether or not this valuable machine will
| be total loss, as nothing definite can be
ascertsined until the debris of the fire is
cleared away.
There was small safe in the burned
| building, the contents of which are quite
valuable; but 1t is believed that they will
| be recovered In a good state of prcserva-
ton.
The building destroyed was used for a
mailing room and contained millions of
mailing slips, and important letters.
T. II. Dodge, u correspondent clerk, i'll
| formed Journal man that his papers,
| which were stored in the north end of the
building, were all destroyed.
The building is insured for $50, 600,
| Macombcr, Farr Il Co, and c. S. Down
ing; in Chicks agency for $4,000 and in
Downing's for $4,000. The loss cannot be
judged at this early hour; in fact, it is said
| to be almost impossible to estimate.
The attic of the brick building, a room
7Ox90 feet has been used as a store room
This will be Immediately fitted up for the
writer's and other members of the force
| ,nd the work of mailing the remainder of
The September issue will go forward with
out interruption.
Fortunately, the greater part of this is
sue had already been mailed, and the re-
mainder of 1t can be easily run off on the
big press in the basement OF the brick
building.
1t has been the custom to lock up the
lists, every night, and also the books of the
company, in big safe in the brick build
ing, and these therefore escaped the flames.
There were, however, in the wooden
building thousands of valuable letters and
correspondence used in the transa ,tion OF
the business, which cannot be replaced and
the loss of which is a severe blow
Much of the contents of the burned
building was of such a character that 1t
could not DC insured, and yet its value to
the business was very great.
W. H. Gannett, the head of the concern,
arrived on the scene very soon after the
alarm was rung In. 1t was, of course,
difficult in the blaze of the burning build
ing to talk of plans for tho future Mr.
Gannett, however, was calm and self
possessed in the face Of his great loss.
In speaking with Journal reporter he
said: 81 feel this loss very keenly, indeed
cannot, of course, determine at this early
hour, whether l shall rebuild Or not.
have a great deal of vacant space in my
brick building which at this time can be
used to good advantage.
"At all events, the employees will not
lose days work and will be ready as
usual, this morning, at O'Clock, to begin
their days labor.
1.-The project of erecting an addition to