The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-18
FIRE AT WEsTBRooK.
A1onzo Libby's Buildings Partially Burned
The Edwards House Suffers-Loss
about SIS, OoO-Insured.

The worst fire that has visited West
brook for some time occurred here about
4 O'Clock Saturday afternoon and nearly
destroyed the tine residence of Alonzo
Libby, Esq, on Main street. Mr.. Libhy's
buildings consisted of a large two story
house and oil to which was connected
shed and room next the stable where
a boiler is set for the purpose of washing
milk cans. Mr.. Libby is an extensive
stock raiser. farmer and milk dealer. He
had two stables connected with his home
! lace. The fire caught in some way in
the room between the shed and stable
where the cans are washed. The fire soon
spread to the stable and when the alarm
sounded at about two minutes of the
blaze was coming out from all sides of
the stable. There were six horses and
about IL head of young stock in the sta
BILE. Three of the horses were rescued and
six head Of young stock. 1t looked for
quite q little while as though the ciuy
was in for an extensive confagration,
but thanks to the efficiency of the fire
department. and the good judgment of
Mr.. W. II. Parker, the second assistant
engineer, who was in charge at the OUT
break of the fire, it was kept almost
wholly on Mr.. Libby's promises. One
stable with all its contents and the out
building with the ell Of the house were
completely consumed. The main house
was saved, but was badly burned in the
rear and on the roof and completely
drenched with water.
The next house to Mr.. Libby's is the
B. M. Edwards homestead, which was
badly scorched and the ell nearly burned
down. The Edwards house was ocou-
pied by the families of Mr.. Chapman
and Mr.. D. N. McCann. Their furniture
was mostly carried into the streets, in
very poor form. 1t was hard work to
stop parties in the upper part of this
house from throwing the furniture out
of the windows after it was plain to
most everyone that the house would be
saved. 1t was very fortunate that there
was not much wind, and what there
was was in the most favorable direction,
as on every side buildings were in very
Oloso pIOAliu1Vy w ouo puFllluS Uullulu&S
excepting in the southeast. and what
little wind there was came from the
northeast, although it was very quiet.
More than a dozen houses on Spring
street caught fire on the roofs from flying
cinders.
Mr.. Libby's loss will be quite heavy,
probably about $1,000. His insurance
was $4,000 on house, two stables, furni-
ture and stock. Most of the furniture in
Mr.. Libby's main house was saved, but
everything in the ell was lost. By hard
work one stable was saved in a damaged
condition. The damage on the Edwards
house will amount to about five or six
hundred dollars, covered by insurance.
Mr.. Chapman's loss will be considerable
on furniture, as also will Mr.. ID. N. Nc
CAMS. Some people became very much
excited and wanted the mayor to tele-
phone to Portland for assistance, but he
replied that when Engineer Parker
thought best he would do so, but Engi-
neer Parker assured him that he felt con-
fident that he could keep the fire within
it's present limits. Chief Engineer Leigh
ton, when he arrived, sustained Assis-
tant Parker, and no help was called for.
In just one hour and half the fire was
all over. Although the Westbrook fire
department is small it has always proved
itself very active and efficient.