Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-03
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Fire damaged to the extent Of $1,000,
Thursday night, the building owned by
the Augusta Lumber Co.. and occupied
by 1t as an Office and store room at it's
plant on the Fast side. ~
The cause is supposed to have been
from electric wires. the building being
entered both by electric lighting and
telephone wires 1t Is thought that in
some way, from the disastrous condi-
ton in which wires were In at the
tirre, being broken down and crossed
all over the city. that hot wire was
created. igniting the building.
The circumstances attending the fire
were most unfortunate as regards the
condition of the fire alarm service. the
wires of the system being almost as
completely demoralized as the other
wires in the section. Several calls were
sounded by the bell and whistle, early
in the evening. and people had gener-
ally gotten to disregard any sound
from these directions as caused by
crossed wires"
The alarm. in Il general way. there
Being no number sounded, was given
by the whistle on the saw mill. at IL. so
2. NJ. AT that time the upper part of
the building was well ablaze.
James Murphy. the Waterman, dis
covered the fire in the northwest cor
Ter OF the building, close by where the
wires enter.
employees near by, and after some nat
-,ral delay had stream on the fire
rom the companys hose, and by
irants.
+ More help soon arrived and the wills
lie Was sounded, at which there was a
general response from the employees.
The building is a two-story wooden
structure. the office being in the rear
IN q level with the street Above are
enement apartments. which were un-
coupled ara unfurnishcd. This upper
1art was totally destroyed. the roof
falling in
The office was badly burned, but all
the papers and books were unchanged,
being safe in the vaults
The first floor was little damaged.
except by water. In it was stored
'ome mill implements of considerable
:alue. which were unhurt
The fire was a stubborn one to fight
he brisk wind tanning the flames from
he corner where they started through
he building. BY IL o'clock. two
treams Of the company's service We're
n the flames, one on either side. By
living mach attention to the Office the
lanes We're kept from working down.
KS it is. however. part of the Office is
)adly burned.
The delay in the arrival of the fire
department was due to the crippled
'ervice of the alarm. The call was
pread on the west side by Officer RAN
lall. and on the East side by Marshal
Morse. who was returning home when
he whistle sounded.
On being summoned. the companies
responded with promptness, but the
ire had been gotten well under con-
rol. To the storm can be laid the
ause of the trouble, the remarkably
,eavy snow causing the wires to cross
IN all sides.
Ira Fl. Randall. president of the COM
>any, was soon on the spot, having
,een notified of the fire by one of the
mploves. He was much relieved. or
thriving. to learn that there was little
LANCER of the fires spreading to the
umber yards. which are but a short
distance away the nearest pile being
,nly a few yards from the building.
I'll wind fortunately blew the flames to
)ne side.
He reports that. for safety's sake, ho
had cut the telephone wires entering
lis house. fearing a connection with |
some other wires.
A live wire attracted much attention. |
which lay close to the sidewalk on Ar |
senal street. 1t had fallen down ana |
ay partly under the snow. For dis |
lance of about three feet under the
snow, it glowed like a great fire worn |
Passers by avoided the spot as they |
valued their life
LARGEST PLURALITY SINCE 1862.
Republicans Clinch Their Grip in Rhode Island