Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-03


Ihey started ont, in boat with the
avowed intention OF obtaining coal from
the she'd in TIE rear of the end of the line
Of stores, not far away In the distance. but
TO them too far altogether
All went well for few yards. until one
Thomas, alias Happy" insisted on rock
ing the boat. There were objections to
this at once. The other two wouldn't
have II for an instant. The crowd checred.
! he other two members OF the PARTY were
not there % be rocked by anybody.
One of the crew took the initiative. aud
proceeded right there and then to give
Thomas licking. Thomas responded,
and the boat went over-three men out of
a boat
They all declared, when later assisted to
the shore that the water was cold-too
cold, for bathing.
| An amusing circumstance was that
when on leaving Tie boat, the two com
batants sought refuge on large cake of
ice, and there, with seeming little regard
for their safety, they began 10 fight again.
One sought refuge on the coal she'd, and
the other Two were taken ashore by II. H.
Bachelor. The third finally vas brought
ashore, and all were again happy.
Some Damages
The water is estimated to have risen
from four to five feet, between s A. NJ
and P. NJ, Monday
About noon, the rise became pro-
naunccd, caused, 1t was reported, by a
blockage Of ice and logs at Browns
island
Shortly before neon, the water began to
make its way into the Gannett e. Morse
Concern, and by 3 clock, the water was
three feet in depth about the two valuable
presses, which have recently been pur-
chased by Mr.. Gannett. Preparations had
been made, however for the water. The
posses had been well oiled. and nothing
more than a slight damage and the cost of
labor in putting them into condition will
be felt by the company. What little paper
was on and was removed to dry place.
About clock in the afternoon. the
shed belonging to the kennehec & Boston
Steamboat Co showing indications of un-
easness. The north end lifted, while the
south end remained settled and firm, be-
ing more firmly attached to the pier.
Shortly after this, crack appeared across
the middle Of the roof-which indeed
looked like the back of some graceful sea
animal. At $50 the building was seen
to move. With long, easy sweep, the
upper end swung out into the current as
gracefully as the Della Collins leaving the
wharf,and like an old steamboat it started
off down the river. The crowd cheered,
but, with all, a certain feeling Of regret
was expressed for the old building, with
its peaked roof, which had, for so many
years, been a sort of weather guage on
which to compare the freshcts, year after
year.
The building had been located upon its
site near the post office for about Is years. |
and was formerly an old house, two open
wings having been added on either side,
one of which was later boarded up 1t
was valued at between $500 and 500.
During the afternoon, after it had
started from its foundation. it was held
by a clump of trees, in the rear OF the post
Office. AT 5 O'Clock, the current caught
it and hurried it off down stream.
In the loft had been left an American
flag, a bass horn, upon which Capt. Par
fridge used to play, and other articles of
property, but, late in the afternoon,
Capt. Partridge reached the build |
ing in boat, tore open the roof
and regained most of his belong |
ings. There are still contained in the loft |
number OF receipts and other of the |
company's papers. only valuable, how
ever, as matters of record.
Joseph f. Howard, contractor and
mason mad his shop, located on the street
bordering the water front, completely sub
merged, and damaged to the extent Of
500.
j. 4. Fuller had narrow escape from
serious loss Many Of his groceries were |