Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-19
0atlp kel1nebec Journal.
READFIELD'S BLAZE.
The EImwood Hotel Destroyed
Loss About $500.
Prompt Work and Lack of Wind Saves
Rest Of the Village.
Monday Nights Reports Were. Exaggerated.
But it Was Bad Enough.

Readfield, Me-, Oct. 1S.-(SpeciaD.-
First reports are oftentimes eXagger-
ated, and such proved to be the case
with the dispatches sent out, Monday
night, telling that the village of Read
field Corner was threatened with de-
struction by fire. Luckily, however,
though the fire was bad enough as it
was, instead offs causing widespread
devastation, it was confined to one
building-the Elnwood hotel.
The alarm was sounded at about
1920 p. NJ. caused by the discovery of
fire around one of the chimneys of the
main part of the house, and it was well
underway when first seen, having. evil
IDENTIFY been in progress for some time.
Readfeld has no fire engine, but has
volunteer hook and ladder company
which proved itself of great value upon
this occasion. 1t was seen at once that
the hotel was doomed, and the atten-
ton OF all present was devoted to the
endeavor to prevent the fire from
spreading to surrounding property, the
village being thickiy settled at that
point.
A number of the citizens own
chemical fire extinguishers, and these.
with a liberal supply of water pals.
enabled a resolute body of men to fight
the fire at a fairly good advantage
keeping it confined to the hotel
The hotel was soon a mass of flames.
and had there been wind blowing
there can be no estimate formed of
sWhat would have been the amount of
property destroyed. But the night was
I quiet, what slight movement of air
There was being from the north. Clouds
OF sparks and cinders fell upon the
roofs of buildings across the street, but
district watch and the use of wet
blankets prevented any damage in that
direction. e
Just north of the hotel ndscQnnected
with it by narrow she'd issF large
livery stable containing fine stock
OF horses and carriages. It2was with
the utmost difficulty that this. building
was saved. The men We're obliged to
work close to the blazing building, and
/ though the heat was terrific they sue
seSeded in tearing down the shed before
&iis fire reached it, and pysa liberal use
OfsNet blankets saved the stable
The hotel continued to burn for sew
sy4l hours. and was wholly consumed.
When the fire was at its height calls
for help We're sent to- Winthrop and
scwiston. the latterS responding by
ndthg an engine, Which. however, did
~ AaFrive In season to be of any use.
B0E3& small sp0rtion of the furniture
was saved.
There were but two casualties re-
ported. 1. L. Hopkins, while raising a
window was severely cut on one hand,
two arteries and the cords of a thumb
being cut. and another young man re-
ceived scalp wound.
Mr.. c. E. Stevens, the proprietor Of
the hotel, was in Augusta at the time
of the fire. having gone to that city to
take a party to the Pullman, and did
not arrive home until the house was in
ruins. He estimates his loss on the
building at $4,000, and on the furniture.
$500. The house was we'll insured, but
only part of the furniture was
covered.
The fine residence of William Har-
vey, a few rods west of the hotel, wa;
exposed to extreme heat, but beyond 6,
bad blistering of paint escaped serious
damage. There is a system of water
works on the premises, fed by spring.
that gives an ample supply of water
and proved q godsend to those fighting
the fire.
The Elmwood was built about 80
years ago. by Asa Gile, Esq. former
wealthy and prosperous lawyer Of
Readfeld. 1t was tWo-story frame
building with mansard roof and n
cupOla. On the north side was an ell.
also twO-storied and having the same
kind Of roof. There were SO rooms in
the building, % of them being sleeping
rooms. The house has been changed
more or less since being built to mod
ernie it, the latest being a piazza on
the south and west Sides put on last
summer. The house enjoyed a steady
run of business. and Mr.. Stevens said.
this morning, that the business for the
past year had been very satisfactory.
not only the transient class but the
summer visitors who came in large.
numbers to this quiet village There
is no doubt that Mr.. Stevens will re-
build, and on the site of the house lust
burned, will erect one thoroughly
modern in style, and embracing all the
needs of the travelling public.
The origin of the fire is a mystery,
and cannot be accounted for With any
thing like certainty. 1t is supposed
that 1t caught in some way from the
chimney. The space beneath the roof
was all on fire at the time that the
flame showed near the chimney. There
were but a few people in the house at
the time.