Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-08
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
A STUBBORN FIRE
In the Dye House Block on Water
Street, Last Evening,
The Loss Will Be $4,000 or More Covered
by Insurance.

The second fire of the week, after two
evening, and at one time II
looked as though there would be
warm time, but the fire laddes proved
themselves fully equal to the occasion,
and subdued the flames after a long,
hard fight
1t was 49, in the evening, when the
alarm was sent in. and it announced as
plainly as it could possibly he done,
that there was trouble ahead, for when
there is fire in the vicinity of box -,
it is one to be dreaded, because there
are so many wooden buildings in that
section that once under way. ii is hard
to fight And along in the business
section near the railroad bridge it Is
impossible to fight the flames on any
but the front side
4 company could not make amy
Cushnoc Hose. and the Atlantic was
not far behind.
The fire was discovered in the Dye
House block. in the part occupied by
Miss Lena Hebert, the milliner. and
was discovered by John O'Connell, who
was passing. Seeing the smoke com
ing out of Miss Heberts store, he rang
in the alarm from Box 81. few steps
away The Cushnoc and the Atlantic
companies soon had four streams Of
water on. but Chief Kicker found that
he had IA fire that was likely to prove
stubborn. and al $50 rang in the gem
eral alarm. which was responded to
first by the Volunteers. then the Cap
itals. and later the Pettingills Corner
company. who soon We're playing upon
the building. The Henry r Morse
Hook d Ladder Co. was early on the
scene. and the ladders We're soon in use
one stream was in use on the roof
five at various points in the building
and one reserve was kept at work on
the south wall of the building, next 10
Hopkins restaurant. Until after 2
o'clock. the smoke rolled UP from the
windows and crevices in all parts Of the
building, and when the windows We're
broken in to allow the firemen to enter
great volumes of smoke rolled out yet
the large crowd in the street. and on
the railroad track, saw no signs of any
blaze during any stage of the fire.
Those on the travel and railroad
bridges. however. that could see the
back of the building, could plainly see
the flames.
AT 1ol5 the fire WAS under control.
and Il few streams only We're kept at
work until the all out was sounded at
1l25.
Just what was the origin of the fire
is as Yet hard to determine, but it <
supposed to have started in the rear Of
Miss Heberts millinery store. Wher"
she had stove with wood fire, The
stove was closed at the time but the
fire in the stove was supposed to have
been burning.
The block is the property Of Mrs Ida
f. Barber who. With two sons and one
daughter, live over the stores. Miss
Iiebert occupied the north store, next
to which was the dye house operated by
Maynard Beal and then came the to
bacco store Of L. f. Barber
Just what the loss viii he, is at the
time of writing hard to determine a.
the water and smoke loss is greater
than that by the fire.
There was about $35oo insurance on
the building. $500 with Downing. and
$4,000 with Macomber, Farr K Written,
the value being about $1,000.
Mrs. Barber also had $500 insurance
on her furniture with the Downing
agency.
on Miss Heberts stock there was
$1,000 Insurance. $500 With Downing and
500 with Noble. This stock is probably
a total loss although the. books and
papers were saved in a badly soaked
condition.
There is practically no loss by fire ~
the dye house. although everything Is
Wpll soaked and smoked The loss is
partially divided between Mr. Beal. and
his patrons. who had clothing and
other articles in the store.
BARRIERS stock of tobacco and edi-
bles was valued at about $500, unin-
sured. The water damage to II. K
Hopkins. in the block on the south. wa:
about $50 There will be a little loss lay
water and smoke in the Riversid,
block.
The city is indeed fortunate tina
there was no wind at the time Of tn,
fire and nothing to hinder the tirenl i
in their brave work
Miss May Noble has returned fron
Saco. to visit her parents. Mr. and Mrs
NJ. f. Noble.