Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-23

The marshal was telling of the fate
the old Atlantic 3 is still in Water
vile, to whom it was sold many years
ago. The Pacific hand tub was sold
TO the town Of Lincoln, and it sup
posedly there now. The fate Of the
old steamer DIR. Hill is in doubt. for
it was sold to the town of Livermore
Falls, and their engine was burned in
their great fire Of a year or more ago.
50 it is supposed this was the DR.. Hill.
though, that they went on the most Of
their relief expeditions This steamer
has been carried to Portland. Gar
diner Fairfield, Shawmut, Skowhegan.
Waterville and all about the country
in her day. At the time Of the Shaw
NUT visit it was just one hour and II
minutes from the time the telegram
was received from the Shawmut peo-
pie that the engine was on the ground
playing her line of hose, having been
carried over the intervening 26 miles
in that time by a special train that
went like wild fire
1t is interesting to hear some of the
yarns, but they will do for some other
time.
The marshal in speaking of the fire
department, the other night, said there
was a great change in the system
when in 1856 the water system was put
in throughout the city. This was fol-
lowed by the fire alarm system in 1891,
and then all seemed complete. 1t was
at the time of the introduction of the
water works that Cushnoc Hose wagon
was introduced TO take the place Of the
Morse Hook and Ladder truck was
bought and placed in commission. On
the side of the ladder truck will be seen
the date of 1887. the date it was pur-
chased. At that same time or in about
1883, the hose houses at Cushnoc
Heights and at Pettingilrs Corner
We're erected and the hand reels placed
there. year or more later in 1891
it is said. the Capitol Hose house was
built and the company placed there.
For the intervening year upon to 1898.
the apparatus was practically the same
4
was made.
Those who do not know of the way
the water was procured before the
water system was put in, should see
the great reservoirs that are to be
found in all parts of the city. in case
one knows where to look for them.
Here volumes Of water We're slowed
for the steamer to draw from when in
need of it. When the fire was near
enough to a stream or the river. that
was drawn from.
The Journal has been very fortunate
in securing the most complete history
of the Augusta fire department from
the days of the earliest system to the
present time, that is in existence.
This was prepared as a paper for the
Historical Society by w. D. Stinson,
the present postmaster. in 1897. The
collection of the data was q very diff
cult one, and it would doubtless now
be next to impossible to gather so
much as Mr.. Stinson gathered. The
older members are fast decreasing, and
the records are not only incomplete,
but they have, in many cases. disap-
peared To the interchangeable zeal of
this gentleman, the people interested
in the department have much to be
thankful Mr. Stinson is well known
as a man who takes an active interest
in historical work, and this added to
his literary ability, has made the brief
but very complete history an interest
ing and valuable one. The paper was
in a brief form to be read be
fore the society which was done in
book of the Historical Society which is
contemplated, Mr.. Stinson announced
before the preparation he would place
it in a longer form and include inter-
esting facts he gathered that could not
be worked into a short lecture.
In the earlier days of Augusta there
was comparatively little danger from
fire. The houses were large and roomy
and constructed of heavy hewn timber.
which at best would burn but slowly
Matches there were none; the fire be-
ing kindled by flint and steel,
and then preserved over night by bury
ing a burning log beneath a mound of
ashes where it smouldered through the
night until uncovered in the morning.
1t appears from an ancient town record
shown me by Mr.. George Hamlin that