Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-08
TWO FIRES. FRIDAY.
The Second in Bridge Street Block Proves the
More Destructive.

An alarm was rung in from box 81
| yesterday afternoon ut zoo. for ii fir
on the dump on Capitol street. /
was working toward some of tn
houses and was promptly eXtinguishe,
when the department arrived. Their
was quite 4 delay in reaching the fir
as the department started for Hartfor,
square An effort was made to rim,
in the alarm from box 81, Western ave
nue. and State street. but the box coul,
not be opened. Investigation showet
that Il large buckshot was solid!
Wedged in the keyhole.
The second alarm Of III" day wa!
from box n, which is located in tn
engine house. 1t was rung in on ac
count of a fire in the Bridge Stree
block. The fire had started III dan
gerouS place between the floors in the
tenement in the west end of the house
The origin of the fire is supposed t,
have been due to rats as ii started be
tween the plastering of the second fiool
and the floor boards Of the third. The
tenement was occupied by the family
of John w. quinn.
At the time of the discovery of tn,
had hired were putting down carpe
in the sitting room. when a quantity
of plastering fell upon them. TIL.
smoke then began to pour into the room
and they gave the alarm. Both hose
companies responded very quickly ant
though two lines of hose We're strung
the water was not put on in very great
quantities. chemicals being used What
water that was put on did much dam
age. The furniture Of Mr.. quinn was
badly wet and smoked. After three
quarters of an hour the all out was
rung.
The building, which is the property OF
WhitchouSv & Libby. was insured foI
$3.50, it being divided as follows: 800,
in Downings' agency: $500 in Macon
Der. Farr K Written: and $1,000 in tn,
London Insurance co. The damage t.
the building is hard t" estimate. but il
will probably DO $500 or more Mr.
Quinn's furniture was insured for Sinf
in DuwninG's agency. The furniture,
Of George W. Grant. who occupies the
first floor. was damaged by water
This is insured in Downins's for $3.50
I'll" furniture nf Prof Moses. the clair
voNant. who occupies the basement
was badly wet, but there WAS 10 in
surname" ON it.
1t WAS remarked AZ ~ some. Friday
afternoon. that Hose No. was late il
going Ia the Capitol street fire. The
team was near the uuIp mill AT the
time of the alarm with II load of ashes
and they were obliged To- drive to tn.
hose house before starting for the fire
considering thcs" delays. they made
good time.
Someone has plugged up some of the
key holes of tn" fir" alarm boxes
This is something that the police viii
SOC Is stopped ana if they catch any
OF the guilty persons they will punish
them as tn" city ordinances provide 50
the Journal was informed. Friday af-
ternoon. by City Marshal Morse and
Chief Engineer Kicker.
When the alarm was rung in for the
dump fire on Capitol street. Thursday
afternoon. it was found that the box
that was nearest the fire could not bc
opened. as a buckshOt was in the KEY
hole. 1t required half an hours work
on the part of the chief to remove it.
He later visited other boxes and found
a Shingle nail in one and other things
in others. 1t will be costly for lie
party il detected.