Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-26
FAIRFIELD FIRE.
Continued from page -

The blaze from the hot box started
in the rear Of The kanrick shop which
Was in the center Of the three large
buildings. The wind very fortunately
was in the northwest which drove The
iir" of toward the river and away
from all the adjoining buildings II II
had been in the southwest. The fire
would have been driven across the
lumber ward into the small structures
there and into the houses which Fringe
the outer edge. From there IL would
have been an easy matter for IL to
have jumped this small Intervening gull
IS into the rear OF The buildings along
lower Main street and would then nave
had rich feeding through the very heart
of the town. I;usineSs blocks ana
scores of dwellings, would have been
doomed and doubtless the larger part
Of the town wiped ont of existence.
When the fire started there was scarce
~ any wind. and the huge column Of
smoke rose straight into The air, max
inn beautiful sight. The wind rose
however. soon after the fire started,
but il came from the northwest The
blaze under control rs quickly as pos
Siblc. for fear that the wind would
shift and drive the flames. along the
path described. When the fire WAS al
most at it's height it did shift a triile
ami more than one pulse almost ceased
beating as the sroke was seen going
more directly south. 1t soon swung
back. however. ana the town was
saved. IT was about the closest call
that a town ever had. and even the
present great loss seems small when
the probabilities are considered if that
smoke had gone one more point to-
wards the east.
The shops have been in Us" since 1882
in which year they We're burned and
rebuilt. They were therefore dry as tin
DR. boxes. ana fun of fine S;twJust
grease ana paint. The floors Of the
paint rooms ART perfectly saturated
with paint ana varnish. 50 that no bet
ter material for hot fire can BE- i'm
agined.
The Kcnrick shop burned with the
rapidity al AN oil tank one man Who
WAS In the second story says that a
tiny brand drifted in through the Win
dow OF 4 room piled high with recently
vanished chairs. In an instant every
chair in the bunch was ablazc. lie
didn't stay to see hoW rapidly they
burned. I;uel l.. Branch Of Waterlillc
.-3 >-.l t-a,,i..l, ,,c,. IN tb. ro.,,- Nv
.n. .l,,,,, ,,ban tb. fra 4t,rtad h.lo,y
,ro., 4 ia I,n.-.et tb.,- rn,Il have
,.,,,,. ,,, Il, t.n minutes III, tbn,- al
,.,o.t last tbci,. Iivos The,- made. "a rush
,l,., ,l, Coon, 49,, ,h, i,,iiji,,,r and
t,,,,,,,,,'i From, p, ,,-i,.l,,,- IN tbo y,,ond
.' =. ~. ,,,.o,,,,1 NJ, I<or,i,l, in
80, ~, a,l-1o =, ,b. f,u a,d Nj,
I,,..., !, .,.,,,I. 49,. IA ,,, ,b., f,.,ya,,
',I ,t.f,,,- :. -. ..,,...-.l,- T,bo
!. ;.,,,. ,, , .,,.;,,,s,
1.. ,,i.. ,.,.,.,,,.. ,,-.,. ...,tai,I,- !, b,i,-
t,...I, ~
II ,. 4 i nv ,,.,,,..,,
t TIL, li,,,t
~ ,..,,.,. t,'..i,,,r ,,,o;,.tf,.,s
the building. endeavorine to subdue the
flames. not realizing that the fire was
making such rapid Roadway. Before
Mr.. Kenricl realized the danger. he
and Mr.. Branch We're cnVcloped in the
flames and as the doors leading out Of
the burning building had been preVi-
ouely closed il seemed for Il moment
that thcy must perish there. In the
binding smoke all the way Of escape
| that could be seen Was the slimmer of
a pane OF glass i'm 4 window in the
front part of the mill Cropping his way
| through the smoke aud almost Suffo-
Gated. he managed to reach the WIN
dow and made II desperate jump for
| life. landing on the frozen ground
| rs feet below. He got up and walked
across the road to the office. His hair