Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-03
THREE INJURED.
Firemen Meet With
Accident, Thursday Night.
Fighting Fire at Capital Dining Room
Bui|ding--ladd Collapsed.
Everett Shaw, Geo. e. and Joseph G.
Kicker Badly Hurt.


building. No. 166 Water street, last
night
An alarm of fire was rung in from
box 81 at 9.51 and the fire department
quickly responded. A fire had broken
out in the kitchen of the Capital Dining
rooms, conducted by f. f. Jones, and
when the tiremen arrived the flames
had gathered considerable Roadway.
having spread to the floors above.
Chief Engineer c. w. Kicker says it
was fierce fire. and he bent every
effort TO confine the flames to the build
ing. They had crept up through the
floor timbers of the place into the attic
in the fourth floor, and the prospect of
a lively cOnflagratiOn was imminent.
Seven streams of water We're at once
turned into the building and in little
while the fire was under control. The
''all out" signal was given at 11.34.
When the fire was at its height three
fremen. Everett Shaw. George f.
Kicker and Joseph G. Kicker. both
brothers of Chief Engineer Kicker,
started up Moultop & Morse extern
sion ladder which had been placed
against the sill of the north third story
window on the Water street side of the
building. The fire at this time was
making fast Roadway on the third
floor and it was found necessary to get
stream of water in upon the flames
at the earliest possible moment.
And so Shaw and the two Rickers
started up the ladder carrying a line
of hose with them. Shaw. who was in
advance. had barely reached the Win
dow sill when the ladder. for some un-
explained or unexplainable reason, sud-
denly collapsed. tumbling the three fire
men to the sidewalk below.
There was an exclamation of horror
from the people who lined the streets
in the vicinity. for the ladder was
heard to come together with a snap and
in an instant the poor fellows lay
manned and wounded upon the brick
walk. They We're picked up and taken
into the Cushnoc house, next door.
Physicians and Plummer's ambulance
We're sent for.
George Kicker appeared to be hurt
the most. and the report was current
that he had broken both legs. Shaw
was cut on the head and was appar-
emily badly shaken up. But Joseph
Kicker appeared to be hurt the least
of all. though his friends feared he
might be injured internally. These
were the first impressions gained be-
fore the doctors arrived.
Drs. Turner. Gribbin and Brickett
soon arrived and. ascertaining from
hasty examination that George Kicker
was hurt the worst of any. he was first
taken to the City hospital in the am
bulance DR.. Turner and DIR. Gribbin
accompanied him. while DR.. Brickett
attended to the wants of Shaw, who
Law upon the floor of the hotel moaning
in his agony.
The ambulance made quick run
over to the hospital and back. and then
Shaw was taken to his home. % School
street In the meantime Joe Kicker
was carried to his residence. 81 Green
lief street. in the Atlantic hose cart.
The injured men are all residents of
the East side and have been connected
with the fire department for many
years They are married and have
families The sympathy of the general
public is freely extended to them.
When George Il. Kicker reached the
hospital the staff of the institution at
tended to him at once. On examina-
ton il was found that he had sustained
n fracture of the cervical neck of the
right femur. about two inches below
the joint. The proper dressings We're
applied and at Il late hour this morning
the patient was as comfortable as
as could be expected. The physicians
think that the injury may shorten the
leg a tritle.
Joseph G. Kicker was taken to his
home and DIR. F.. f. Washburne at
tended him. He thinks that George
must have struck him on his right
shoulder in his descent, for he
is suffering from bruises in that
part of his body, and from
general shock to his system.
Everett Shaw was attended by Dr.
G.. II. Brickett and DR.. G. T.. Friend.
He was found to have sustained frae-
lure of the left elbow at the joint. The
cap is badly broken. His back was
strained and he received a severe
shock He suffers considerable pain.
but his physicians do not think he Is
internally injured. though this cannot
now be ascertained.
While the fire did not extend beyond
the walls of the building on either side.
Hotel (uSnnOC Oh tut nOItu t'iN
building of E. A. Getchell on the south
were densely filed with smoke. The
intervening brick walls We're pretty hot
and but for the immense amount OF
water poured into the burning building
a serious fire must have resulted
In stating the amount of damage
done it is impossible at this time to
give anything more than an approx
mate estimate. Mr.. Titcomb. the owner
Of the building. could give no figures
From other sources 1t was ascertained
that the loss to the building would
probably reach $4,000. Insured in Ma
comber. Farr & Whitten'x agency.
+. f. Jones, the proprietor OF the res
taurant. says that his goods were val
ned at $1,000. but he could not tell how
badly they were damaged. He has an
insurance OF 5000 at Downing's agency.
John H. D0ran proprietor of the Ho-
tel cushnoc. and f. A. Getchell both
say that the dense smoke caused more
~ ,oss damage to their property. but