Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-06
WATERVILLE.
YESTERDAYS FIRE.
c. II. L'Abee's Home Destroyed, With
Two Small Nearby Buildings.

All dlteIipt was ~ THE III OH
alarm Of fire down on the Plains about
$40, yesterday morning, but the alarm
system was out of order and only a few
scattering strokes were heard. These
were enough to arouse the department
and it was a case of get out and hunt the
fire. Chief Davies and City Marshal Far
rington were notified by telephone and
most OF the members of the department
were gathered in all right. In this case
the delay did not materially effect the
result as it would probably have been
impossible to have saved the buildings
even if the alarm had worked properly.
The fire was in the building owned and
occupied by Cyrille III. L'Abbe Nibby)
on Water street This building, like
many more in the vicinity, had more sto-
ries in the rear than in 'front.' being built
on the side of a steep bank. The street
floor was occupied by grocery store
conducted by Mr.. Liable. while he and
basement was used as a stable for horses
and hay was stored in one part.
Next north of this building was small
lunch room and next above that what
might be called a lunch cart. The latter
was unoccupied and was not much larger
than the ordinary lunch cart All three
of these buildings were destroyed.
1t is not known exactly just how the
fire started. The lunch room was open
until about o'clock in the morning. The
fire was discovered by Officer Libby, who
had just passed the place and not noticed
anything wrong. After he had gone
down the street a short distance he no.
ticed the blaze and started to ring in the
alarm.
Mr. Liable and his family had rather
a narrow escape. AS soon as Mr.. l. Able
was aroused he found the flames rush
ing up on the outside of the building and
Inn, n lta,lx, w fp Al
the youngest child rushed into the street
regardless of clothes. He then went back
after his other four children, who We're
sleeping in the attic. He managed to get
them out all right but they had to scam
per across the icy street bare footed. He
then started back the third time after
clothes but found the fire had made so
much Roadway that it was impossible to
get into the building. From this it would
seem that the family got out just abou:
in time.
The horses in the basement Jared worse
and were considerably burned before
taken out. The blankets caught fire II
the process and the animals backs were
pretty badly scoTched. 1t is thought,
however, that they will come out all
right.
The department made a good fight after
it got to work, but il was one of the most
difficult places in which to work that can
be found in the city. On account OF the
nature of the ground it was we'll nigh
impossible to get at the rear OF the build
ing with hose. Then after the water
had been played on the building a shoi t
time the bank became as slippery as
glass But the firemen managed to gel
around somehow and make the water do
good work. The fire had secured so mucn
Roadway that it was impossible to save
the three buildings mentioned but 1t was
confined to them and prevented from
spreading to any of the others Wmch
stand very closely together in that sec
ton.
1t was necessary to play on the ruins
until well along in the forenoon before
all the fire was out, as the roof Tell III
such a way that it covered and protected
what little blaze remained.
The most plausible theory as to the
origin of the fire seems to be that a
cigar stub or something of the sort FOUND
its way into the basement of the l. Abpe
building and started the blaze in the hay
and straw there. But this theory is net
backed by more evidence that seVera!
others that have been advanced. so the
cause will probably have to go unknown
The building next north of the l. Able
store, which was used chiefly as a luncn
room, was occupied by Tom Libby and
Henry Matthew. The; loss on this was
comparatively small as the building was
a small one. 1t will probably be in the
neighborhood of $1,000. -
Mr.. L'Abbe's loss is more serious, the
stock of groceries, household furniture
and building are a total loss. 1t is Diff
cult to estimate the loss as the exact
value OF the groceries5iS not known, Du,
it is probably between $500 and $1,000. MI.
Liable carried $1,000 insurance on his
building with D. P. Foster and 500 Will YIN
Drummond & Perkins. He also had 500
on his piano and 800 on his furniture
with c. X. Matthews. There was no m
surance on the groceries.