Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-12
PROMPT WORK
Of Firemen Checks a Bad
Fire on Water Street.
Blaze Started in Easement Of A. 4.
SouIe's Furniture Store.
Loss viii Be Cutie Heavy from Fire,
Smoke and Water.

| What might have been the most de
structive fire that has visited Augusta
for years, was happily ayerted. last
night by the prompt action of the fire
! department.
| An alarm was rung in at 636, from
box %. caused by the discovery of fire
in the basement of the three-story brick
block on the east side of Water street,
owned by the s. c. Whitehouse estate.
The smoke was first seen by Chas. f.
Grover, nightwatchman at the First
National Bank. and Percy Greig. of the
dairy department at the Insane hospi-
tai
The building is occupied as follows:
The street floor is fitted up as a store,
ard pontly occupied by ]. c. Kirkpat-
rick. jeweler, and A. A. Sou,e, dealer in
furniture and carpets. On the second
floor front room is occupied by Miss j.
:. Hinckley, who carries a line of fancy
goods. while the rear part of the build
ing is used as wareroom by Mr.. Soule
On the third floor is a hall occupied by
Morrill, Comma ndery, L. Q. G. G.
The rear end of the basement is used
by Mr.. Soule for a work SHOP and it
was here that the fire caught, in the
northeast corner, over a work bench.
In the room there was quantity of ex-
cesior, which burns like finder. 1t is
not known how the fire caught, but
when discovered, the whole end of the
basement was a roaring furnace.
The CuShnoc and Atlantic companies
We're quickly on the scene, and several
lines of hose We're laid, both on Water
street and at the rear of the stores.
Meanwhile the fire had worked its way
up in the wall of the northeast corner,
and breaking through. charred the
shelves and goods upon them. BY the
time that it reached the second floor,
torrents of water were being poured
into the basement as well as the floor
above. and the fire was quickly drowned
out. The all out" sounded at 7.33
While there was a fire loss of per-
haps $500 on tie building, the damage
to the different stocks of goods con-
tanned therein was due to smoke and
water. Mr. Soule was unable to esti-
mate his loss. last night, but it Will be
heavy. He carries an insurance of
$4,000 in the agencies of C. S. Downing.
and Macomber, Farr & Written. Mr..
Kirkpatrick said that his loss was
small. perhaps $3.50, with an insurance
on tools and fixtures, in Downing's
agency. Miss Hinckley's loss is prob
ably small, and is covered by insurance.
The upper story of the building was
filled with smoke. but not enough to
cause any damage.
There is an insurance of $4,000 on the
building, in the agency of Macomber,
Farr & Written.
City Marshal Breen and force of Of
ficers did excellent service at the fire.
The sidewalk was roped off in front of
the building, and the crowd kept ont
side the limits.
The millinery store of Miss c. A.
Libby. which adjoins the Soule-Kirk
patrick store, on the north. became fill
ed with smoke, and doubtless the deli
cate articles of the stock are badly
damaged by the smoke.
Chief Engineer Kicker and Assistants
Pedder and Gay We're early on the
scene. and handled the fire to the salts
faction of all.