Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-04
NOT DISCOURAGED.
Waterbury, CT, Merchants Are
Ordering New Stocks.
Loss to the City Will Be Between
$4,000, 900 and $4,000, 1000.
But They Propose to Keep Right on
in Business.

Waterbury. Conn. Feb. 3.--The sun
rose, this morning on blacltened and
smouldering mass of ruins that marked
the main business section of the city.
Bat CHASTITY as the appearance was and
bitter as the disappointment of bust
ness men and numerous families, there
was ore fact blacker than all the
| others. This was the very strong sus-
| picion that the fire that completely de-
stroyed the Scovill house. burning up
thousands of dollars worth of furniture
appointments and personal effects and
| imperilled many lives, was the work of
| a fire fiend.
| The fire originated in the pool and
| billiard room in the basement of the
| house. The room was closed and lock-
ed and no one was supposed to be there
No fire was kept in the room, all heat
was supplied from a boiler in another
part OF the building.
| Manager Truman said while the fire
/ was still raging that he had not the
| slightest doubt that il was of incen-
| diary origin. No one could be found to
explain its origin, and the authorities
have been quietly at work Investigate
| ing.
The fire came so closely on the heels
OF the big confla grafton that the thous-
ands Of spectators who witnessed 1t
were thrown into more complete
panic than the original conflagration
caused.
The flames had only begun to die out
down along Bank, Grand and South
Main streets at 4 O'Clock when long
tongues of flames ieaped as by magic
into the sky and people groaned with
the apprehension that the city was
doomed after all.
The call was rung in promptly and
the engines that hurried to the scene
turned their attention mainly to pre-
venting the spread of the flames. 1t
was evident that the hotel was doomed
and if the fire had reached the adjacent
buildings. there would have been very
little hope of saving the center Of the
city. The fire continued far into the
day and was not entirely extinguished
until evening. The scene about the
city. today, was only n little less re-
markable than that of the previous
evening
The fire cut through the heart Of the
city and the appearance Of the gaping
opening from Leavenworth to Brook
sustained by the commercial life and
importance Of the city.
A tangled net work of wires on Bank
and South Main streets greatly hinder
ed the work Of extinguishing the last
flames and clearing away the wreck
age.
The Connecticut Railway and Light
ing Co. had men on the streets all day
removing, repairing and replacing the
wires. The city's telephone communi-
cation, lighting facilities and electric
power We're restored before night.
A revised list of losses and insurance
is very difficult to obtain, as few know
just what the loss was on their build
ings and stock. 1t is believed that when
the truth is known the figures printed.
this morning, will not be far from the
correct estimate.
The remarkable feature OF the fire
was undoubtedly the absence so far as
known of loss of life. Two men were
asleep in the Scovill house, Charles Y.
Kent Of the Holmes, Booth & Haydens
Co. and member of the board of educa-
ton. and the second cook, a German.
but both have been located.
The rebuilding Of the ruined struct-
ures is only n question Of time. Tenn
porary quarters have been secured by
all the firms and though very small so
far as actual space goes. the merchants
who have lost so heavily have refused
to yield to defeat and will soon be in
commodious headquarters. Many have
already telegraphed for new stocks and
will resume business Immediately.
The American Publishing Co. is
among the heaviest losers, the building
being ruined. but the paper was issued
in an abbreviated form. tonight. The
walls of the mechanical department are
still standing and il Is said it will be
rooted in Immediately. The press and
machines are believed not to be seri-
ously damaged. though buried under
water and debris. The plans of the COM
pany have not been formulated as to
the future.
There has been more or less disorder
about the streets, today, but the police
have been very active and the militia
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