The Republican journal., 1903-10-08
1NcEND1ARY FIRES.
So Pronounced After an Inquest by the
Municipal O6cers.

So Pronounced After an Inquest by the
Municipal Omcers.
A second fire started at the Head of the
Tide Wednesday evening, Sept. 30th. and
two dwelling houses were destroyed. Neigh
bors who first saw the fire say that when
discovered the northeast corner of Mrs.
Oliver P. Chase's barn was in flames, and
that her house was soon destroyed. From
her barn the fire soon caught on the barn of
Mrs. Enoch w. Carter, adjoining, and that
too, was burned. Both houses were occupied,
the former by Mrs. Chase and the latter by
Mrs. Carter up stairs and Mr.. Morse down
stairs. All the people of both houses were
temporarily away at the time of the fire.
Mrs. Chase had been away about three
weeks and Mrs. Carter and the Morses a
few days. The Carter house is next to the
house of Mitchell, whose store and egg store
house were burned the Monday night pre-
vious.
The municipal officers held an inquest on
all the fires Friday afternoon. Miss Blanche
Thurston, who lives near the Flanders
place, which was burned Monday night, tes-
titled that she first saw the fire on the end Of
the Flanders barn. The buildings were un-
occupied and had been fastened up several
months.
Capt. Byron A. Hart testified that his
place adjoins the Flanders place; that the
fire lighted up the whole north end OF the
barn when he first saw it. The Mitchell
buildings caught from the Flanders fire.
Arthur Higgins testified that he cleared
out the Flanders buildings thoroughly when
the family moved away year ago, leaving
no intlamable material about. He fastened
all the windows and doors of the barn and
house. There was an opening into the base
ment on the back side, and a man might get
into the barn through the scuttle IN the
barn floor. They got out all the goods from
the store the night of the fire except perhaps
5000 worth. He lives across the street from
Mr. Mitchell's house, and works for Mitch
ell. Went to the stable and took care OF
Mr. Mitchells horses Wednesday evening.
When he came out the Chase barn was ON
fire on the northeast corner. Mr.. Mitchell
and DR.. C. Fl. Thurston had farming tools,
carriages, ETC., in the Chase barn. Higgins
had his hand burned in getting these things
out Capt Hart and Mr.. Higgins said they
could think of no probable accidental cause
for either of the fires. The Flanders and
Chase fires both started on the back side
near the woods.
The following report of the municipal Of
ticers gives the particulars in regard to own
ership, losses, insurance, etc.
Sept. 49, 1903, 11.30 p. m.; name of owner,
Geo. O. Flanders; buildings not occupied; !;
estimated value of buildings, $500; total
loss insurance on buildings, none; no con-
tents cause of fire, incendiary.
Sept. %, 1903, 1890 a. III. owner, Edwin
Mitchell; occupant, Edwin Mitchell; occu-
pied as a store; estimated value of build
ings, 81 900; total loss insurance ON build
ings, none; estimated vaue of contents.
$500; estimated damage to contents, s.
500; insurance on contents, Sl,500; cause of
fire, caught from burning of the Flanders
buildings.
Sept 80, 1903, owner, Mrs. Lottie Chase;
occupant, Mrs. Lottie Chase as dwelling
temporarily absentl estimated value OF
buildings, $1,000; total loss; insurance on
buildings, S1,015; estimated value OF con-
tents, 5000 estimated damage to contents,
$500; insurance on contents, S425, cause OF
fire, incendiary
Sept 80, 1908; owner, Caroline Carter;
OcCuIldIlS, ! tdlOllut u ttl anu "a N' 4hoi oS
as dwelling Temporarily ABSENT estimated
value of buildings, 5000; total loss; nsur--
ance on buildings, $3.50; estimated value OF
contents, $500; no insurance; cause OF lire,
caught from the burning Chase buildings.
T. E. Hartnett of Portland spent few
days at the Head of the Tide the past week,
investigating the fires for the Insurance
Commissioner He made no discoveries
that call for legal action, and the matter
is as much mystery as ever. The people
of the Head of the Tide are naturally much
excited over the fires and a watch was kept
by many. Two policemen were at the Head
of the Tide several nights. The people
have pettioned the City Council for the
use of a hand fire engine and hose, and the
committee will fit up old Hydrant. The
water supply in the vicinity will be i'm
proved and chemical fire extinguishers have
been placed in some of the houses.