Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-04
Ice House and Dwellings Burned at PiSton--- |ncenday
Blaze at Livermore faIs---S5000 Loss at Watervl|e
MANY Places Threatened.
BAD BLAZE AT PiTTSTON.

Gardiner, Me, June 3.-(SpeciaD =
The town of Pittston was visited, this
morning, by the hottest fire known in
its history, and by it thousands Of dol
lars worth Of property was destroyed,
and seven families rendered homeless.
The fire was discovered at about 1890,
in the north end of the ice house known
as the John Hancock house, and own
cd by the American Ice Company. The
river, just below the bridge which
crosses the Moulton mill stream, and Il
half-mile below the Gardiner and Ran
dolph bridge.
The building was empty at the time
and burned like finder, and as the fire
was we'll under way when discovered
any attempt to cope with it was out
of the question. The Hecla Engine
Company went to the scene, but the
fire ragged So fiercely and the heat was
SO intense that it was impossible to
approach the burning building.
The ice house stood close to the high
way which heads up over Erskines hill,
and on the opposite side of the road
were nine tenement houses, owned by
Capt. John Erskine, who lives at the
top of the hill. on the same side of the
road as the tenements, but just beyond.
The heat from the fire was terrific, and
in short time the flames were pour
ing from the small buildings opposite.
one after another caught fire, and the
70 hot
Nothing could be done but to watch
them burn. The people in the little
houses could i'll afford to make the sac
rifice, and it was pitiful to see them
turned out of house and home.
In Is minutes from the time the fire
was discouraged the ice house was q
smouldering mass of ruins. When the
fire crossed the road it swept every
thing before it, houses, sidewalk, fences
and all, and these burned almost as
quickly, and the hill was swept as clean
IS if some great broom had passed over
it.
Behind the houses was a growth of
trees and bushes, and through these the
fire swept along toward the residence
Of Capt Erskine. The last house in
cd, and rs the fire had to a great extent
died out for lack of fuel, the men who
had gathered were enabled to keep it
away from the Erskne house.
Shortly before o'clock in the after
noon, the steamer Cobbossee was sent
oyer and set on the bridge over Moul-
tons mill stream. Lines of hose were
laid up the hill, and the burned dis
trict was deluged with water until the
last vestige of fire was drowned out.
The loss on household goods of the ten
ants cannot be estimated. That on the
will probably figure up between
$4,000 and $500, and it is understood that
there was an insurance of 1880
The John Hancock ice house. whore the
fire started, was built in 1889 by Morse &;
,ilazicr It's ground area was 800 feet by
100. and it's capacity was 10000 tons. 1t
originally contained three rooms. but III
1882, when extensive repairs were made
partitions We're put in TO strengthen the
building making nine rooms The build
ing has changed hands several times
Morse e Haley bought it in 1891, and in
1892 it was again sold. to the John Han
cock Ice Co. of Philadelphia. G. T. Haley
IF Gardiner. was the superintendent, and
it was under his direction that the new
rooms were added. a new elevator was
built. together with the installation of a
complete new set of machinery including
the engine.
When the combine was made which be
came the American Ice Company. in 1900
the ice house came into their hands. the
Hancock company being the last one on
possession of the American company the
house has never beer filled. The original
cost of the house is said to have been
$4,000. and repairs have been made upon
tn no n q AG ff.t no
loss incurred by the fire, an authority on
ice matters stated. yesterday, that 1t
would be about $4,000 There was no in
surance.
As to the cause of the fire. nothing def
mite is known. The building was empty
save for a quantity of dunnage which
CONTINUED on page 81