Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-17
PORTLAND ALARMS.
Fire Fiend Gets in Work at Maine
Metre polls.

Portland. Me, oct. 15.-The alarm
from box - at 1886 O'Clock, Friday
morning, followed by tile second alarm
a few minutes afterwards, called thu
fire department to a bad blaze in tie
/ large wooden stable connected with a
, 12 STORY wooden house with ell, To-
Gated on the corner of Congress ana
Merrill streets. The stable faces on
Merrill sire ct. the property is owned
by a man by the name Of Keohan, who
lives in Westbrook. There are three
tenements in the house, but only tw 8
are occupied. the 81 rlnd floor tenement
being occupied BY Harry y. Blanchard,
the president of tine York < Boothby
electrical concern of this city. and one
of the vi per tenelnents by Mrs. Charles
Evans
The fire started in the stable which
was hired b. Russell & Small the
81 ocers. WHO keep "A store at the corn 4r
Of Congress ana Atlantic streets. There
were three horses in the stable belong
ing to Russell & Small. beside their
wagons and other property. The horses
and considerable Of th, property in the
y,
as the fire started in the upper part
among some old barrels. and ii is =
lieVed that tie blaze was started b.,
spontaneous combustion, or by rats
with Matches
Just few minutes before the alarm
Police Officers Taylor and McGrath
Went past the building and everything
seemed to be all right. They had gone
only short distance when they turned
and saw the stable in flames. The
alarm was sent in by one of the orr
GERS, While the other with the assist
ance of citizens began to rescue the
horses. and also gave warning to the
occupants of the house.
There was ample time for the fam
lilies to escape from the house and by
the assistance of the fire department
and citizens 2 large part of the house
hold furniture was saved. The fire
spread rapidly through the stable and
into the eli, and then found its way in
to the main house.
The firemen worked hard and by go
o'clock the fire was under control al
though by that time the stable had
been badly Quilted and the upper part
and ell of the house also.
There are several old buildings in
back Of the burned property and as
they were in such close proximity to
the burning structure the firemen had
to give a good deal Of attention to
them in order to protect them from he
intense heat, from the stable i'll partic-
ular.
In the basement of the house there
vas ct hnt
used as a bakery III which there was a
fire and at that time the house was
quite badly Quilted. After extensive
repairs and alterations had been made
the owner of the property, Mrs. Eliza
beth Groves. about Il year ago. sold
ont to Harry n. Blanchard, who held
The property until few months ago
when he sold to Mr.. Keohan.
The property is valued at about $500 |
and it is thought to be insured but ef- |
forts to reach Mr.. Keohan early this |
morning We're unsuccessful, so the |
facts could not be learned. None of |
the occupants of the house had any in |
srrance on their furniture, but as they |
succeeded in saving the most of it, |
their losses will not be heavy.
The damage by fire and water to the |
house and stable will probably approx
mate about $500.
LinWood r. Jordan, manufacturer and |
dealer in notions, had his workshop
in the basement OF the house. He
heard the alarm and hurried to the
scene as quickly as possible. He tried
to get some of his stock out but was
unsuccessful and all Of it is practically
ruined by water. He estimated his
stock to be valued at $3.50 and said he
didn't have cent OF insurance Part
Of the stock consists of valuable pat
terms.