Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-26
LEGENDARY ORIGIN.
Municipal Officers Believe There Was
One at Burnham.

Burnham, Me, April o5.-(SpecaD-Th
board of municipal officers of this town
was called to Investigate the fire which
started in the house OF J. w. Hunt. yes
tcrday afternoon, and the gentlemen of
the board are satisfied that the fire was
OF incendiary origin. The villagers do not
feel particularly pleased over the proS-
pect of a firebug being in their midst.
Within the past two years the village has
lost heavily from fire. being twice, COM
RELIED to call upon the city of Waterville
for aid at coniiaSra tons which seriously
thrtateneu the entire village west of the
Sebasticook river. Yesterday, the fire
started on the east side of the river
right where it would have done the most
damage had it got under any considerable
heauWaY. 1hanks to the ~piompthess OF
several neighbors, the fire was checked
before it had caused any considerable
damage to the Hunt house and also in
time to save several evidences of inccn-
diarism to the investigating eye of the
sciectmen. The story of the fire and the
investigation, as far as the latter has pro-
ceeded, is as follows:
Late Sunday afternoon, a neishl,or liv-
ING near the Hunt house saw smoke isSI-
ing from the roof as though a fire was in
progress in the attic. Ih~ alarm was
at once given and several men of the
neighbOrhood quickly gathered and began
the tight which saved the building from
serious damage. When the first resi-
dents arrived on the scene they found
Mr. Hunt present attempting to save some
goods which he had stored in a room on
the first floor which was used by him as
a grocery.
All the fire was in the attic and thithcr
the ncighborS went with buckets of va
ter. the only means Of eXtin@GishinS inc
at hand.
Mr.. Hunt told the ncighhors that he had
been in the attic after Il mason's trowei
and had overturned a lantern. When ask
ed why he had not given the alarm, ne
said he attempted to extinguiSh the ilr"
himself. He said he had carried six buck
cts of water to the attic. but til" neigh
horS say there We're no Indications of the
application of water when they arrived.
After the fire Mr.. Hunt said he had lost n
wallet containing 5000 in money, and af
tcrward he said the wallet contained but
$1Sl.;.J. The fire was eXtinguShcd with
damage to the house that can he repair
ed for less than 500. Had the fire got Il
fair start on the roof, there being 10 lad
derS handy the building would have been
the torch which would have ignited Soy
eral other dwellings, most OF them fine
ones, ana the village would have suffer
ed a great loss.
Mr.. Hunt occupied the building which
is owned by his wife, as Il store and dwell
first story, the family living i'll the second
story. Mr.. Hunt also conducts Il small
grocery ON the west side of the river near
the railroad station but he does not own
that building There is an insurance on
the building where the fire of yesterday
| occurred and that insurance is placed
with Mr.. Parks of Pittsfed, who has been
notified by the selectmcnt to he present.
| tomorrow morning, and hear the report Of
! the board of investigation.
This morning. several of the leading
merchants notified the Sclectmen that the
| conditions surrounding the fire Of yes
| terday were a little suspicious #nd de-
| mantcd that an investigation h" held.
| The seCctmcn met. this afternoon, and
went over the premises. In til" attic
| they found several old wSpapers bear
| ing date of last September and Il bundle
| of straw.
| This morning Mr.. Hunt began to act
| strangely. as though insane. and he final
| ~ went To the hulne of his brother WEES
| ley Hunt. on the PittSfie!d road. where
| he now is. During the forenoon. before
| going to his brothers home Mr.. Hunt
| went to Edward Crawford and, handing
| him 4 watch and some money said he had
| no further use for them, then went away.
| Mr. Crawford afterward sent the property
| to Mr.. Hunt. The latter called at the
| homes of several villagers and gave away
| small articles. which he said he had no
| further use for. He has continued to act
| strangely all day. Mr.. Hunt has had bad
| luck with fires several times in past years
| The investigation will continue. tomorrow.