Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-21
FIXING DAMAGE.
Continued from page ~

ioN II I1oltl.
Hrerton 4 Manning. furs.
W. j. Gage CO.. statiOners, loss. $780,
0G0: insurance. $4,000.
Conp-Clark Co, stationers, loss
100000: insurance. $4,000.
Warwick Bros. s, Rutter, loss $780,
900: insurance. $4,000
Gale Mfg. 90. white wear, loss, s135.-
600: Insurance. 100000.
Gutta Pcrcha and Rubber Co., loss,
$50n.Go0: Insurance. 100000.
Charles CockShut & Co., woolens,
loss, 100000: insurance. $25O.GOO.
{. Rcrharlt Caskct CO., loss, $780,
600; insurance, 100000.
Wyld Darling Co, dry goods, loss.
$500. 600; insurance. $iGO,G00
Dominion Fence Co, loss, SIPS, 600;
insurance, $4,000.
Buntin Reid Co. stationers, loss,
S2oo,"0D; Insurance. 100000.
corticclli Silk CO.. Corlaw building.
Gau!t Bros & CO., dry goods.
EaIly in the evening, when the fire
assumed alarming proportions, appeals
Tor assistance were sent to London
Hamilton. Montreal and Buffalo.
Special trains were at once started
from these points. but il was long after
midnight before the first Of them be-
gan to arrive, ana in the meantime the
local iiremen We're having the fight of
their lives. From the time the fire
started on the north side of Yelling
ton street. 4 short distance east of Bay
street. in TIE T.. d S. Currie neckwear
manufacturing plant. until it burned
tSpIf 11 " hrnpl-
Il moment when shift of the wind to
the north would not have resulted in
the destruction of the greater part of
the city.
Despite the crashing of walls and
the confusion. only one serious accident
occurred. AT an early stage of the
fire. Chief Thompson was trapped by
the flames and was forced to jump from
the top of a building. A net work of
wires broke his fall and saved his life.
He escaped with Il broken leg. When
the chief made the leap for his life Il
traveller from Montreal was on the roof
with him and no trace of him has since
been seen. 1t is probable that he per-
ished in the flames.
The fire started in the elevator shaft
in the rear Of the Currie building on
Wellington street. From Currie's the
flames spread across the street to
Brown Bros. and from there east to
Bay street. The wind which had been
brisk, increased to n gale. A general
alarm was sounded. but before all the
force had reached the scene the fire haS
leaped to the high buildings occupied
by Ainsley & Co., and Pugsley, Ding
man & Co. Then the Sucking & Co.
building adjoining Currie's on the east,
caught fire. Almost simultane ouslv
great forks of flames began to shoot
out from the Brown building and the
firemen We're obliged to split their
forces. The roof of the Dngman and
Moneypenny's building on the north
west corner of Bay and Wellington
streets was the next place to burst in
to flames. In an incredibly short time.
Sucklngs Currie's, Browns. and
Dingman and Moneypenny's We're all n
mass OF flames and the streams of wa
ter thrown into them had no apparent
affect
The Gale Mfg. COS. immense place
was the next to go and then the blaze
jumped to the east side of Bay street
TO he office specially building.
There the fremen united forces and
made a desperate stand to check the
progress of the flames northward into
the heart of the city. They won. but
not until they had lost control of tho
flames which vera now sweeping down
Bay street. toward the river front.
In the meantime the immense ware
house of the w. Il. Brock CO.. on the
southwest corner of Bay ana Yelling
ton streets was being subjected to the
intense heat from the burning Brown
building on the east and Dingman and
Muncypenny building opposite with
scarcely d stream of water playing up
on than.
the big wooden water tank on the
roof caught fire. but in some strang,
manner the building Itself escaped do
Struction for the time being. The fire
| cut its way through the rear of the
Brown I'rothers' building. which faces
| on Front street. In brief space of
| time Front street on both sides was like
| Il roaring furnace.
| For over half an hour the fire i'm
F, Front street burned fiercely, 1racti
caily unchecked.
| 1t then began to work its way back
ND Bay street. Gordon, Mackwav G.
COS. warehouse served as choice fuel.
| A few minutes before midnight the
Canada Rubbers Cos. plant started tn
burn. While 1t lasted this furnished
the hottest and fiercest CONFEDERATION
of the night The flames shot hundreds
of feet into the air. scattering greet
masses of sparks and cinders on everv
side. The flames continued north on