Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-02
NEW YEARS PRACTICE.
Firemen Called Out and Promptly
Drown Out a Lively Blaze.

The old year was full of hard timac
Tor the local fire department from first
TO last. There were all sorts and kinds
OF fires; bell fires. telephone fires and
Ilres which were not even chimney
fires, all of which coupled with several
1a'Se alarms, made record for the
fire boys that hit the city treasury
hard. spoiled a number of suits OF
clothing, created more or less excite.
mcnt. KEPT business men on their
nerves. furnished fun for the small how
and financial hardships for others.
Yet the year passed without serious
conf1agration. During the extreme dry
season of last summer, Chief Dow hit
the nail on the head at the very mo-
mcnt when the blow did the most
good. for it will be remembered that
the very day he began wetting down
the roofs of the congested quarters OF
the city bad fire started in rear OF
the Burlegh building on the east side
Of Main street. and but for the fact
that Il section of the fire department
was at work less than a block away
wetting down roofs, the blaze would
have proven a bad one.
The new year has started in wrong.
The tiremen had hardly swallowed the
last chunk of turkey when the bell
went in from Box So. corper of Main
and Temple streets. Box SO is one that
starts the boys going. AS it is but a
short run from the Central fire station.
the drivers pick their horses UP on
the tight rein and sail through the blue
ether like express trains and that was
the fact, yesterday afternoon.
With the criticisms of Tuesday night
fresh in their minds-criticisms made
by people who require q microscope to
be able to determine q confagra.
ton from stage tableleaux-
the boys of the Central sta.
ton got into the game with
snap and vim that threatened life and
lime of the fellow who got in the way,
Driver Thomas of Hose l whisked his
team around short corners, grazing
telephone poles, sleighs platforms. nil.
ing over street railroad tracks in
manner that promised disaster 10 the
insurance companies holding policies
on his life. and laid two lines of hos.
from the hydrant in IS seconds.
The blaze had started in the shed of
the little dwelling house in Merchants,
court, just off Temple street and direct
ly in rear of the office of the EVENING
Mail. A great smoke had started and
when the bell was set going smoke
had penetrated the offices Of the Bur-
leigh block at the corner of Main and
Temple streets. A considerable crowd
gathered to see the sport and il was a
sport for q few seconds only Hose 2
had flung into the gsme and within
two minues after the bell had got in
its work there was strength enough
present to have fioated the Gilman
block across the way.
The dwelling sets in a bad place,
close to the other older and newer 3
wooden buildings, and had the fire
started in the night time, the result
have of necessity been far different.
The big grocery store of Morrill, &
Craig sets within two feet Of the
dwelling.
1t required less than five minutes of
line for the firemen to turn enough of
he MesSaonskee river into that shed
% settle the question. The shed was.
'uined. the rear of the main house
'corched, the interior of the latter well
)athed by the Kennebec Water District
purchase and the whole damage can be
Covered by $50. The dwelling is part
# the Noyes estate and was occupied
~ Mr.. Weymouth who conducts the
'ony Island cream store directly in
ront of the house.
1t was good practice for the firemen.