Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-13
THE THIRD FIRE
In Lowell, Mass, Takes Out
Three Brick Blocks.
A 100000 Loss, With Part Of It on
Central Fire Station.
How Easily the oshf' Fellow Ca"
Fight the Ftre!!

Sustained, tonight, It'll third serious
visitation by fire within week. in
practically the complete destruction Of
three brick blocks in the heart of the
business section occupied almost en-
tirely by the large department store Of
O'Donnell 6, Gilbride.
The central fire station in the rear
was also damaged and a number of
minor tenants were burned out. The
loss is roughly estimated at 5000, 1000,
the greater part Of which will fall on
10 Donnell & Gilbride,, who have an in
surance on their stock amounting to
$1400 600.
Five firemen We're injured during the
fire, including Assistant Chief James
Norton, who had his leg fractured by
falling walls.
Two Of the blocks faced on Merri-
mac street, the principal business
thOrOughfare of the city and had a
90 foot frontage. The third block was
in the rear, facing on Middle street,
and directly opposite was the central
fire station with tall wooden tower,
used for hose drying.
The fire started in the vicinity of the
furnace room of the rear block facing
on Middle street, the flames being no.
ticed about O'Clock. Before the fire
men arrived the fire had spread rap
idly and was raging fiercely within
this block when the first streams Of
water were turned omit.
The structure was filled with a va
rious assortment of merchandise,
which caught rapidly and within half
an hour after the blaze started. the
flames shot out Of the windows on
Middle street. igniHng the tower of
the fire station. The adjoining prop
|erty on Middle street, occupied by A.
G. Pollard & Co., as a dry goods stor-
age building, was also threatened.
A general alarm was sounded and
for time it seemed that help would
have to be summoned from neighbQr-
ling towns.
Although the firemen were able. to
put out the fire on the tower Of the
fire station and keep 1t from spread
ing to the Pollard building. they could
not stay it's progress into the main
portion of the store on Merrlmac
street.
At 10 O'Clock, the fire had COM
municated to the two blocks by means
of four or five bridges, and one Of the
two blocks on Merrimac street was
soon wrapt in flames. The firenien
made a brave stand in the other block,
which is on the corner of Palmer and
Merrimac street. and while nearly all
the stock in that portion of the store
was ruined by water and smoke. the
fire did not gain much Roadway within
that building.
The rear block. which is known as
the Fellows blocks, was occupied on
the street floor by a number OF small
tenants, including restaurant. pool
room. small electric store. and Welch
Brothers. plumbers.
The block on Merrimac street which
was so BADLY Quilted, was occupied on
the upper floor by two physicians ana
I photographer, who lost all their
property.
The fire was under control by IL
o'clock, having burned with great
fierceness for two hours.
The Fellows block. which ives des-
troyed. was valued at $4,000; the Bas-
comb block, destroyed. at $4,000: and
the third block on the corner of Pal
mer and Merrimac streets. known as
the O'Donnel & Gilbride block, also at
$4,000.
The loss on the Central fire station
is estimated at about $4,000. and to
minor tenants of the two buildings
CONTINUED on page 81