Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-17
AN 0vERHEATED stove PROBABLE CAUSE.
Some Of Towns Largest Firms Burned OUT Other
Buildings in Ruins ard Still Others Suffered
SevereIy--.nsurance Only PARTIAL

Skowhegan. Me-, Dec. 1G.-(SpeciaD.-
Coburn Hall block, the center and soul
Of SkoUhegan'S business section, was
totally destroyed by fire. Friday morn
ing. Between the hours of one and six
property worth not less than $150,000
was wiped out, while the indirect loss
to the street and the town is beyond
calculation. No harder blow has ever
been inflicted on the town than the
burning OF its principal block, contain
ing as it aid four Of it's leading mer-
camille establishments, the town hail
and opera house, and the rooms of the
Masonic order. A huge gap has been
opened on the north side of Water
Street filed only with a mass of slnok-
ing debris. 1t will be a long day before
SkoWhegan RECEIVERS wholly from the
effects of the disaster. though there is
no question that the strong public spirit
of her business men will lead them to
cooperate gladly for the early erection
OF suitable structure TO take the place
of that destroyed.
The fire is attributed to stove in the
upper story of the block. where the
High School boys ard the Marston
Worsted Mil athletes have been using
the old Odd Fellows Hall for basket
ball practice. This room is heated by 4
stove, and is used every afternoon by
the High School team. and every eve
ming by the Worsted NH boys. This is
the only conceivable source from which
| it is suggested that the fire can have
originate The flames We're discovered
about two o'clock by the night watch
| mar at the Maine Central Station. am!
| at that time had gained considerable
Roadway, so that it is probable the fire
| had been in progress some time. Even
| then the loss might have been confined
TO the upper stories Of the building, had
| it not been for the unfortunate circum-
stance that the electric fIre-alarm failed
| to give the proper signal. only register
| ing three short blasts, and then ceasing
| to operate. In consequence of this the
church bells had to be resOrted to, ana
! a large part of the fire company Were
not aware of the fire until the flames
had made too much progress to be
StOpDed Aid was summoned from
| Waterville. and an engine and Hose
| company NO we've StHt uD, Dut eiNy
did not arrive until the fire was under
control. It vas feared that the town
was in danger. and nothing but the
! absolute calm Of the winter night saved
| the whole business street from destruc-
| ton. The brick walls of the block were
of greet aid in keeping the flames
where the fremen could handle them.
The fire worked its way down
| through the hall, and then t. the lower
story, making its appearance first in
the dry goods store of w. H. Wildes.
who succeeded in saving only very
small portion of his stock. Thence 1t
| worked its way eastward through the
stores of the Blunt Hardware Com
pany. Frank w. Eucknam. and Charles
F. Ward. bringing IN against the brick
wall of the new Ordway block. where
Its progress was STAYED. although the
roof of the Ordway block is badly dam
aged. and some smoke and water made
| their way into the building.
The west wall of the block fell at
about four O'Clock, and in its fall
crushed the block occupied by F. G..
Head & Co, plumbers. and Chas F.
Jones, insurance agent, and owned by
W. P. Ordway. as if it were made of
pasteboar1. The small building in the
rear Of this block facing on Russell
street. also owned by Mr.. Ordway. and
occupied by Charles Drake, cigar
manufacturer, Augustine Fowler
painter; J. H. Williams barber; and
Webster Rowe, locksnith. was in the
line of the flames. and was practically
destroyed. The Dodge block. owned by
c. B. Dodge Of Seattle, Wash, and
occupied by E. B. Curtis, milliner, and
Miss c. ]. Williams, fancy goods. ad-
joining the Head block on the west,
was threatened and at one time seemed
doomed. but an inner tarred roof and
the strenuous efforts CT the firemen
saved Il, though It was not fully out OF