Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-10
LAST NIGHTS FIRE.
Burning of the Hewitt's Resi-
dence at Pettengi||'s Corner.
Firemen Have Hot Fight and Save
Adjacent Buildings.
Horse Gustamain Burned-Loss and
Insurance.

The residence of Frank Hewitt, on
Allen street. was totally destroyed by
flre. last night. together with the sta
Die ana contents, including Mr.. Hew-
hts valuable trotting mare, Gusta-
main. portion of the household
goods We're saved.
The fire was discovered soon after
10 o'clock, and an alarm from box AS
at PettengilrS Corner, at 1920, soon
brought the department to the scene
but the fire had gained such Roadway
that it was early seen that the built-
ing was doomed.
The wind was blowing a gale from
the northwest, and drove the sparks in
clouds across the road and upon the
roofs of the buildings between Allen
and Bangor streets. threatening the
destruction of the entire locality
known as Pettcngill's Corner.
In addition to that, the firemen wera
handicapped in their work by the
lack OF water pressure. and a frozen
hydrant on Bangor street, near the fcot
of Prince street. There We're several.
streams of water at work upon the
flames. but they lacked force.
But little could be done toward say
ing the stable and ell. as they We're d
mass Of flames when the department
arrived, and every effort was devoted
to saving the main house, in order To-
keep the flames from crossing the
street. This was finally accomplished
after an hour and a half of hard work
but the portion left standing was
merely Il worthless shell.
1t was only by a miracle that the
| fire was confined to the structure i'll
which it started and it was perha ps
| due to the force of the wind that it
spread no further, as the sparks. al
| though they landed on all OF the roofs
| in the vicinity We're blown away again
as soon as they struck the shingles.
And another factor may have been
that the roofs had hardly dried from
| Mondays rain. The all out was sound
| ed at 11.57.
| The house was a two-and-a half
story frame structure. with ell and sta
bic attached, and was occupied by Mr..
Hewitt, with his wife and his mother.
1t was the latter lady who discovered
the fire, after the family had retired
for the night.
It is not known how the fire started
but Mr.. Hewitt thinks that it must
have caught around the chimney of the
ell, and from there communicated with
the hay, with which the upper part of
the stable or carriage house was filled
| The ell was Il short one and when
he went out to the stable. the end OF
the stable and ell We're on fire. He
tried to gain an entrance to rescue his
horse, but the whole stable was filled
with smoke so dense that he was
obliged to retreat in order to prevent
being overcome. The loss of the mare
was heavy one. Gustamain was one
of the best known and most promising
speed horses in this section of the
State. She was campaigned last sum-
mer, and won 4 reputation that PLACED
her in the front ranks. and showed
great promise of lowering her record
the coming season. 1t was but a short
time ago that her owner refused an
offer of 500 for her.
| The estimated loss on the house is
$500. with an insurance of $1,000 il
the agency of Macomber, Farr & Whit
ten.