Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-02-15
$1,000 BLAZE.
Livery Stable and Blacksmith Shop
Burn in Winthrop.

The blacksmith shop of Isaac 7
White and the livery sable of Charlie.
A. Cummings and E. B. Kimball were
burned, early Tuesday. The total loss
was $1,000 and the insurance $4,000.
The fire started in the blacksmith
shop from some unknown cause anC
quickly spread to the stable. All the
horses and most of the contents of the
buildings. excepting about 20 carriages
belonging to Mr.. Cummings, were
saved The buildings were located
close together
one of the most disastrous fires
which has occurred in Winthrop for i
number of Years broke out early, Tues
day morning, in Isaac Whites black
smith shop. The alarm was rung al
80 but the building was mass OF
flames before the fire was discovered
and had spread to Cummings. livery
stable which was also burning rapidly
by the time the fire company reached
the scene The flames spread with
great rapidity and fire had broken ou'
in Kimbalrs livery stable on the other
side of the blacksmith shop.
The firemen soon had four large
streams of water upon the fire but fCI
some time the Hotel Maine was in
danger, and it took Il desperate Strug
gle TO save the home owned and oc-
tupied by Mrs. Annette Giles and Miss
Ida Morrill,, which was annexed to the
klmball stable. Seldom have the
hra
rattle with so stubborn a fire, and oniy
the most strenuous efforts kept it con-
lhed TO the three buildings which were
III flames when the water was turned
onto the fire
All the horses We're saved from both
the stables, and nearly all of the car
rlaSes and sleiShs. except some which
-if. Cummings had stored in tie room
above TIE blacksmith shop. The house
hold goods We're nearly all removed
from the Morrill, house. as for j tina #
seemed that there was no possibility cf
saving ii from the fire.
Had the fire occurred earlier in the
night. when the wind was blowing So
iiercely. there would have been no pos
slble way of saving the Hotel Maine
and the Morrill, home from destruction
and probably other buildings would
have been endangered. AS it was. the
night was severely cold, and the fire.
men looked like large monuments OF
Ice when the day daWned, over the
still burning buildings.
The loft of the Kimball stable was
completely filed with hay. and heIped
IN keen thp fro aIp ,
until far into the morning. Finally.
ABOUT O'Clock, the streams ceased
paying on the fire, and the hose was
disconnected. But the fire was not ont
DE any means. and men and bows con-
tlnued TO fight it by means of water
carried in pals. At noon. yesterday.
the nose was again connected with the
HNdrantS and the ruins were given q
thorough Wetting down, after which
the nre was declared out though the
ruins of the blacksmith shop and the
Cummings stable We're still smoulder-
Ing, ana considerable smoke was pour
nS from the shell which remains stad-
irs OF the kimball stable.
1he hrelner are to he congratulated
ON the prompt ana efficient wav in
Wnicn they battled the fire. and saved
winthrop from the worst connacratjor
she has ever known. and which at one
time seemed iminent.
one incident of the confederation
seemed almost remarkable Under the
lower floor of the Cummings stable
nine pigs made their home and if w,v
utterly impossible to get to them to
& a hal1 f,ry H.
But after the building had fallen in
and the fire subdued. it was discovere :
That all of the pigs were alive. and ap-
parently unharmed by their fiery oGeal.
All the buildings and their contents
were insured and it has not vet been
determined just how much the loss VIII
be. Isaac White will be one of the
teHVieSt lossers us he mad $500 worth
OF blacksmithing stock and was only
insured for $500.
Charles Cummings has been irving
to trlce the 80 horses which Were
turned into the streets from his burn
ing stable, Tuesday morning. Five of
them were reported to have gone as
far as Monmiuth Center. and three
more We're heard from in Winthrop
Center. The others were found nearer
nome. but some of them temed trying
to get as far from the scene of the fire
as possible.
Since the Tuesday morning fire
l1anY Of the people of Winthrop have
heen discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of Il
new fire bell or some other mode of
alarm. Where tie hose house is stu
Il 111l
comparatively small number of the
People of the town, and some other
method Of alarming the public in case
OF big fire should ne adopted to give
the people Of Winthrop increased
security against the fire demon.