Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-04
A Zero Weather Fire.
UPPER PART OF COLBY HOUSE BURNED
sUNDAY.-THREE TENANTS SAVE MOST
OF THEIR GOODS.

The South Paris fire department
was called ont by an alarm Sunda.
afternoon, and for two hours fought
persistent fire under most uncomfort
able conditions.
The alarm Was given by the Methods
bell at 8 :l5 Sunday, for fire in the up
per part of the Colby house on Pleasan
Street nearly opposite the Grand Trunl
station. The house IL . little irregular
In its architecture, comprising in oil
three stories and basement. The Art
evidently started in the southwestern
end, but at the time 1t was discovered
smoke was pouring out of the whole
roof. The blaze had not broken
through.
Those first on the scene promptly be.
gan to carry out the furniture. There
were three tenements in the house, occu'
pied by George A. Hussey, Charles A.
Hersey and Edward D. Slattery. The
Husseys also had several boarders.
Most of the furniture belonging to all
the tenants was carried out, without
more than the usual damage In such
cases, but portion of 1t was lost. Sew
eral stoves with fires in them were taken
into the street, and proved quite useful
for warming the hands of the f1remen at
intervals.
As soon as the hose companies reach
ed the scene, lines were laid from the
hydrants at the corner of Skillings
Avenue and at the railroad crossing, and
three streams were put on. They didn't
look very powerful, and the old Pacific
hand tub was brought up and stationed
by the reservoir in front of r. n. Halls.
There was no lack of men for the brakes,
but the valves refused to soak up and
get in condition to work. For three
quarters of an hour the men on the noz-
zle held themselves in readiness. At one
time a little stream trickled through,
but they couldn't get any suction" and
| finally the attempt to use the engine was
abandoned, and the work was left to the
hydrant streams.
1t was bitter work fighting fire that
afternoon. The temperature was near
the zero mark, and lively breeze was
blowing. Every drop Of water that fell
outside the building froze the instant it
struck, and coats, hats and gloves were
quickly frozen stiff, while both firemen
and spectators had hard work to main
tain any degree of comfort.
At first the fire was very difficult to
get at, being inside and in the roof OF
the building, but this condition was
soon changed by the blaze breaking
through the roof in numerous places. 1t
burned persistently but slowly. While
the firemen seemed at an early stage of
the fight to be gaining the advantage,
there was fire all over the roof for a
long time, and it was two hours after
the alarm when the last spark was dis
posed Of.
Most of the roof was burned off and
the upper story was pretty thoroughly
burned out as we'll as portion of the
second story in the part where the fire
started, and in two or three places it
ate down through the walls nearly to
the bottom, and the building was pretty
we'll flooded with water.
The origin of the fire is not known. 1t
apparently started near the roof, in that
part of the house occupied by the Stat
terys, who were away for the day.
The building was owned by c. c. Colby
of Berlin, N. H., and was insured In the
agency of W. ]. Wheeler & Co. for
$500. There was also insurance on the
furniture of Mr.. Hersey and Mr.. Hussey.
Fortunately the wind, though high,
was blowing directly across the street,
and the only house which was in line
with the sparks and near enough to be
in any danger was that of George l.
Burnham on the cross street, which was
carefully watched. The stable of Frank
B. Fogg on one side, and the house of
Frank E. Barrows on the other, are quite
near to the burned building, Mr.. Bar
rows house being only a few feet dis
tant. The fire caught on the roof of this
from sparks once or twice, but was
quickly taken care of by hydrant
stream. Part of the furniture was car
ried out of the house, but soon went