The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-08-09

of Hotel Oxford There was great deal
of intlam mable material in this part of
the cellar, and as the firemen broke their
way into it, there was fierce fire raging
in the partitions and the flooring on the
next story. The fire was in location
exceedingly difficult to gain access to
with hose, and this together with the
suffocating clouds of smoke made the
task of the firemen a hard one. Other
conditions however were in their favor
as the night was perfectly calm with no
wind to fan the flames; and the firemen,
by great effort, were able to control
the fire before it burned up through in
to the ground floor of the building. Had
it reached here the damage would have
been much greater, as it would have
been necessary to drench the whole
building with water in order to check
the flames Great credit is due the
members of our fire department for the
fact that the Gould block stands practi-
caly unchanged above the ground floor
except for few fixtures, and is not an
other charred ruin upon our streets.
Soon after the fire was discovered the
guests and help of the Oxford were
awakened, and they lost no time in get
ting out of the building with the few
effects which they valued most, and
could carry.
The fire, which as stated above, prob
ably caught from the hot water heater
under the store occupied by Judkins
Brothers, soon burned through the par
tition into the rear portion of the cellar
OFF, Delano's store where it could
not be reached for some little time ex-
cept through a stream from the cellar
window on Water st. Finally however
the door between the two was broken
down, and the last of the fire extinguish-
ed.
With the exception of the damage in
the basement where fire, smoke and
water combine to ruin practically every
thing, the damage was practically by
smoke and heat. AS the line of goods
carried by all of the tenants of the
building, however, are particularly sus
ceptble to damage from this source the
losses are far greater than appearances
would at first seem to indicate,
Hon. S. w. Gould, owner of the build
ing and proprietor of Hotel Oxford,
sustained his create loss in The damage
to the building and to the fixtures in the
basement Much damage WAS done to
all the wood work in this part of the
building and the floors of the first story
have been warped badly from the heat.
Mr.. Gould's loss is fully covered by in
surance.
Among the tenants of the building,
the dry goods firm of Judkins Bros. are
the heaviest losers. A considerable
portion of their new fall stock of wooden
goods, together with all their surplus
stock, was stored in the basement,
where it was practically ruined This
consignment of new stock arrived only a
few days before the fire. 1t was exceed
ngly fortunate that the firm did not
lose several thousand dollars worth
more of their fall stock which had ar
rived at the freight depot Saturday, but
had not been transferred to the store
The stock in the main store, although
fully insui ed, was injured to very great
extent
K K Delano, confectioner aud caterer,
lost practically all his stock of confec-
tionery, as smoke and heat are particu-
larly injurious to this class of goods In
addition he sustained a considerable
loss on fixtures both in the basement
and in the store.
F. W. Bucknam, carrying a stock of
drugs, stationery and fancy goods, al
though his store was separated from the
fire by masonry partition, met with a
considerable loss from smoke which
forced it's way through the opening in
IbN Solial poi tiliOLi AhAOuEh NV
steam pipes for heating the store passed
The damage was principally to fancy
goods and stationery, and would have
been far greater had it not been for the
fact that much of the stock was carried
in plate glass show eases, the contents
of which were almost uninjured. The
wood work and fixtures In the store
were injured TO some extent.
Most of the policies for this insurance
were In the hands of local agents, and
the insurance adjusters were here Tues
day and Wednesday to make settlement
for damages. Mr., Bucknam was able to
open his store Monday morning as usual
but the damage to Mr.. Delano and
Judkins Brothers was so great that these
stores have been closed since the fire
for stock taking.
The business of Hotel Oxford was
crippled during Sunday on account of
the destruction of plumbing fixtures in
the basement, but these were repaired
at once, and business has been going on
as usual since. We learn that hessrs.
Bucknam and Delano have made salts
factory settlements with the insurance
companies, but that the other losses
have not been adjusted as yet.