Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-04-24
South Paris has a Hot Blaze.
Toy Factory, ShurtIeffs Grain Mill, Maxim's
Mill and Two Houses Gone.
THE NORWAY FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED FIGHTING THE
FLAMES.-CAUSE FIRE NOT KNOWN.-LOSS
FAR FROM 100000, PARTLY INSURED.

, fANlLI NNSOkEUs
# mill, with the hope of holding the fl
+ there. Perhaps half the lumber fro
d the shed had been taken out and carrie
a across the yard when the heat dro'
# everybody away. The lumber whic
K had been carried out burned soon afte
d ward, and barn which stood in Il
= rear of the mill yard, full of baled hs
0 and straw, went up in smoke witho,
= any possibility of putting water on it.
The house belonging to the True Q
tate, standing across the yard from Il
e mill, was also doomed. It was cleare
q before it caught, and the best possib
Q work was done on it by the firemen wit
! several streams of water, but only pa
D of the walls remains. Here the fire VIZ
Q held from going farther in that direction
The house of Mrs. Lizzie Morse, separa
ed from the True house by only fe
, feet, was cleared, but was only slight
, damaged.
Meanwhile one of the pluckiest fight
, of the day was being made to save tn
| buildings of S. P. Maxim, which stan
on Highland Street at the top of th
, steep bank which rises from the mi
yard. 1t was terribly hot up there, an
j in case of an ordinary fire the building
would have been protected by hydran
stream, but as all the fire apparatus wa
busy elsewhere, it fell to Mr.. Maxim an
a few others to take care of the situa
ton with garden hose and ladders an,
pals. The bank was all burned over
and the paint on the buildings blistere,
and charred, but the buildings still stand
though Mr.. Maxim, who, by the way
worked on ladder just as if he wer
not 10 years of age, has badly blsteret
face and hand as souvenirs of the occa
sion.
AS soon as some reduction of the hea
made it possible to work at the rear O
the mill, streams were put on to save TIT
lumber of the Mason Manufacturing Co.
hundreds of cords of which were there
stuck up to season. The piles were burn
ing, but the flames were subdued, and
the bulk of the lumber was saved. A
building in the yard, which contains con
siderable machinery belonging to Mr.
Hawkins, is also standing.
By half-past seven ii was seen that the
fire could be controlled, and an hour and
half later the Norway fire department
went home. Several streams were kept
at work through the day, and a watch
has been kept constantly on the ruins.
One hydrant stream was kept at work
on the ruins of the toy factory a good
part of the time until Sunday night,
II al
practically drowned out.
Nothing but praise is heard for the
work of the firemen and all other help
ers, and though ii is possible to discuss
what might have been done to check the
fire by different management, there is a
general feeling that, bad as the calamity
is-and IL Is the worst one South Paris
has had in great many years-we have
reason to be thankful that IL went no
farther than il did.
In some respects II was q favorable
time to fight fire. The weather was
comfortable, so that the firemen could
work to their full efficiency. There was
almost no wind, and little shower dur
ing the night had dampened the roofs,
so that there was no trouble from flying
cinders. IL that terror had been added
to what we already had. II would have
been wild time for South Paris.
THE LOSSES.
The largest loss, and the one which in.
directly affects more people than any
other, is that of the Mason Manufactur-
ing Co., but it is impossible as yet for
Mr.. Scott, the superintendent, to give any
accurate estimate of either loss or in
surance. The loss is probably not less
than $4,000. AS the insurance is in
blanket policies which include the lum-
Der, it is not yet known how much of it
is available on this loss. About sixty
men and women were employed in the
factory, who are of course thrown out of
employment in the midst of the busy
season.
The grist mill building, with the lot
and water privilege, was owned by Has
kell & Webster of Lewiston. They had
$500 insurance on the mill, and $500 on
the barn in the yard.
A. E. Shurtleff, grain dealer, reckons
his loss at about $4,000. He had $1,000
insurance on the stock in the mill, and
$500 on the hay and grain in the barn, in
Wheeler's agency. His store house
across the street has recently been com.
pleted, and portion of his stock was in
that. His business is continued there.
The loss on the True house is $4,000,
and there was an insurance of S1400, in
Wheeler's agency.
S. P. Maxim & Son lost $4,000 on their
house finish mill, with an insurance of
$1,000, in Wheeler's agency.
Walter p. Maxim had an insurance of
5000 on his house, and $500 on furniture,
in Wheeler's agency. A good part of
the furniture was saved, but the house,
which is practically wreck, was certain
ly damaged to the full amount of the
insurance.
T. F. Hathaway had an insurance of
s35 on tools lost in the Maxim mill, and
there were other small losses and damage
to household furniture lost or injured in
moving it.
What will be done with regard to con-
tinuing the destroyed industries can not
yet be definitely told. There is strong
hope that they may 90 on with only such
interruption as the establishment of new
plants may require, and there is dispo-
sition in the community to aid in all pos
sible ways to accomplish that result
Certainly it is reasonable to expect that
the water power will not be allowed to
remain idle.
The Mason Manufacturing Co., the
largest industry destroyed, started its
business here three years ago, and has
done a. large and increasing business.
John A. Scott is president and superin-
tendent of the company, and Leslie L.
Mason of Portland is treasurer and the
largest owner, and spends some time
here each week.
The building in which the fire started
or part of twas built In 1886, and
was used for years as a wooden mill. In
1858 it was enlarged and converted into
a Touring mill, and portion of 1t has
ever since been occupied as grist mill,
though the rear portion has been occu-
pied in turn by other manufacturing in
dustries, previous to its occupancy by
the Mason Manufacturing Co.
The Maxim mill was built in 1870, and
has always been owned and run by S. p.
Maxim & Son.
Akers Postmaster at Norway.
Hon. q. Z. Littlefield has notified the
contestants for the Norway post, Office
that he has recommended the appoint
ment of Charles 5. Akers for the posi-
ton. Mr.. Stiles time expires April