Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-19

1AutItilu, W., rep. lS.-SlX large Drlck
blocks in the business section of the
city, occupied by nearly a score of firms
and many smaller tenants, We're de-
stroycd by fire today. The loss on the
entire property is estimated at three
quarters of a million dollars. The fire
went beyond the control OF the local de-
partment and help was summoned from
Whitehall, y. Y, and burlington. The
Whitehall company reached the city in
time to be of great assistance, but the
burlington company did not appear.
The fire broke out shortly before
O'Clock this morning, and ragged with
great violence, taking block after block
in its career, but was finally stopped
through the energetic work of the fire
men aided by two heavy party walls
and by the heavy snow on the roofs.
The fire was discovered in the Ripley
block on Merchants Row and soon ex-
tended to the Meade block directly
south on the corner OF Center street.
Swinging around the corner, it took in
the Baker and futile blocks on Center
street, the latter siX-story brick build
ing, having on the farther side a heavy
party wall, which stopped further pro-
gress in that direction. North of the
Ripley block it destroyed the Cramton
block occupied by the Combination Cash
Store Co, and in the rear a block OH
Willow street. owned and occupied by
the Combination Gosh Co. The party
wall on the farther side of the Cram
ton block stopped the fires progress
north on Merchants Row.
The following is q lict of act;notaJ
losses and insurance:
Ripley block-William Y. w. Ripley
estate, loss $4,000; insurance s25. 900; ].
j. kissanc. dry goods. loss $4,000: in
surance 5000: Hopkins & Howlcy
clothing, loss $4,000 insurance $4,000;
five tenants, loss $4,000, insurance
$4,000
Mead block--Dr. A. J. Mead owner
loss $4,000, insurance, $4,000. d. w.
Twigg, clothing loss s17 coo: insurance
$4,000; a. II. Abraham. drugs and to-
bacco. loss $4,000. insurance $4,000:
Wilson & Root, clothing. loss $50 600
insurance 10000; l.. A. Miner. drugs,
loss $4,000, insurance $4,000; Boston
Candy Store. loss $500, insurance $4,000:
Y. N. c. A., loss $4,000, insurance $1,000:
$4,000 insurance $500; twenty-five small
tenants. loss $50 600. insurance s25,OOO.
Baker block-J. l.. Baker owner. loss
$4,000, insurance $4,000; L. Abraham,
tobacco loss $4,000. insurance $4,000: NJ
DugGan, saloon. loss $4,000 insurance
$1,000; r. w. Waterman. wall papers,
loss $4,000. insurance. $4,000; F. L.
Blake. photographer loss $1,000, insur-
ance, $1CO0
TuttIe Block--The Tutlc Co, owners.
loss $4,000 insurance. 100000: the Tut
tie Co, printers. loss $4,000. insurance
$4,000.
Cramton and Combination Cash Store
block-Eoss 100000. insurance, $4,000
Combination Department Store, loss
$l25,000. insurance, $4,000.
Adjoining property holders, loss $780,
COO; insurance.
1t was shortly before o'clock this
morning that d tenant in one of the
upper floors OF the Ripley block was
awakened by the smell of smoke. On
looking out of the window he saw a
great volume of smoke issuing from
one of the basement windows. His cry
OF FIRE was heard by a telephone opera
tor on the opposite side of the street,
who immediately notified fire head
quarters. The flames were bursting
from the basement and had gone up
into the stores above when the first ap-
raratus reached the scene
Although the weather was quite cold.
the temperature being about zero. the
frenen went bravcly to work One or
two Of the hydrants were found to be
frozen, but within a short time water
was obtained at others not far off. The
flames. however, had made great pro-
grcss during the short interval and by
the time the first stream was turned on
the Ripley block was practically
doomed. Every available piece of appa-
ratus III the city was ordered to the
scene and great crowds of citizens ar
rived to assist the department.
BY 4.30 the fire had extended to the
Mead block. which. like the Ripley
block, was u four-story brick struc-
ture. Tie smaller tenants in the Mead
block were all safely out of the build
ing and a number of them had saved
some of their more valuable effects
when the block took fire. The block
burned with great fierceness and in
SpIlC vi tNct tIit JllSiHcIi,
the flames continued on up Center
street to the Baker block. a three
story brick building.
About this time. feeling that the city
itsel was threatened. a request for
help was sent TO Whitehall n. Y. and
Burlington. The Whitehall engine ar
rived two hours later, but the Burling-
ton department did not respond.
The fire swept the Baker block and
soon attacked the book binding and
printing establishment of the Tuttle
Co. i'll the Tuttle block. This firm
owned and occupied the entire building
W hicil was five stories high. but some
what narrower than the Baker block.
Ii wis protected on the farther side by
a two-foot party wall. which extended
above the roof and which materially
assisted in checking further progress
Of the flames on Center street.
In the meantime the fire had gone
north of the Ripley block to the
c,ampton block occupied by the Com
bination Cash Store Co., one Of the lar