Daily Kennebec journal., 1907-11-23
Fire In Old City Hotel
Building on Friday.
Boston Credit Cos. Stock DAM
aged About $4,000 Insured.
Damage to Building, $600..-millel
Fruit Co., $500.

PROMPT action on the part of the Au-
grsra fire department yesterday morn
ing was the means of stopping ire
n, the old City Hotel building on upper
Wafer street which, had it got a little
more start or been less efficiently hand
led. might have changed the appear
ance If that portion Of the street 10
marked degree.
The alarm was rung in at s.13 from
bux 90 Al the railroad bridge and was
due 10 the discovery of a brisk blaze i'll
the store of the Boston Credit Co. of
which Nathan Richmond is manager
ana which is located in what was the
Office of the hotel. The stock included
ladies and gents furnishings. miliin-
err. etc. The remainder of the build
ing with the exception of the stores
to the south of the one in which the
fire occurred is occupied by Mrs. Belle
Murray as boarding house.
The department was promptly on
hard and the fire was confined to the
room III which it started. although
there was some damage from smoke
and water in the store of the Miller
Fruit Co, which adjOins on the south
and Of which Robert Miller is manager.
The smoke also worked its way up
through Mrs. Murray's apartments. but
the rooms were soon aired out and the
damage was slight. She also suffered
some damage to a stock of veget a bleS,
apples. etc. in the cellar. but il was
small and was covered by insurance
in the Charles F. Downing agency.
Smoke made its way into the barber
49, 10
jewelry store of F. E. Hilton. located
south of the fruit store. but no dam
age resulted. The all-out sounded at
944
The building in which the fire oc-
CURED is owned by the heirs of the
late Ann NJ Williams. and the esti-
mated damage to the structure is be-
tween $500 and $500. being mostly due
to smoke and water and is covered by
Insurance in the Macomber, Farr &
Whitten agency. The loss on the stock
of the Boston Credit Co is estimated
to he $4,000. and is covered by insur-
a1ce in the above agency.
In the store of the Miller Fruit Co.
there was a water damage to q stock
of goods in the cellar amounting to
stock and $500 on the fixtures, in the
agency of Henry A. Heath.
The origin Of the fire is not clear. al
| though il is thought to have been due
| to an Cve,neated stove in the store or
to an explosion Of coal gas. The fire
was first seen by Miss Sadie LeClair,
CLERK in the store, and at that time the
goods N a table near the stove We're on
| fire. Mr. Richmond said that he had
| put some wood in the stove and some
| coal on top. and that Miss LcClair saw
| the fire before he did The fire gained
| headway rapidly and so great was the
heat in the store that the plate glass
| windows We're broken and fell to the
sidewalk
For some reason there was a della Y
! i'll calling the department. which may
| have been due to the excitement of the
| moment. Chief Buckley Of the depart
| nent and F. ". Halpen Of Hook and
Ladder No. / We're standing at the cor
ner # Water and Bridge streets. and
noticing the smoke coming from the
| building started at once. Mr.. Halpen
going to the box and pulling in the
| alarm. while Chief Buckley went to the
building to investigate The alarm was
quickly followed by the arrival OF the
apparatus and short work was made Of
the blaze. but it was a close call from
a moro serious conflagration.
A feature in connection with the fire
which should not be passed unnoticed
was the action of Conductor Mike
Healey Of train No. !. in stopping his
train TO allow the fire apparatus to
cross the track at Bridge street The
train was Just pulling out Of the sta
ton on its way TO Waterville as the
alarm sounded. and after proceeding a
few rods it was brought to a stand
still until Hose No and the hook and
ladder truck had come down the hill
and crossed the track. This courteous
act is greatly appreciated by Chiei
Buckley and our citizens