Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-20
A Bad Blow to Town Of
North Chelmsford, ass.
Worsted Mill and Securing Mill
Quickly Swept by Fire.
Foreman's Presence Of Mind Saves
Many Scores Of Lives.

North Chelmsford Mass, Jan. 10
Two hundred operatives, the majority
Of whom were women, were. driven
from their work by a fire that de-
stroyed the Brookside Worsted Mill,
No. 2, and the George C. Moore wool
securing mill, causing a loss of between
dred Of these operatives, including be-
tween so and 80 men, We're nearly
hommed in on the second story of the
cast end of the Brookside mill and by
the GOODNESS Of OverSeer Samuel Ogley,
who discovered the flames, they were
directed safely down a rear exit when
the fire, which had blocked up one of
the stairways, rushed down the long
ROOM with such speed that the opera
tivcS had barely time to leap from
their places and plunge for the rear
stairway without their street clothes.
Foreman Ogley discovered the flames
in Il picker located in his department.
The flames spread almost instantly
through the tWo-story structure, and
went through the shaft holes of the
brick fire wall that separated the de-
partment from the fOur-story south
depart ment. Help had been called from
Lowell, but despite this addition to the
towns we'll equipped fire department
the No 2 mill was levelled to the
ground and the flames leaped the 10
foot space to the securing mill and in
a brief time had left but portion of
the outer walls standing. Several fire
men had narrow escapes, but no one
was seriously hurt
The Dl1nt owned by George &,
Moore and constituted about half or the
industry of the town. The losses, how
ever. We're all covered by insurance and
it was believed tonight that Mr. Moore
would rebuild
The No mill was of irregular con-
struction, about 500 feet long and rs feet
in height on the east end and four sto-
ries in height on the south end. On the
west end was an extension of 70 feet two
stories in height and quilt also of brick.
The securing mill, known sometimes as
the Baldwin mill, was two-story wood
en- structure and said to be the oldest
structure of it's kind in New England.
The escape of the 100 operatives in the
east department without injury or loss Of
life is considered remarkable. Foreman
Ogley saw puff of flame shoot out from
the picker shortly after O'Clock. He
ran forward to investigate, when the
flames burst out in a solid sheet. Turn
ing quickly the foreman CURLY ordered
all the operatives to leave at once by the
rear exits. Even in this short space Of
time the fire had started with a rush
down the long room with nothing to stop
it. The operatives needed no further in
Fstructions Disregarding their wraps they
fled for the stairway and. with the flames
pressing them hotly, ran down stairs
quickly but without panic, no signs of
hysteria appearing among the so or 80
women at work in the department.
A brick fire wall between the two-story
wing and the four-story portion of the
mill held back the fire and gave the loo
operatives there time to make their way
out in safety.
In less than 20 minutes the east end of
the building was a roaring furnace. AL
though the town is eXccllently equipped
for fire-fghting, help was at once called
from Lowell which sent several engines
They worked hard to save the four-story
wing, but the flames worked through
some shaft holes and in a short time
that part of the mill was doomed.
y crew of the Lowell fire department
who had taken tneir stanu on the doof
of the two-story power house ID feet
away We're nearly caught when the walls
nearest them bulged outwards. Dropping
their hose they turned and fled. leaping
into a snow bank Just as the wall above
them collapsed. burying the roof of the
power house deep with bricks None Of
the men We're hurt.
OF the loss. 100000 is on raw wool stor-
ed in the Baldwin will and the No. =
mill, but the loss on this was not estimat-
ed tonight. The buildings and machin-
cry are a total loss. The cause of the
| fire is believed to have been spontaneous
| combustion