The Somerset reporter., 1909-01-07

The 1remen made the best bid they
could to confine the damage to the
Oxford block, but toward the rear, in
spite of every effort, it spread in both
directions. The march of the fire
down river, along the line of dwell
rison store house and the Milburn
block, in the other direction, were
soon involved. From the final out
burst of the flames from the oxford
block, occurring shortly after mid
night, to the falling of the Milburn
block at just three fifteen, the fire
was a most spectacular one. The
wind blew fiercely and rushed the
sparks and smoke toward the east in
continuous, darkened, but blazing
stream. At times the cinders and
smoke were so thick about the rail-
road bridge that it was impossible.
Aid From Other Towns
Just after midnight, when the wild
career of flames in the Oxford block
became a menace to the entire sec
tion, the municipal officers telephon-
ed TO Waterville for assistance. A
Waterville steam fire engine with
hose reels and a detachment of men
were promptly put on board special
train, running out of the Waterville
yard just before one O'Clock and ar
irving here just after one-thirty. On
their arrival, the car carrying their
Waterville steamer was located at the
reservoir by the Proveneal cigar store,
so that the suction hose would drop
readily into it without the delay of
unloading the machine. Two lines of
hose were laid by the Waterville boys
in professional style. The noZzlcs
were taken down through Patten
Place to meet the flames which had
been advancing from dwelling to
dwelling along the bank of the river.
The " aterVi,le men and their ma
chine just saved the day, but il was a
desperate battle at this point, even
after their arrival. They finally sue
ceeded, however. in setting limit to
the advance of the fire, just at the
foot of Patten Place, in the mean time
keeping it from spreading from the
Ross store house and communicating
to the Dinsmore block, from which ii
was separated by space of about ten
feet.
Things in the Patten Place section
we're brought to a satisfactory con
clusion shortly after three, about the
time that the front of the Milburn
Block collapsed. Good fortune, there
fore, permitted the Wateryille con-
tingent to take part in the fight on
Water street Just at the moment
when the fire was making its last
struggle to add the handsome bank
ing house of the First National Bank
to the list of total losses. The out
come for something like quarter OF
an hour was in doubt. The heated
and blazing debris of the Milburn
block had fallen against the bank
block, breaking its easterly windows
and piling against its side to second
story. In the mean time the Fairfield
Steamer Company, summoned by
telephone, later than their WaterVille
comrades, had arrived, and were on
hand to give most welcome and
necessary aid in the last Water street
battle. All together were successful
and the bank building, with broken
glass, blackened walls and drenched
interior, stood, as daylight came on,
to mark the limit of the fire in that di-
rection.
One other crucial point, the stand
at the Philbrick block, should not be
forgotten. This fine structure with
substantial brick wall stood next TO
the Oxford Block and our own COM
panies with such aid as the Water
vile company could give them, after
II hard battle, made it bulwark TO
save the property beyond. The
Philbrick block was thoroughly wet
.ntinNeA on third nn &c.