Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-23
Large Barn and Contents
At City Point Burned.
Strong Suspicion That Il Was
OF Incendiary Origin.
Death On Friday Of . Prominent
MAJ, Cyrus B. Hall.

BelfaSt, Me-, Aug. Zz.-tSpccldI).-
In spite Of heroic work on the part OF
the Belfast firemen and the men OF
City Point. the large barn belonging
to the George Sides estate in City
Point, together with it's contents
worth several hundred dollars. were
totally destroyed Friday night, the fire
starting about o'clock. 1t was not
until the flames had burst out in all
direction, however. that 1t was discov-
cred and those first on the rescue de-
tected a strong smell of kerosene COM
ing from the burning building. For
more than two months the Sides place
has been unoccupied and not for two
days had anyone entered the barn pre-
vious to the fire. The barn is hired by
Frank NJ. Bailey. the City Point cigar
manufacturer, and in it at the time oi
the fire he had some eight or 10 cords
Of hard wood, II tons OF hay and sew
eral thousand feet of pine lumber. Th2
contents although insured were not
wholly covered and Mr.. Bailey Will
lose. The barn too was partially in
sured There seems to be a strong
suspicion that the fire was of incen-
diary origin. 1t will be thoroughly in
vestjgated at a special. meeting of. the
municipal officers Monday night
During the fire. the house and barn
of Gardner Hatch near by, caught sew
eral times and was only saved by the
good work of the railroad men and
others who were at hand Although
the Belfast firemen could not save the
burning building. their work did much
to prevent the fire spreading and had it
not been for them several houses AMI
other buildings would have been de-
stroyed
1t is very fortunate that the fire did
not occur during the drOuth for the
sparks were carried some distance
from the fire and a wholesale fire
would doubtless have been the result
The fire burned briskly until o'clock
yesterday morning and is still smoul6
ering, for 10 cords of hard wood make
big fire and one which it is not easy
to quench. 1t is said that few people
slept in City Point on Friday night
and since then most of them have
slept with one eye open. The investi-
cation will doubtless be largely at
tended and it is fervently hoped that
the culprits. II such there be, will be
brought to justice.
What came near being serious ac-
cident occurred Friday afternoon when
a workman on the roof of the Thomp-
son Manufacturing Co, building, which
Is being raised. lost control of the
hoisting apparatus, which was used 70,
carrying tar to the roof. and the huge
machine fell with clatter to the
street below. The man on the roo;
shrieked to the three men below, whI
stood directly under the falling ma =
chine. and. 1t being momentarily stop
ped by electric and telephone wires
they had just time to jump to safety
Another Civil War veteran has pass
ed away and one by one the ranks dra
thinning in Belfast as everywhere IN
the country. The last to pass away is
Cyrus Brainard Hall. commander of
Thomas Fl. Marshall Post of Belfast,
and past commander of Palestine
Commandery. X. T.. who died Friday.
Mr. Hall enlisted in the Northern army
at the age of 20 years. September. 1862,
In Co f, OF the Goth Me. Reg. He was
discharged before the close of the war,
however. because of a severe sunstroke
sustained on a Southern battlefield.
After the war he was for years engag-
ed In the sash and blind business. I'M
der the name of Hall & Durham. the
business now carried on by j. c. Dur
ham of this city. the son of Mr.. Halls
partner. He was married to Miss
Rock we'll nf Woc Oh, 10
survives. After retiring from the
manufacturing business Mr. Hall had
part Of the Main street store occupied
by II. Il. Mcdonald. where he sold
doors. sashes, and other fittings COR
builders until about three years age
Since that time he has not been active,
ly engaged in business.