Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-30

edge. The Henry l.. Peckham was
practically loaded with cargo of 1900
tons Of ice and would have cleared this
afternoon for Alexandria, Virginia. The
Young Brothers arrived here this
morning. light, and was waiting to be
loaded.
The loss of the vessels is estima ted
at $4,000. with no insurance. Both
We're well fitted out and in good con
dtion. The Young Brothers. Capt.
Snow, halls from Boston. She was
built in Belfast Me, in 1890, and is
1856 feet long, 81 feet wide, drew IS
feet and was S97 tons net Edwin F.
Boggs is the managing owner. Cap
tain Henry f.. Harding is also the man
aging owner Of the Peckham. which
halls from Chatham. Mass She was
built in 1891 in East Boston and was
owned in Newport. Y. l. Her dimen-
sions We're: Length 1870 feet; breadth
81 feet: depth IS; re. tonnage 1873.
The cook of the Peckham lost. among
other articles. a gold watch which he
valued at $50.
At 6 o'clock tonight both vessels
were out in mdstream and We're still
ed the quicker of the two as it set
high in the water and there will be
nothing left to show for it. The Peck
ham set lower in the water and but
for the fact that there was great dan
ger of the masts falling any time the
vessel might have been saved.
The ice plant consisted of the old
Havnes < Dewitt houses, two sets of
buildings of IS rooms and it was esti-
mated this afternoon by Captain
Charles E. Hewitt. who has charge
of this section of the American Ice
Cos. property. that there was about
10000 tons of ice in them besides the
machinery. The houses We're built i'm
1870 and We're among the best con-
structed houses along the river and
cost. when new, about $4,000. The
value of the buildings today was es-
timated at about $4,000.
1t was one of the hottest fires that
ever occurred along the river, say
those who have seen many such fires.
Scarcely had the stable caught than
the men who We're on the roof of the
ice housese fighting the fire with pals
of water We're compelled to run for
their lives Sc quickly did the flames
catcn on the shingles and spread. Then
the fire spread to the vessels, the sails
catching fire first and the entire es-
Establishment was all in flames within
short time from the start. The
crews of the vessels did not dare to
remain on board very long after the
fire got a start as there was gasoline
on board and they feared the results
of the explosion.
The strong wind carried the burning
shingles away across the river to the
wood lots on the Dresden shore for
distance of over a mile and set them
afre in several places, about so acres
being burned over. The buildings OF
Orrin Haines and George Moody are
located quite near the river on that
side and both men had crews at work
protecting their property and at that
had a hard job to save the buildings,
as they were directly in line of the
shower of sparks and burning shingles.
The tug Perry with l.. c. Ballard.
the local manager of the American
lee Co. on board. was at the Berry
| houses in Dresden, short distance
IN river AS soon as the fire was seen
below them the boat put off at full
speed in an attempt to get there IN
time to tow the two vessels away
from the dock. They were unable to
save the vessels, but made an attempt
and thereby risked their lives in try
| ing and had to give it up. The Perry
remained at the fire until after .
o'clock PLAYING the hose on the dock
| and afterwards trying to check the
| fire in the Young Brothers.
Mr. Ballard did all that he could to
| obeok the fire in the vessels and ne
was ably assisted by the crew OF the
| Perry and his son, Harold Ballard. and
| Ton, Otis of New Bedford. Mass, who
;s visiting his son. Both the young
mon did hard and valiant work ana
| raoa;voa slight burns, caused by the
| excessive heat, while trying to get
| line on board the vessels.
| The crews of both vessels We're sent
to Boston this afternoon on the oi'E
| of Bangor. while the captains ana
mates remained here. If anything Is
left Of the vessels it is thought that
they will he towed out to sea ana sunk
1,ba probabilities last night were, now
avar that both would sink where they
are now and they will have TO De eltn-
| err raised and towed out to sea OF
| blown IN.
1t is probable that the ice houses
and stable will not be rebuilt
If the wind had been blowing more
down river the residences and board
ing houses would probably have gone
also. AS it was sharp watch was
kept for stray sparks but none were
blown in the direction of the houses.
| LA 10 soon for miles