Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-06
SchooIhOuse and Church Saved
with Great Difficulty.
Nj. Doe Narrowly Escapes Lo'-
ing His Life in Flames.
Hundred Men Fight Fire In thu Bog
and Thick Woods.

China. Me. May 5.-(Specia) Fire
which was first discovered It $50 A.
NJ. Friday. and which at one time
threatened with destruction the entire
village of China, burned fiat the
houses of Theron E. DE and DR.. Gus
tavus j. Nelson on the easterly side
of Main street, and taught upon the
seaeoihouse and the vestry of the
Baptist church. but Without doing Sc
rious damage to either 1t also burn
ed four or five acres of bog land
around the Mud pond, the owners of
which are G. L. Starkey. q. f. Rowe,
and Theron E. Doe 1t was in this
bog land and across the lake in the
thick woods half mile distant, where
sparks were carried by the high west
erly wind that was in progress at the
time. that the hardest fight was made
to stop the fire after it was found
that the houses in the village were
safe except the two that were burned
to tie ground and it was we'll into the
afternoon before its progress was fl
naliy stopped in the bog and the
woods.
Help was summoned from Water
Vile In the forenoon when it was
thought that the entire village was
doomed. Chief w. w. Berry of the
Waterviile department ard several
firemen with hooks and poles FASTENED
to China by automobiles but their
services were not needed when they
reached the village as all that could
be done in keeping the fire from the
other house was accomplished by a
volunteer bucket brigade, there be-
ing no fire department at China viii
lage. A large number of people from
East Vassalboro, Waterville and Win
slow, seeing the heavy cloud of smoke
hanging over the little village FASTENED
to the scene of the fire. Among those
who went to assist was Chief E. w
Allen of the Winslow department.
1t was only a sudden and providen-
tial change of wind that saved the
central part of the village from total
destruction. Not only did sparks light
on the sehoolhouse and church and
were carried by the wind across the
lake to Che woods but at Drake hill
Ifoar miles away, brands were picked
from the burning buildings.
1t was Mr.. Doe himself, who dis
covered the fire In the basement of
his stable at about $50 A. NJ He
had been helping his son, Harold, in
preparing his lessons for school, and
had occasion to go to the Darn. When
he reached there he found the north
west corner of the barn from the
basement up for a considerable dis
lance all on fire. How 1t caught he
does not know as there was nothing
of an iniammable nature in that part
of che barn. He rushed out and gave
the alarm to the boy and his sister,
Miss Annie A. Doe. so that they might
get out of the house before the flames
reached it. and also shouted to the
neighbors. He then rushed into the
barn for his horse and so quickly and
fiertely had the flames spread that
BON ne and the horse came near be-
ing. shut off by wall of flame that
burst up almost in front of them.
ut was the closest call that / ever
had for my life." said Mr.. Doe after
walds in speaking Of his escape to a
reyprter.
Valuable COW, ABOUT three TONS
ofihay and a quantity of grain were
detroyed in the harm. The flames
spead SO rapidly to the house, it
beng less than 20 minutes after the
balm was in flames before the house
wa gone too. that it was impossible
for the brave residents. who tried
to tssist Mr.. Doe to save any of the
furniture and Miss, Doe and the lad
"eN only the clothing. which they
IiqJ; on.
,rer Doe residence was the. finest
re 4 village consisting of house
b,s d stable connected, with ample
- IS surrounding. and provided
{! lot water heat. The furniture
! included many valuable heir
/, which it would be impossible
Yplace. Mr.. Doe also lost many
tble papers and documents The
mi was valued at between $710t