Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-12
Loss Estimates Figured in The
NeighboThood Of $4,000.
CoOmbS Block with Ellsworth
Enterprise Goes al Ellsworth.
Bakery, Tailor Shop and Poolroom
Also Burned--D Damage $4,000.

Biddeford. Me, June 1l.-After re-
survey of the ruins of their box shook
factory and other property which was
destroyed by fire early this morning,
members of the firm of the Deering-
Proctor Co. declared tonight that their
loss would not exceed $4,000. of which
nearly quarters is covered by in
suranee. Although the fire was official
" declared TO be under control before
. o'clock this morning, the firemen are
still pouring water onto the lumber
piles lest the brisk wind fan some
hidden spark or smoudering pile into a
blaze and start the fire afresh. The
cause of the fire is a mystery. The
Waterman at the plant had made his
customary rounds less than half an
hour before the fire WAS discovered and
saw nothing suspicious. A few minutes
later the whole structure was a mass
of flames.
Biddeford people are today eengrat4
ulating themselves that the city was
spared eonlagration. Tenement
houses so close to the box plant that
they were scorched escaped the fire
but how nobody knows. Even the fire
men bad little hepe of preventing the
spread OF the flames when they ar
rived on the scene and they made every
preparation for fighting a big fire. Tire
Boston & Maine Railroad bridge
which it was feared might be dam
aged. escaped and trains We're operat-
ed as usual today
fore midnight Saturday night fra
started in the box shook factory of the
Deering-Proctor co, in this city. and
before 1t was placed under control at
LIS this morning damage estimated at
from 100000 to $4,000 was done and 40
familics were driven from their homes
in tho tenement houses adjoining.
Besides the box factory, valued with
its contents at $55 900, lumber yard
adjoining was destroyed. BY desperate
efforts the firemen saved 2,000o00 feet
of lumber. valued at $4,000.
A general alarm was sounded sand
the departments of Biddeford and Saco,
the twin cities. We're kept busy for two
=, halrs lighting the flames More than rs
Y fz3fH We're employed in the factory.
H{eh WAS 50 by 40 feet and three
3E9Hles high and constructed of wood!
I5Ee fire started in the engine room,
itaJs Believed. The factory was built
IL Years ago and the business was one
OF the leading industries of this city.
The families occupying the long
block of tenement houses adjoining the
lumber yard were ordered to flee from
their homes at midnight, and some fled
in their night clothing.
The Barney block Of 16 houses. owned
by the Saeo Water Power Co.. was
scorched and threatend with destruc
ton for a time.
Traffic over the eastern division Of
the Boston & Maine was suspended
during the fire, as the flames attacked
the wooden railroad bridge over the
Saco river and so damaged it that it
was regarded as unsafe for trains
The bridge was saved from destruc-
ton by the heroic work of the fire.
men. Tho railroad passenger station
was also rlenaced. but it was saved
from serious damage.
The milling plant of Andrews &
Horigar, a three story wooden struc-
ture valued with its contents at $15,-
600, VISA slightly damaged. Twenty
families in the tenements adjoining
the railroad station We're forced to
move out of their homes but they
all returned early this morning
Henry Hooper occupied the base
ment of the box shook factory and
manufactured washboards His loss
was about $4,000 and is covered in
part by insurance. The only thing
which Urpyented a most disastrous
loss was the lack of a high wind.