Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-13
On Bangor Road Destroys
Home Of 0. P. Ellis.
Grass Fires Threaten Several
Other Houses in NeighbOrhOOd.
20 Acres Of Grass Land Burned Over
-.Chief Buckley Saves Watch.

Fire destroyed the residence of O
p. Ellis, owned by Frank S. Parmen-
ter Athol, Mass, on the Bangor road,
Thursday afternoon, and several other
buildings in that neighborhood Were
threatened by a grass fire, which
burned along the Maine Central tracks
for a distance of about three miles. It
is thought, however, that the grass
fire did not set the Ellis buildings on
fire, but it is possible that a spark
from the fire. which was raging only
u short distance south of the farm,
may have done the damage. People,
who claim To have noticed the fire
soon after it started, say that il burn
ed up through the roof of the house
and think that the fire must have
caught around a defective chimney.
Mr.. Ellis was helping put out the
grass fire that was burning on How
ard Lees farm, about a quarter mile
south and Mrs. Ellis was down town
at the time, so it is not really known
how the fire started in the Ellis house.
Sparks from the train, which leaves
Augusta at go p NJ, must, in all
probability, have started the brush fire
along the tracks in that vicinity and
We're famed by a strong northeast
wind. The grass fire caught on How
ard Lees buildings two or three
times, and also caught on George
Blacks house, considerable distance
north, but the flames We're extinguish-
ed before they could do any damage
The house occupied by Mr.. Ellis
was insured for $3.50 and the furni-
90. j., - = l.
Agency, but the produce in the eel
lar was uninsured and almost I
total loss to its owner as but very lit
tie of it was saved. 1t included 800
bushels of potatoes. $50 bushels of
turnips and about 30 bushels of cab
bages. Most of the furniture was
saved by the neighbors. who render
ed every assistance possible. The loss
on house, produce and furniture will
probably be IN the neIghborhood or
$4,000.
Fire Department Aids.
The Augusta fire department was
telephoned to for aid, and although
the fire was outside of tae ~
limits, Chief Buckley and four men
responded Immediately, as enr W..
was very strong at the time. Several
other members of the department also
went out on the o'clock car
a dozen chemicals were taken out
by the hook and ladder horses in Il
spare wagon and they We're kept in
action during the greater part OF
three hours, being recharged by Driv-
er Currler as often as was neces-
sary The work of the firemen helped
greatly in checking the blaze and
preventing it from catching the hem
house and barns which We're nearb.'.
1t was impossible. however. to entire
ly check the blaze with the chemicals,
until it had burned all of the house.
An adjoining shed was saved. 1t was
the general opinion if it had not been
for the help of the firemen, that the
henhouse. shed and perhaps the barns
would have been burned
Among the most valuable articles
that were saved from the blaze was
a gold watch, belonging to Mr.. Ellis,
which he values at about $40. Mr.
Ellis. in the excitement, forgot the
watch until the building was all
ablaZe, and Chief Buckley was noti-
fed by Mrs. Ellis that the watch was
in the south chamber. The fire chief
made several unsuccessful attempts
before he finally got in and got the
watch being driven back by the smoke
and heat, which was very intense in
that portion of the building.
About 20 acres of Harry Hanks
farm, which is about two miles north
of the Ellis buildings, We're burned
over by the grass fire but the build
ings We're not damaged, although they
We're endangered by flying sparks sew
eral times during the progress of the
fire.