Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-04
S7440o

The fire, which was confined chiefly
to the stairways and basement of the
DeGruchy Co. store, which is owned
by Or. &. b. Rancourt, is believed to
have started about three-quarters of
an hour after the store was locked up
for the night, at a small motor located
on the balcony used as the business
offices of the concern at the southwest
corner of the structure between the
first and second floors. The motor fur
nished power fer the conveying Of the
small change boxes from the sales
girls to the cashiers box The motor
has become oxerheated two or three
times recently. but the trouble was
thought To be of little consequence.
The woodwork about the motor had
become saturated with oil, used to
lubrieate the machinery. This was
quick food for flames, which crept
along the woodwork of the balcony IL
the stairway and then made their way
both up and down. going as far as the
head of the stairway on the third
floor, and the basement below. where
the fire seemed to confne itself the
greater part of the time.
George DeGrouchy, Miss f. Mcmahon
and Miss Zela Roy and L. Ross were
the last to leave the store. They all
went out at the same time, securely
locking the door to the Main street en-
trance behind them. This was about
1915. The fire was first discovered
about 1i.30 and was then so far under
way that the fremen could do little
with il until they had practically
drowned it.
The entire mechandise in the store,
which was invcntOried at about 5000,
is completely ruined, as well as the
fixtures and furnishings, which were
estimated to be worth in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000. What did not suffer from
the flames was spoiled by the smoke
ard water which We're both in greater
abundance than has been seen in a
WaterXilie fire fer many a year.
soon after the fire WAS discovered a
hot air explosion on the balcony blew
out the large window that looks from
the office out onto Silver street. Great
tongues of flames leaped out into the
street until the firemen directed the
hose onto the roaring mass, and then
sight Of the fire disappeared, to be
seen only at INdiS III TIC ''eiStiii'It.
The thick smoke and steam, issuing
in great clouds from the open doors
and windows prevented the fire fight
ers from remaining in the building fol
any length of time.
Water perhaps, did the greatest
damage. The Walker Clothing Co.
whose store adjoins DeGrouchy's on
Main street, suffered a $4,000 loss from
smoke and water, all of which is coy
cred by insurance. Fully Il foot of va
| ter went into the cellar and badly dam
| aged the valuable goods stored there
| The smoke penetrated every nook ant
| corner of the building. causing a Srea
| loss Tho Jones pharmacy, next to thu
| Walker store suffered from smoke an(
| water to the extent of $500. j. y. Par
| ent. who conducts a confectionery ant
ice cream store at Silver street, hat
| bis basement, which is used for ;
| candy kitchen, flooded with water ant
/ his goods damaged to an amount be
i tween $500 and $1,000.
i The store occupied by the DeGrouch,
i Co. is owned by Dr. G. C. Raneourt
/ who at the time of the fire and up un
i ill Sunday, was at Old orchard, state'
4 his approximate loss To ne hpoul @iV'
/ 600, all covered by insurance. G. H. /
i Walker said, Sunday afternoon. tina
i his losses would be between $4,000 an
i $4,000, while ]. d. Parent stated hi
= would be probably between $500 an
4 $1,000 with w. C. Jones placing his i
4 the neighborhood of $500. All losses ar
4 covered by insurance.
d The fire was first seen by c. F.. 3
j Walker and Herbert Cunningham, jus