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


the Corner store. Mr.. Walker and Mr..
Cunningham had just stepped from The
doorway of the store and were about
to come down to Silver street when
they noticed smoke issuing from above
the large windows. Almost at the same
time they saw dart of flame within
the building Mr.. Walker called to
james MCGEE, moving picture opera
tor at the Opera house, who was
standing on the opposite side of the
street at the time, to ring in an alarm.
McGee ran to Box 81 in city Hall
square and pulled the lever.
Almost within minute of the time
Mr. Walker called to MCGEE, a crowd
Of young men who had been stan6-
ing on Silver street saw smoke COM
ing from the windows of the first floor,
which was soon followed by great
roar of flames caused by hot air ex-
plesion near the balcony windows,
throwing great pieces of glass out in-
to the street.
Hose |, and Hook and Ladder l
soon had two lines of hose laid to the
Silver street side and another was be-
ing poured into the basement from
the Main street corner, while fourth
was being shot into the aperture near
the upper Main street entrance to TIE
store. Great clouds of thick black
smoke rolled out of the windows on
the ground floor, basement and second
floor The hot steam caused by pour
ing the water on the burning wood
made it difficult for the fremen to
work.
At the time the alarm was rung in
Chief Berry was at his camp at Bel
grade, but an auto soon brought him
to the fire. During his absence the
force was in charge of Assistant Chief
Luke Ivers, who directed the lines Of
hose to the best advantage. Captain
| Berry of Hose |, believing more nelp
necessary. turned in an alarm from
J Box 81. bringing Hose and 4. Hose
laid another line to the building
+ making ii all at the time nine lines
/ Believing ii eXpedient to have a re
serve force in case of a fire outbreak
elsewhere, Assistant Chief Ivers had
| Hose return TO its station.
-Four streams We're sent through the
windows and openings of the second
floor and basement ON the Silver street
side, while four more were directed
on the cellar and first floor of the
building on the Main street side. Tha
ninth line was carried up over the
building occupied by j. d. Parents
candy store.
Although the flames could not be
/ seen from the street, a reddish glow
in the basement told that the fire was
by no means under control. Great
clouds of smoke rolled out from all the
windows and completely enveloped the
whole business section even as far
north as Temple street.
Despite the lateness of the hou,
hundreds of men, women and children
who had either not retired. or had
been abed, filled the opposite sidewalk
/ of the street and watched the firemen
! pour thousands and thousands of gal
Ions of water into the building and
onto it's contents. Women with theil
hair still in braids. stood and watched
the spectacle which seemed but TIL,
pouring Of water into q huge furnace
of smoke.
Shortly after 1 o'clock. the smoke
seemed to have lifted from the base
ment, and firemen dragged lines o.
: hose down into the holes and stoot
waist deep in the water, pourins
! streams onto the burning beams anC
rafters. The great quantity of water
! that had been turned into PRACTICAL,
every opening in the building began Il
have its effect The fire, which con