Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-24
WATERVILLE FIRE
Continued from Page y

side of the Ludlow barn. 1t was quick
ly seen that there was nothing that
could be done in the way OF saving
anything of the first building and all
efforts were directed towards saving
the second and the dwelling houses.
These were successful in the matter
of the houses and the flames on them
were taken care of after short time
with very little damage.
In the meantime. however. the fire
had jumped across the street to the
other house, and as soon as it reached
the canoes, this building went up like
its neighbor. The smoke was intense
and rolled from the buildings and
down the streets. driving all but the
firemen away from the vicinity OF the
buildings. The men were also constant
ly in danger Of falling wires, of which
a number did come down, and one
power pole was burned off coming to
the ground with crash.
When the front part Of the second
building fell, 1t came directly across
the street and carried all the wires
there with 1t. The department worked
at its best. and a large number of
streams Of water were directed on the
burning buildings. keeping the flames
dowr and preventing their spread The
fire was finally all out at about $40.
These destroyed ice houses were the
property of Robert L. Erwin and Ros-
coe l.. Knight, who recently purchas-
ed the ice business which was known
as the Chalmers plant. consisting OF
these two buildings. a large stable, ice
cutting apparatus and the ice privi :
leges on what is known as Mulholland
brook. TThey had planned to go into
the Ice business extensively this Win
ter and had just completed the work
Of repairing the dam, which is used
to make large pond of the brook for
the freezing Of the ice in winter.
The houses during the two or three
years that they have not been used
for the storing Of ice have been used
by the Kennebec Boat & Canoe Co
for storing their partly finished canoes
These We're being removed from the
house which caught fire first and it
had been planned by Messrs Erving
& Knight to start work on it Wednns-
day morning, getting it ready for bus
mess this winter. The loss IS n very
severe one to them, as they were just
starting in business and The insurance
will not buy the lumber to replace
them.
Fire Spectacular One
The fire was a very spectacular one,
the black smoke from the burning
buildings rolling high into the aid and
at times the flames rose so that they
could be sc from Main street A
great crowd quickly collected at the
scene but owing to the heat from the
burning buildings were kept so we'll
back that the firemen We're little ham
pered in their work. The police de-
partment was promptly on hand, and
did efficient work in keeping the
streets free from autos and teams so
that the different pieces of apparatus
would not be hampered in laying hose
and getting to the fire.
The quickness with which the fire
did its work was a great wonder to
everyone One man who was directly
in sight Of the first building said that
he was standing talking with a man,
and was looking at the building a mo-
ment before the alarm rang in and as
the first stroke came, he looked around
and saw the building all in flames and
the roof already falling in. When the
firemen arrived. and they made a. quick
run. the roof was going in and the
walls quickly followed it.
The damage to the Darveau home
and to that Of Mr.. Ludlow was small
and both were covered by insurance.
Mrs. Darveau had just placed the in
surance on her home Monday, acting
on the advice Of friend who did not
wish her to go longer without 1t.