Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-05
AUGUSTA LOCALS
FRIDAY MORNING FIRE
WILL TOTAL ABOUT
A $4,000 LOSS
Block a Ruined
She'll. Will Be Torn
D W n Damage to
Coughlin Build din g
and Pharmacy Esti-
mated at $4,000
Work Of Firemen Is
Highly Complimented

Hlgnly IOmpllmenCed
The coming of daylight Friday morn
ing brought to view such a scene of
desolation following the fire as had not
been witnessed in Augusta since the
destruction of the Meonian and North
blocks, Jan. 6, 1904. although in some
respects the scene just mentioned and
that presented yesterday morning were
similar. Both fires occurred under
similar conditions. with the mercury at
zero, and in both cases the results We're
similar. The picture presented yester-
day morning by daylight showed the
four-story Darby block. in the cellar
Of which the fire had started, tower
ing ruin and with the smoke still
whirling in clouds from its roofless
walls. while adjoining it on the south
was tho Coughlin building, with a .por
ton of its roof burned off and its third
story showing the ravages Of fire. and
both buildings were coated with ice.
as were the poles and wires in their
imme date vicinity.
deceased firemen were still fighting
the fire as they had been since its dis
covery at about 100 that morning, and
two lines Of hose We're still in use,
pouring torrents Of water into the ruins
Of the Darby block from the Water
street side. Water street was filled with
twisted and frozen hose in the vicin-
ity Of the fire and as far south as the
hydrant in front OF the Barker store,
and the street itself around the cor
ners Of Bridge street was filled with
water which was fast turning to ice.
Owing to the efforts of the street de-
partment, however. the cutting Of
drains to carry the water down behind
the stores on the east side Of Water
street. the walks leading to the south
side Of the bridge We're kept free of ice
in any quantity, although those ON the
other side were buried deep in ice AMI
the frozen spray from the streams of
water directed on the fire.
But although the smoke was still
coming from the cellar of the Darby
block and at times sufficiently thick
to drive people from the immediate vi
cinity of the building. the danger of
the fire communicating to other build-
ings was over and although the fire
men kept their two streams Of water
pouring into the ruins for the greater
part of the forenoon, the "all out" was
sounded at S.35.
The damage on account OF the fire
was not confined to the Darby and
Coughln buildings, for the electrical
equipment in the vicinity OF the two
came in for it's share. and the wires
Of the Central Maine Power Co. car
rying the electric light circuits. the
telephone and telegraph wires. the fire
alarm wires and the trolley wires were
heavily loaded with ice. So heavily
loaded were the wires on a big pole In
front OF the Johnson candy store at
the corner of Water and Bridge streets
that during the forenoon the pole broke
eff not far from its base and dropped.
wires and all. The linemen were on
the Job. however. and by some lively
work soon raised the pole to its base
again and reinforced 1t so that 1t will
be all right until permanent repairs
can later be made. The linemen were
also busy for some time making ne
cessary repairs to wires on the iron
standard lighting pole in front of
Coughlins building. It was necessary
to shut off the power for a little while
but that was all.
The lossea
While the losses resulting from the
fire have not been accurately figured
out a rough estimate last night indi-
Gated that the losses would aggregate
something like $4,000. with a partial
insurance, they being as follows:
Darby block, owned by the Au-
gusta Real Estate Association, $4,000
to $40. 900. Occupants of Darby block,
first floor, John F. Turner, groceries.
meats and provisions $4,000; c. $. York.
boots and shoes, $4,000 Second floor. +.
w. Wellman, boots and shoes, $25oo;
G. P. Herrick, harness shop, $1,000; r.
T.. Knowlton, barber shop, small loss.
The electric railroad employees union
occupied the quarters formerly occu-
MED bv the Owls and it was said that
they had a small loss. Coughlin build
ing: owned by John Coughlin and
the lower story occupied by owner as
a pharmacy. loss on building and
stock, $4,000 OF $4,000. u. w. Ward
had barber shop adjoining the phar-
macy and will have n water loss Of
perhaps $780, on which 1t is understood
there is insurance.
On the second floor Of the Cough
lin building We're. the offices of DR.. G.
r. Campbell and DIR. NJ. p. HANDLE
ton, each of whom lost practically all
they had in their offices by reason of
water soaking. Mrs. Harry e. Kelley.
who occupied the third floor of the
building as a dwelling. lost all her
household goods, the fire having gain
ed access to this floor by the burning
of of a portion OF the roof of the
building. She had not secured an esti-
mate Of her loss last night, but 1t will