Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-02
NORFOLK FIRES
Continued from Pace One)

They said, however, that there had
been three separate and distinct explo-
sions. The first was in a cloak and hat
shop near the Monticello. The second
was on the sixth floor of that hotel after
the first fire virtually was under control.
and the third in the Lenox building, which
later was destroyed.
Guests from the Monticello who were
forced to flee in the biting cold of the
dawn after they had watched the theatre
burn were taken care of in nearby
houses and hotels. AS building after
building, including an apartment house,
burned down, score were made home
less and the National Guard arnory on
City Hall avenue was thrown open to
them
There during the late day Red Cross
workers and others looked arl,r them and
supplied coffee and sandwiches for the ma
val patrols and firemen who were forced
to seek rest from their battle against the
flames.
When the iremen responded to the
alarm for the theatre fire they found all
hydrants in the vicinity frozen. Fires
had to be built to thaw them out. In the
means me the firemen looked on helpless
while the big theatre building burned
When water finally came the pressure
was SO low that streams would not reach
to the upper stories of the burning build
ing and the fire soon was beyond control.
Aid from Portsmouth
Portsmouth. across the Elizabeth river,
was called upon for aid and the fire wa;
checked until falling sparks fired the Mon
ucello. where many of the guests had
gone back to bed in the belief that the
fire was controlled. They soon were fore
ed to turn out again. The combined de-
partments apparently were making good
Roadway against the flames when the ex-
p!oslons occurred in the cloak shop and
another blaze started. Suffolk then was
asked for aid and rushed apparatus to the
city by train. In the meantime the naya,
authorities at the navy yard and naval
base offered aid and fire brigades we're
soon on the scene.
When the second explosion occurred this
time in the Monticello, Mayor Mayo nu.
the naval authorities in charge. They
placed patrols throughout the business
district, threw a Gordon Of marines and
blueJackets around the fire district and
began picking up persons unable to ac-
count for themselves
Justice Agents Active
department Of justice agents ioin-
ed with the city detective force in
seeking to unravel the mystery of the
explosions. Three of the men arrest
ed were placed in the city Jail and
federal agents took charge Of the other
TWO. Schmidt and Leasing. The latter.
off1cers said, first reported himself as
Il department of justice official. Fire
tugs from the navy yard early in the
day took up positions on the water
front three blocks away and assisted
the IRE engines and pumped tons of
water into the burning buildings. but
the DOCK on CRANKY street from CITY
nan avenue to Tazewell street virtu-
ally was destroyed. Only two build
lnss, the Dixon and Commercial siruc
lures, both new. escaped destruction.
They We're badly damaged. But at
dusk the fire in the Monticello broke
out afresh and despite t. heroic work
l<en0y
carpenter and Tazewell buildings, six
story structures across the street. were
wrecked. For time the naval Y. NJ
{. A. was threatened. but the wide
line separating it from the burning
buildings enabled firemen to save It
ana other large buildings nearby.
Danger over if Check lncendiaries
Although the fire was still burning
in the ruins late tonight. the fire
chief announced that the danger was
over if the naval patrols could
check the work of incendiaries."
The fire swept district is but three
blocks from the Elizabeth river water
front on the north and five on the
west. 1t is more than a mile from the
Norfolk navy yard, which is located
up the Elizabeth river in the western
section of Portsmouth The nearby
waterfront is used by bay and river
steamers and trucking vessels.