Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-21
Belfast Coal Sheds
Now Under Control

Belfast, Me, Dec. 20.-(Special.)-
With the mercury at 20 below zero,
fremen and teamsters worked all
night and are still busy fighting the
fire and hauling away hard coal. at
the Consumers Fuel Company docks
on Front street, which burst into
flames yesterday afternoon without
moments warning. All yesterday
morning the men were engaged in
shoveling and delivering coal and
when they returned to work after the
noon hour all was well as far as
anyone could desern. Shortly after
1.30 fire was discovered in shed No.
4, containing some 400 tons or more
of hard coal and large quantity of
soft, in the shed and piles outside,
the soft and hard separated by a
wooden wall. The fire has thus been
confined to the soft coal and it is
believed that it is under control, and
as fast as possible the hard on the
other side of the wall is being hauled
to the North yard, across the street,
men, trucks and horses working all
night while the firemen kept up an
incessant play of water.
Owing to the position of the coal
in the low wooden sheds, the enor-
nous amount of steam which is
caused by the water and smoke, c.
3. Holmes. head Of the firm stated
that it is impossible to tell how much
of the coal is on fire or how much
Is being lost by falling through the
floors into the harbor, the building
being situated on dock Altogether
there are in the yards some three
or four thousand tons of hard and
soft coal, the contents of two barges
which just finished unloading this
week. Few citizens of Belfast had
their winters supply owing to the
company being unable to sell not
over two tons to a customer at a
time
The Consumers Fuel Company of
which c. 3. Holmes is the head is
successor to the Belfast Fuel Co,
and also bought the coal business
Of the Swan & Sibley Co. 1t is there
fore the only company in Belfast
handling coal. A hoodoo has evident
~ ,camped upon it's trail, for only two
years ago, the yard, when situated
at the foot of Main street was almost
wiped out by fire. about a month ago
II lost 400 tons of soft coal by the
sinking Of the schooner Hart, and
without pound of hard coal in it's
sheds two weeks ago. and a barge
at the docks, the hosting apparatus
was put out of business for a day by
the severely cold weather. It has
just succeeded in discharging two
cargoes. and was able to deliver two
tons Of coal to any customer who
needed it. when this calamity befell
it. While the coal is covered by in
surance. it is hard to tell whether
the company will be able to replace
it or not and any hard coal lost will
be greatly felt by householders.
Just to the north Of the biz sheds
OF the Consumers is Cooper Company,
lumber yards and building supplies.
and beyond that is the pulp wood
yard OF the. Pejepscot Pulp and Pa
per Co. To the south and just across
the street is the Matthews Bros. sash
and blind factory. and west Is the
industrial section, SO a high wind in
any direction except direct west
would be most serious. Fortunate
thus far there is not breath OF wind
stirring and all the roofs are covered
with snow.
Tonight c. B. Holmes, head of the
Consumers Fuel Co, stated that he
believed that the FIRE in the south Goa
shed il entirely out and the coal is
now . mass OF Ice while a strict
watch Is maintained tonight 10
prevent further danger. There is 4
strong northeast gale and snow storm
raging and every precaution will he
taken. Mr.. Holmes estimates the
damage to his buildings ana con.e-..
pxAr J.. Is