Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-29
NANTASKET FIRE
CONTINUED from PAGE One)

school, both within a furlong of the
Atlantic House to the south. were be-
seiged by small fires, and the Allan
tic House itself was kept in constant
danger by incipient fires. Houses on
six streets were burned or burning
at midnight.
The section covered by the flames
at that hour roughly was about one
third of mile square. From the
fiat section on which Paragon Park
and auxiliary amusements were stu
ated. the flames had spread to the
south to Center Hill, burning to the
west as far as the Villa Napoli.
which, it was thought. would be
saved. To the north. the Nantasket
House and pavilion were just beyond
the limits of the fire.
The fire started in or near the
bandstand in Paragon park. Work
men have been engaged in pre-sea-
son repairs there. making things
ready for the opening. =. 1t was
thought some of them may have
left fire<burning. that was whipped
into the confiagration by the wind
which this evening blew in gusts
that had gale force at times
The flames early passed the limi-
tation of the local fire department
and help was called and came from
Brockton, Rockland, Marshfield,
bingham. Quincy and Cohasset. rs
the night wore on Cohasset appara-
tus had to turn its attention to safe
guard it's own as North Cohasset
was under fire from embers flying on
the wind.
These fire men from seven cities
and towns. however. were handi-
capped almost hopelessly by the
lack of water. With the ocean
roaring a few feet to the east of
them they had to stand by their ap-
paratus while dynamite was sent
for. Bucket brigades were out of
the question. so strong was the wind.
The flames ate their way back 50
feet against the wind when the tin
der like structures of roller coasters
bowling alleys. dance pavillions and
like places fired up.
1t was decided to try and make
the fight with dynamite just north
OF the Atlantic House. at a point be-
tween that hotel which tops Center
Hill and the state boat house.
Houses that We're destroyed in
cluded those of Mrs. Carrie Wade,
the home of Chief Elmer A. Bick-
ford. of the Metropolitan Park Po-
lice. three houses owned by Mrs.
Walker of Boston, three cottages
owned by Louis l.. Covick. of Bos.
ton: the Cunningham residence on
Atlantic avenue. the Tremaine cot
tage. Fred Shoday's house, two
houses owned by Mrs. Flood, three
houses of Mrs. Fred Richards. Of
bingham. two houses owned by
Patrick Butler three houses owned
by various persons on Rockland
road, ten others on Park avenue in
the vicinity of Paragon Park, four
houses on Rockland hill.
The Companies + and II, of the
1c..h Onfantry Regiment. regular
army, stationed at Fort Revere in
Boston harbor, went to Nantasket
Beach tonight and stacked arms on
the outskirts of the fire. The soldiers
stood guard over the piled belong
ings of those who had to leave their
homes. Two soldiers. George M. Nc
Arriston and Norman D. Newton. file
closers in the rear of the marching
column. were knocked. down by an
McArriston was con-
sidered seriously hurt.
The home of John Hurley. on the
rocks at the end of Nantaskct av-
enue, the principal beach thorough
fare. one Of the show places of the