Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-31
WOODWORKING MILL.
DESTROYED BY fire
WITH LOSS $4,000

Prompt and efficient work on the part
Of members Of the Waterville fire de-
partment and assisting citizens stopped
q fire which started in the woodwork
ing plant Of Andrew Ware about $50
yesterday morning when for time 1t
appeared that many dwelling houses In
the northern end Of the city could not
escape the flames, which were famed
by a high wind. At IS was, Mr.. Ware 8
shop was destroyed at a loss estimated
by him at about $4,000, a barn owned
by +. l.. Swan was destroyed and sew
eral houses were damaged.
The blaze, apparently starting in n
small pile of rubbish at one corner of
the shop, was seen by several residents
IN that vicinity. Lewis N. Butler OF
Columbia road and A. Raymond Rog-
ers of Hazelwood avenue stated that
this was all the blaze seemed to
amount to when they first saw 1t. Mr..
Butler pulled the alarm. but before the
department could arrive the building
was almost all ablaze and Mr.. Swans
barn had caught fire in several places.
Six lines Of hose were laid and after
fierce struggle the firemen won out.
,Several slight accidents occurred.
Captain Fred d. McAlary and Pipeman
Fred Soper received quite severe cleo
trlcal shocks while handling hose
in the ruins. crossing wires carrying
electric current which had been felled
by the flames. Luckily the voltage
was not high and they recovered in a
short time. Assistant Chief Luke Ivers
sustained burned eyebrows and several
OF the fremen suffered from scorched
faces. for the heat on the easterly side
was intense. Heavy smoke carried By
the wind made frequent reliefs neces-
sary.
Mrs. Mary L. witham was dazed by
the Ere and had to be carried from her
home.
When the alarm came in at $50 the
FIRE apparatus responded promptly,
making a quick run up College avenue.
When the members swung out OF the
station clouds OF smoke could be seen
rolling across the upper end OF the ave-
nue.. Members Of Hook and Ladder
Co. No. were attending the funeral
Of Francis n. Bushey at the Sacred
Heart church. but when the alarm
came In they hurried across to Getcheil
street and caught their apparatus
there. When the men arrived they
found the heat of the blaze so terrific
that It was difficult to get near enough
to play water on the flames. Several
buildings caught and the roofs of two
or three houses hundreds OF yards
away were set fire by the flying
brands. The woodworking plant was
total loss and is now mass Of charred
tmbers and machinery.
Mr.. Ware stated that ne had large
supply of stock on hand which added
much to his loss, and he did not carry
any insurance as he allowed his policy
to lapse when he was severely injured
last fall.
Mr.. Swans barn. which IS close to
his residence, 1a2 College avenue. is es-
timated a loss Of about $500. covered
by insurance. The roof of garage
owned by Joseph Prince, 100 College
avenue, will have to be replaced and
the rear of the building was damaged.
The roof Of Mr.. Princes hause
caught fire several times. Although
many feet from the fire. the garage
and house of e. c. Bickford, lis Col
iege avenue, and several other houses
nearby were scorched but did not catch
hre. garden hose and bucket bri-
eade helped save the residence and
barn Of Frederick D. Lunt, l24 College
avenue, when the roofs caught fire sew
eral times, and also the roof OF Frank
Hanson's house at 121 College avenue
end Joseph Roderick's house on Seavy
street. The garage OF Charles Fttx-
gerald on Hardwood avenue was dam
aged on side and the rear wall but
me building was saved as 1t was on
the windward side Of the blaze.