Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-01
QUICK WORK FIRE
ladies PREVENTS
SERIOUS BLAZE

The Waterville fire department
probably saved a serious blaze last
night about o'clock when a barn
attached to the Gilman estate at the
Corner OF Charles and Silver street
went up in flames. Two horses own
ed by Horace G. Hayden who lived
in one end of the building and an
other horse owned by Irving Staples
were burned to death but Frank Gre
CORY who resided with Mr.. Hayden
was able to save his horse.
Mr.. Gregory noticed bright light
In the room used as living room by
Mr.. Hayden and entering he found
the whole end OF the building ablaze.
He pulled box "a as quickly as pos
sible and the firemen made a good
run down Main street although
somewhat impeded by two careless
automobile drivers who refused to
pull out when they heard the truck
coming. The fire lads quickly had
1.-TWO streams playing ON the building
and the first spectacular flare was
over but with a few minutes more
start several Of the buildings on
Charles street would have been en-
dangered as brisk wind was sweep
ing that way.
1t Is believed that the cause Of the
fire was the explosion of a kerosene
oil stove and the damage is estimated
| around $4,000. Mr.. Hayden lost con-
| siderable clothing and all his per-
sonal belongings besides his team
and harness which he valued at $500
! The all out was rung in about three
quarters of an hour after the alarm
The fire coming just at the supper
hour attracted a crowd of several
| hundred people. City Marshall Will
| liam H. Murray had busy time al
| the junction Of Spring. Silver. and
| Charles street directing the traffic
Tor MANY of the autos wanted to stop
and see the fun. Captain Murray
however. by making these would be
| spectators move along kept the road
| clear at all times. The crowd did
not trouble very much by getting. ir
| the way as the building sets back
from the road and the snow is still
, deep. Although 1t is understood tina,
| there wa3 not much hay in the barn
huge smudge was caused ana the
smoke poured across Charles street
| onto ain and for a while many
thought 1t was big conf1agration.
| Although the most of the firemen
| were able to leave half an hour after
| the alarm Chief Berry ordered one
| line to be played on the ruins for q
! while to obviate any danger of the
! flames bursting out again.
This was the first real fire that has
occurred in Waterville for a number
OF weeks but the department was
right on hand as usual with another
! good stop to their credit.
Mr.. Hayden received a sever burn
on the back of his neck while at
tempting to leave the burning build
inc.
| Scarcely n half hour after the all
| out signal blew for the fire on Silve,
! street last evening, an alarm blew
from Box II, for fire in the house
| owned and occupied by Otis Palmer
, on Merrif1eld avenue. The firemer
! made quick trip to the lower enc
! of Silver street but found that the
hose was not long enough to reach
to the building which is over 2OO(
feet from the hydrant. Ofilcer Blum,
and several others managed 70 en-.
ter one of the rooms and rescue the
furniture but the rest of the belong.
! ings and the house was totally des
troyed. The loss is estimated as over
1880. An exploding oil stove was
: reported to be the cause of the f1re