Kimball Family - Ourfolk

HINGHAM

Captain Albert M. Kimball of Engine 2, hearing of the fire, got his company together and they arrived late in the afternoon in two automobiles. As the fire rushed unchecked down Eden street it seemed as if Messervey street would go.

Taking advantage of their experience gained at similar fires in their outlying districts where no water is available for the engines, they gathered all the rugs and clothing they could find and taking them to the salt water, wet them, and then lay them on the roof and over the sides of the houses, where an occasional bucket of salt water would keep them wet. Meeting with success at No. 9 Messervey, we soon had plenty of help, and further down the Street had blankets spread and lots of help from a bucket brigade in wetting down the blankets, as they began to smoke our boys took their positions on the roofs and the crowd kept the water coming. The owners said many pleasant things that night.

On the north side, about i 1.30 P. M., these boys relieved a crowd of volunteers handling a line on Union street. The volunteers were having quite a time handling it, losing ground all the time through improper handling. Captain Kimball and his boys manned this line till daylight, making the stop on the James Coffey house on one side and the Roache house on the other. Mr. Coffey was much pleased and has since entertained the boys.