Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-01

Large Fire at Saratoga springs-UnIted
States Hotel and Marvin House De-
stroyed!
About half-past four pm. Sunday,
the quiet denizens Of Saratoga were
startled by the cry of fire. Smoke was
seen to issue from the north wing of the
United States Hotel, and in few mo-
.menfs that portion of the Hotel was en-
veloped in flames. The fire companies
were promptly on hand but owing to
the difficulty in obtaining water, they
were not able to operate with sufficient
vigor to arrest the progress OF the de-
vouring element.
Suddenly n second fire seemed to break
out In another part of the Hotel-at least
fifty feet from where the first was dis
covered, which spread with fearful ra-
pididy, enveloping the entire front in a
sheet of fame. The scene became APP
palling. The guests fed panic stricken
from the House the officers and at
taches stampeded for their lives I; the
furniture was thrown out of the doors
aud windows and piled in miscellaneous
masses on the street Ordinarily cool
men seemed to lose their wits. They
rushed frantically into the blazing struc-
trre, caught whatever First came to
their hands, and flung it out tire W
looking glasses, mirrors and vases out OF
the third story windows, and ignored
or appeared to ignorer-all distinction
between what was valuable and what
was comparatively worthless. A few,
more discreet thanvtheir neighbors, de-
voted themselves TO mattresses, carpets,
&c, &c. and thus a considerable por-
tionzof what was really most expensive
and portable, was saved. ,e LII
But soon the Fire-Demon expelled
even the most venturesorle. ac Vast
tongues of fame darted out of the front
doors and windows, Tapped the cornice,
mounted the roof, and developed the
entire edifee In O hideous drapery OF
fire. In short time, the north wing
fell in with a crash that made the air
SILVER. twenty minutes after the front
swayed, toppled and came down, filling
the whole horizon with mass of sparks
| and cinders. The rear and southern
portion soon followed; the flames licked
up the cottages on the grounds as ii
| they had been mere crumbs In the NAV
CT the hungry monster, land before sew
Ell o'clock, the United States was an un-
distinguishahie ruin. ga ~ s.'shH Z
At this time the fire seemed tp be
ssmaster of the situation. The firemen
worked bravely; but they were helpless
against the tyrant. The engines work ed
| necessarily, but their feeble streams APP
peared rather to add fuel to the flame
/ than to ouench it, A considerableswind
was blowing, and the fire worked its way
| toward the adjoining Bank on the one
side, and towards the Marvin House ON
the other The trees were wreathsd III
| flame; the roofs of the buildings
III the Vicinity were repeatedly Hn
| q blaze; water was scarce; the firemen
were exhausted, and il looked as If 8
| good portion of the town was doomed.
4 People were seized with a panic, and
began to carry their goods into the street.
The connection between the hotel and
bank was in flames; the Marvin House
was burning vigorously; the. telegraph
Office was '.estopped" from further busi-
ness.
Just then cheer went up that made
the welkin ring, and the next instantthe
Balliston Fire Company came thunder
! ing up UuS SbTcct- LACJ tNOhO w WI
with will; still the fire swept onward.
More goods were dumped out into the
street; more men and women rushed
| frantically hither and yon, crying gestic'
ulating and wringing their hands; anoth-
err period of doubt and danger; when
the arrival of steam engine from Troy
settled the dreadful duel between man
and the blind flames of Nature. The
Marvin Hotel was destroyed;i but the
Bank was saved; so were the adjoining
buildings; so were the private residences
of Mrs. Marvin, property of the United
| States, and Mrs. Hawthorne, property
of Congress Hotel.
Several persons We're Frustrated by
| heat and over-exertion, while one OF
two were seriously injured by the acct
dent. We can not learn that any one
persisted in the flames.
/ Ample precautions against fire had
been taken by the proprietors of Con
gress Hall aud other Hotels, and a
special domestic police force is kept on
duty night and day. Saratoga was new
er more attractive.thsn to-day; and none
but the most hopelessly tilnid will stay
away because of the fire which happened
yesterday.