National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-07-13
From the Boston Journal.
TERRIBLE FIRE IN PORT
LAND.

/ pefs, holeralc DfN roous HOUSES, LAW
yer's Offices, Eight churches and the Chief
Business Places Burnt
PORTLAND, July "a conilagra-
ton has swept through this city
during the past thirty-siX hours,
destroying property which will not
be replaced during the ensuing tive
generations. 1t has unquestionably
been the most des+wlctive fire that
ever took place5in this country. The
destructive fires in New York, and
the burning of the business part of
the city of Richmond when evacu-
ated by the rebels, and the various
other CONGREGATIONS which have
been recorded as the largest in Anne
rican history, all dwindle into insig-
nificance when compared with the
mammoth conhagration which took
place in Portland on the 18th of July.
Two hundred acres, comprising the
principal business houses in the city
and great many fine dwellings,,
have been laid waste by the devour-
ing element, and all that remains as
evidence of former inhabitancy are
occasional walls and towering chin
neyS.
No less than three hundred FAM
lies have been rendered homeless.
and from ten to twelve thousand
men. women and children are sor-
rowfully wandering about the city.
Some of themare temporarily cared
for in the old City Hall, others in
Mechanics and Deering Halls, and
very many are sleeping i'll door yards
with the canopy Of Heaven for their
only shelter, and a few have been
: provided with tents which were fur
niShed them by the State military
authorities. The streets are full of
: furniture, and many a poor man
and woman and their families are
, standing guard over it as their only
5 earthly possessions. The citizens
who have been SO fortunate as ia
5 have their dwellings preserved have
, manifested most liberal spirit, and
are caring for the sufferers to the full
extent Of their means. Tomorrow
, there will be public meeting, al
+ which it will be proposed to erect
t temporary barracks for the accom-
mediation of the homeless.
. The donations from Boston were
$ among the first to arrive, and they
: came this evening in the shape o.
e ten ear loads of provisions. The,
+ were received by the city authori
/ ties and promptly distributed anon,
! the destitute, who Showered many
= blessing upon the good and bcnevo
II lent people of Boston. Besides TIL
$ donations from Boston. there hav
l. also been offerings from Salem
+; Mass. Bath, Augusta, Lewiston
" Saco, Gardiner and Biddctord. Tn
$. destruction of the principal bus
$ ness part OF the town has been $
4 complete ae to almost totally para
t 1--WE every branch Of trade. Con
lie mcrcial street is the only one of an
r. importance which has not cthc
Is wholly partially been laid in ashe,
q Exchange street, which has AWAY
y been to Portland what State stree
9 is to Boston, is completely destroy
c ed; the destruction was complct
d on both sides from one end to tn
e other. Middle street which wa
n probably to this city what WaSl
at ington street is to Boston, has onl
re two or three buildings remaining
V. and they are in a damaged cond
a ton.
o. The heaviest individual loser
" Brown, one of the sugar trade fri,
ne who estimates his loss ut millio
g of dollars, which is partially cove
ed by insurance. Besides the de
a truction of his extensive suga
fl. works and stock on hand, he is al,
st a heavy loser by the burning
ed stores and dwellings in various par
of the city. Among the branch,
er of business completely oblitcratt
Oh by the contlagration are those of Il
as wholesale boot and shoe trade, Il
er wholesale dry goods houses, wit
ct one exception, the jcwclry stor
and the daily and weekly newsp
pcrS. The wholesale boot and sll,
dealers are sufferers to the amour
N of S250, 600. and there is an inSu
III. ancc Of about onc.half The loss
90 the retail dry goods dealers is aho
-, the same, and they are insured abo
'"' one half. All en- Middle street we
burned, and all on Congress sire
lat were saved.
in The destruction of the new CT
'Xt Hall, the pride of the city and q
at State, is generally lamcntcd. Itw
be not believed that this would O
his and many articles were taken the
to for safety and were, of course,
mt lost. 1t caught in the dome II,
He this, falling through the roof sct t
to interior on fire and it was quicl,
ld, burned to the ground. A few of t
ra- city records were saved and or,
it'll many destroyed. The building G,
cr, originally about 100000, but
JOY cannot now be replaced for tw
ore that sum. The Methodist Chur,
- on Chestnut street near the G.
cx- Hall, the most valuable in the eli
ate was saved by the precautions
ON. measures of iron shutters to
i'm, windows, which it is said many
flu the Society opposed, when t
his church was erected. Is is wol
about $4,000. BY the dcstructi
of the Natural History Build
Mr. that corporation will lose $500
ma, exclusive of the valuable collect,
tile which it contained. The Gust