Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-07-14
TRsF! GREAT EIueE EN- PORT
LAND.

We gather the following particulars Of the
awful conilagration at Portland, Me-, from
our exchanges: ...
One half of the city is destroyed, and that
hale includes nearly all the business portion
excepting the heavy business houses in Com
mercial street. ..
The Custom lIouce, being fire proof, es-
capped, though greatly damaged. The court
records in the upper story are probably de-
stroyed. The store of Emory 81 Water
house, hardware, on Middle street, singular
ly was passed 10y the SEA of flame unscathed,
though everything was swept on each side,
All the banks are gone. All the news
paper offices are burned, and there are only
three printing offices left. The splcn-
did city and county building on Congress
street, which was nearly tire-proOf, was con-
sidered safe, and it was piled full of furni-
ture by the neighboring residents, and then
it was swept away, with all its contents.
All the jcwery establishments, all the
Wholesale dry-good stores, several churches,
the telegraph offices, nearly all the station
ary stores, and the majority of the business
places are destroyed. 1t is useless to specify
the dwelling houses, but among the fine
ones may be mentioned those of Mrs. Wood,
on Middle street; Mr.. Ramery and Mr.. Don
nell, on Congress street; Bishop Bacon's, on
I Congress street and Billings; Chase Richard
son, ON Cumberland street, and others.
/ 1t is estimated that abou: two thousand
buildings are burned, and property destroyed
, to the amount of ten millions of dollars,
/ which is probably insured about one-half-
! The State valuation was twonty-eight mil
lions, and the real valuation must be over
thirty millions. Fully one third must have
/ been destroyed. The loss of John B. Brown
and Sons must be at least million, they
owning a large amount Of real estate in every
I quarter of the city. They are insured abou.
I one-half the value. .. -.
BY this tremendous conhagration over two
hundred and forty stores were DESTROYED.
The Oriental Powder CompaEy's office
and every lawyer in the city were burned
out, besides innumerable offices and small
places of business impossible TO mention.
The Offices of the Collector ana Assessor of
Internal Revenue, the Dirigo and Ocean In
surance Company, the Merchants Exchange
are gone, as well as those of every news
paper in the city. There is not q power
press left in the city to strike paper upon
Every bank in the city is destroyed, though
the contents of their vaults are all supposed
to be safe.
Nothing can be done in the city TO-DAY
except TO take care CT the homeless, and
that is actively being done Everybody's
"latch strings hangs out" and cheerful
and buoyant feeling prevails. There was nc
confusion or struggle during the fire. Every
one was courteous and kind, and all worked
earnestly together. The firemen from abroad
worked nobly and assisted greatly in saving
property. .a.-
Two thousand families are rendered home
less. .at .. .... - -.-,7-
The churches and many other ediices ar,
thrown open for the homeless, and com
mittees appointed to relieve the distressed
captain lnman has telegraphed for 6iteer
} hundred tents to ACCOMMODATE the homeless
I inhabitants. 'I '"N''s
: IL Is almost impossible 10 tell where tn
/. people lived, the destruction is SO complete
BOSTON, July 5.-A despatch from tn
Mayor OF Portland to Mayor Lincoln, says
Thousands OF our people are homeless am