The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-07-13
The Great Portland Fire.
LOSS AT LEAST 100000.


Before this, we presume every rea-
der of the TRANscRIpT has heard of the
great fire which occurred at Portland
on the 4th. 1t was most certainly
terrible conhagration, unequalled by
any that ever occurred in this country,
without we except the great fire in
New York in 1885. The fire caught
about o'clock in the afternoon and
continued with undated fury for
twelve or fifteen hours, burning over a
space of one and one half miles long
by quarter of mile wide, compris-
ing the principal business streets in
the city. In short, half of the city was
destroyed; all the banks, newspapers,
wholesale dry goods houses, law
yers' Offices, and eight churches were
burned. The Boston Journals account
says no less than three thousand peo-
pie have been rendered homeless, and
from ten to twelve thousand men,
women and children are sorrowfully
wandering about the city. The total
loss is estimated at from ten to t,celue
millions, and some place the figures
even higher.
The burning of the new City Hall,
which was great ornament to the
beautiful city of Portland, is source
Of great regret. A large portion OF
the city records was destroyed. The
original cost of the building was $780,.
600, but it will probably require twic,
that sum to replace it. The Custom
House and Post Office were fortunate
ly saved, though much damaged
Senator Fessenden is a heavy sufferer
losing in addition to other propert,
his private papers and valuable libra
ny.
The Insurance Companies are o
course heavy losers, but the most O
them will be able to weather it.
The Aetna of Hartford is called upoi
for about 100000, and the Phoeni,
and Hartford for 100000 each. TIL,
Home and Security of N. Y. are il
heavily.
The principal cities of the countr,
are sending large supplies of none,
and provisions. The Hon. A. G. Gal
OF Sherbrooke, the Canadian Ministe
of Finance, has contributed 81 900.
We copy such incidents from on
city exchanges as we can find ROOF
for:
The fire, as all accounts agree, con
menced in pile of shayings on tn
outside OF a cooper-shop or boat shoI
which was lighted by a boys fire
cracker
In the vicinity of the spot where tn
fire originated there were nothing bu
dry wooden buildings, which furnishe
the best possible food for the flame,
and the water, of which, unfortunately
there was scarcity, had no effec
whatever upon it.
The scene when the fire was at il
hight was one of fearful terror. TIL
flames, famed by the high wine
leaped madly from building TO build
ing The air was filed with live coal
and shingles and other fragments, lik
devastating torches, We're borne on
ward to blocks beyond the prcser
boundaries of the conAagration. an
thus hurried on its ravages with fea
iul rapidity. Unusually little conf
sion occurred, as nearly allwho were
its path had, after the first two hou
time, to pack their furniture and e
out Of its way
Jno. Is. Brown a. Some loss is est
mated at 81, 200, 900; insured for $500
900. Mr. Brown next morning S
men at work clearing away the ru
bish to rebuild his sugar refinery.
One firm offered draymen 81 600 7
teams to carry goods, but were refuse
The draymen We're making 500 d.
lars an hour.
On the morning Of the 9th a distre