The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-17
BURNING OF PORTLAND.

arrival prevented my obtaining a good de-
scription of the fire that ragged SO tiercely
on the evening of the 4th. A conversa-
tion with many of the prominent citizens
whose minds are now more tranquil, eIlc-
tied few facts that may be of interest.
The fire made most brilliant light after
it had burned an hour or two, and as 1t
proceeded, it increased until the whole city
seemed the scene of grand illumination.
From 10 O'Clock on the evening of the
4th till o'clock on the morning of the
5th, the flames ragged the iercest, and pre-
Bented a spectacle never bsfore witnessed
in the United States for magnitude and
brilliancy. At about 10 o'clock the col
lossal building known as Woods Hotel was
one sheet of flame, and at the same time
over three hundred buildings were en-
wrapped with the flames scene that can
not be expressed in words. Between the
hours above mentioned the fire ragged with
the greatest fury, and apparently possessed
the irresistible power of an East Indian
cyclone. On the belt Of land burned, with
here and there wooden building which
was miraculously preserved from the flames,
not piece of wood the size of a crowbar
can be found. Chimneys, corners of walls,
here and there piles of brick and mortar,
and the charred remnants Of the once ma
jestic ems are all that can be seen for the
space of a mile and half in length and
one-third as wide.
The summary manner In which people
were obliged to leave their homes has been
sufficiently described. Yesterday people
that had been rendered homeless were in
houses, open fields, and in tents, barns and
anywhere that offered them space to watch
their little stock ofgoods. Some, noticed,
had saved hoop skirt and stove, others
tin dipper and a couple of chairs, tea
kettle and pair of parIor pictures, wash
stand and boots, and all such miscellaneous
collections in small quantities. Pianos
were numerous, and quite number of
families saved their pianos and cat. One
man worth in the morning over $4,000,
pulled pair of his wife's boots out of his
pocket and said twas all he had saved"
. The scene presented yesterday at the
Old City Hall, where the rations are dis
tributed, is worthy of note. Here all day
long were men, women and children.
Americans, Germans and Irish, all huddled
together, each awaiting their food which
had been sent from various quarters, and
which they received with hearty thanks
and joyful countenances. 1t would have
rejoiced the hearts Of the generous donors
to have witnessed the homeless sufferers
receive the food that had been sent from
stores Of plenty. 1t may be we'll 10 state
in this connection that there is a plentiful
supply Of food, and what is most needed is
money and building material.
Many of the families in Westbrook have
taken in sufferers with their furniture, and
have sent large quantities of food. Isaac
Sylvester, Esq, and many of the leading
citizens there have worked nobly. Yester
day an American merchant came privately
TO the police and asked for assistance for
his suffering family, he having lost all, and
was ashamed to be seen begging. Several,
| understand, have like scruples, and are
obtaining food through the police.
A prominent member of the fire depart
ment for twenty-five years resident here,
Informed me yesterday that he believed
the fire could have been checked at the
sugar house if wooden building on the
corner Of Centre and Fore streets had been
blown up. The houses that were thus
dealt with numbered about forty. The
occupants were allowed just time in some
instances to get their families out in safety,
when up went the building.
All the German families in Portland,
with three exceptions, were rendered house
less and homeless by the fire. They are
a social people, and had concentrated in one
part of the city.
The new City Hall, which was neasly
destroyed, the front walls alone remaining
standing, considered fire proof, was a most
magnificent structure. The facade, of No
va Scotia freestone, was IT'S feet, and the
extreme depth on Myrtle street was 275.
1t was surmounted with an elegant dome,
and the principal hall has been pronounced
cne of the finest in the country BY Beecher.
The hall was built to ultimately accommo-
date the State Legislature and State Off
cials. The amount of furniture placed
therein for safe keeping, and which was
all burned is e8timaten at quarter of a
million.
A steam fre-engine arrived from Saco
on special train, and in forty minutes
from the time they received a telegram in
Saco had stream on the burning buildings.
The newspapers being all burnt out, the
people were obliged to wait for the Boston
papers to obtain the particulars of the fire,
which was rather a remarkable circum
stance. The local papers here issued ex-
tras, but not till copies of Boston papers
had been received. Yesterday the demand
for papers from Boston was great. and sev-