The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-12
Disastrous Fire at Portland,
Me.-One-EEaIf the City Des-
lFOyed.

Disastrous Fire at Portland,
Me.-One-IIaIf the City Des-
trOyed.
PORTLAND, Me-, July 5-A most
disastrous fire occurred here last even
ing, which completely swept through
the city from the foot of High street to
North street, destroying everything in
its track so completely that the line of
the streets can hardly be traced, and
space of ! miles long by quarter ola
mile wide, appears like forest of chin
neys with fragments of walls attached to
them. The wind was blowing gale
from the south, and tremendous sheet
of fame swept along before it, dcyour-
ing everything in its progress.
Many buildings, perhaps fifty, were
blown up to check the flames. The
Custom House, being fire proof, escaped
though greatly damaged. The Court
records in the upper story are probably
destroyed.
The splendid city and county build
ing on Congress street, although nearly
FIRE proof, was swept away, with all its
contents. Half the city is destroyed,
and that half including nearly all the
business portion, excepting the heavy
business in Commercial street.
All the banks and newspaper Offices
are burned, and but three printing Off
ces are left. The jewelry establish
ments are also burned.
Captain lnman has telegEaphed for
fifteen hundred tents 20 accommodate
the homeless inhabitants. 1t is almost
impossible totellwhoro the people lived i,
the destruction is so complete
The store of Mcssrs. Emery 4 Water
house, hardware dealers, on Middle
street, was singularly passed by the
sheet Of flame aud left unseathed,
though everything was swept on each
side.
The Portland Society Of Natural His.
tory lost their valuable collection.
IL is estimated that two thousand
buildings are burned, aud the property
destroyed valued at $40 600 600 proba-
bly, insured for about half the amount.
The State valuation was s2a 900 900,
aud the real valuation must therefore
be- over $50. 600 900, full ouc-thrd Of
which must have been destroyed .--
Nothing can be done in the city to-day
except to take care of the homeless aud
that is actively being done The Gre
men from abroad worked nobly The
churches and many other cdihccs have
been thrown open for the homeless aud
committees have bccn appointed to re.
icvc the distressed
For some hours communication vas
cut on between the trout and rear Of
the city except by over a mile journey
around The flames are still trouble
some 10 some quarters, and are working
down into the ucighbofhood Of the Gus.
tom House badly. Almost I'll the hose
aud engines ia the city are used up.
Ncsyrs John b. Brown & Sons lose
at least million insured for about
ono half
The great Gfc AZ Portland, in Maine
o. the Sch, by which two thousand bull.
dogs aud 10000 900 worth Of proper.
Is wcre destroyed, out Of an aggregate
oi $50 .G0J 900. Is ono Of those fearful
violations which happily occur only at
very long Intervals
Portland Is situated upou a peninsula
on caseo Bay, sbjch j. some three miles
lous The breadth IL less than one.
ihlrl af this distance. The hatbor ia
good, and being seldom ob.tructcd by
lec. has bcon the winter port Of the
Canadian steamers The city bad some
thirty churches The city hall cost
$50 uOp There we're maay other Guc
building. nod eleven newspapers there
Five VI sis railroads enter the place
Further Particulars.
The great Gre d, Portland Me, il
nnw appears, owed its origin 10 au In
dia cracker that exploded ia heap Of
shayings behind a cDopcr's shop
When the flames had gained full
bradaay, the single aim Of the owners
Of property was TO remove all 1bcir
available goods LOWS, Rollins & Bond
tho hea, icst cloihicr in the city, offer
ed a draymau a thousand dollars fortbc
use Of hiss team, aud vas refused The
carter, were making from fifty to Gsc
hundred dollars an hour, aud even at
this rate there were few TO be had.
Ono Of the saddc.tfclturcs Of the fire
was iha, il swept over a district which
was burI.d last iill, aud had just been
rebuilt. many Of the new houses being
costly and elegant, The fine Gins,
which had given 10 Portland she name
Of the flores, City" wore all charrcd
aud killed Several stocks Of goods Of
tho value Of from $500 900 TO $500, 900
were destroyed
Nearly five thousand women aud chill.
drcn. without homes, many but half.
clothed, took refuge 10 the Grand Trunk
depot The spectacle Of their distress
is said to have been heartrending-
Large numbers Of persons also occupied
tents on Munjoy's lin, with hoop.skirts,
chairs, stoves. bedsieads, aud ali dcscrip-
lions Of household paraphorualia bun
died together promiscnously.
------s - -
Charge of Larceny.