Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-07-13
Destructive Fire in Portland Maine
1000 Houses Burned and $40, 1000
600 Worth of Property Destroyed.
OPSA " DOStAoJ0d
PORTLAND. July

PORTLAND, July D.
The fire has completely swept through
the city from the foot of High street to
North street on MuHjoy, destroying every
thing in its track so completely that the
lines Of the streets can hardly be traced, and
a space one and half miles long by quar-
ter OF mile wide appears like forest Of
chlmneys with fragments of wall attached
to them
The wind was blowing a gale from the
south and tremendous sheet of fame
swept along before it, devouring everything
IN its passage and the utmost exertions of
the tiremen, aided by steamer and band
OF engineers from several other places could
only succeed in preventing it from spreading
in new directions. Many buildings, perhaps
fifty, were blown up to check the flames, but
the inhabitants could scarcely do more than
fee with their families to the upper part of
the city saving such goods as they could
carry with them though every vehicle In the
city was employed with excellent effect in
moving goods. 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 buildings on
| Congress street which were nearly fireproof,
were considered safe and were piled full OF
furniture by the neighboring residents and
| they were swept away with all their contents
Half the city is destroyed and that hall
including nearly all the business portion ex-
| ceptthe heavy business in Commercial street.
| The fire commenced a little below the foot
| OF High street in boot shop. It next
| burned Upham' Touring mill and Brown $
! segarhouse, with all its surroundings: then
| Staples d Son S and Richardson foundries
and nothing else on Commercial street OF
| consequence. 1t next swept what is called
Graham s corner, composed of smaller
| wooden buildings clean. 1t then burned up
| as tar as the old Narnum house on Pleasant
street, one third the way up Centre street,
and half the way up Cotton street.
1t also completely burned up Cross street,
| Union street. Temple street and Exchange
street. 1t swept lower on the northerly side
| OF Fore street to India street in the east
! while on the west it moved along diagonally
| across Middle street and down to Cumber-
! land taking the Elm House, but sparing the
First Parish Church. Then from Chestnut
! street 1t made clean sweep on the southerlv
side of Cumberland street and the same was
| the case with Congress street and everything
else TO Fore street as far east as Garden
street
All the banks are gone and all the news
paper Offices only three printing Offices be-
ing left Also all the jewelry establishments,
all the whosesale dry goods stores, several
| churches, the telegraph Offices nearly all the
stationery stores and the majority of the
business places are destroyed.
Captaln Inmah has telegraphed for SOC
tents to accommodate the houseless inhabit-
| ants 1t Is almost impossible to tell where
the people lived the ruin and destruction is
50 complete.
1t is estimated that about 1000 buildings
are burned and property destroyed to the
amount of len millions Of dollars, which is
probably insured about one half The State
valuation of the city property was SOS, 600,
600 and the real valuation must be over $50,
| 000,0Q0 Fully one third must have been de-
| stroyed. Nothing can be done in the city
| today except to take care of the homeless,
and that is actively being done. Every
body 5 latch string hangs out and cheerful
and buoyant feeling prevails. There was
no confusion or struggle during the fire.
Every one was courteous and kind and
all worked earnestly together The fire
men from abroad worked nobly aud assis-
ted greatly in saving property. The chur-
ches and many other edifices are thrown
open for the houseless, and committees
are appointed to relieve the distressed.
For some hours during the conhagration
communication was cut off between the
front and back OF the city except by over
a mile iOurney around