Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-07-13
Terrible Fire at Portland.
A Great Calamity and Loss of Liie-Fiftecn
Million Dollars Of Property Destroyed.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE BURNT OUT
--INCIDENTALs.

ut tuOSt ulSuSlipuS Wh'Nh WV w
cured in America, in proportion to the
size of the place, took place in Portland,
Maine, on the afternoon of the Fourth Of
July,--oaused by fire crackers. The city
contained 10000 inhabitants, one half of
whom were burnt out in the conlagration.
1t is estimated that over 20c0 buildings
were burnt. The track of the fire was
over mile in length, aud one fourth of a
mile in width. Fifteen hundred tents
have been procured for the use of the
thousands of houseless people who are
now living in them. The people of Bos'
ton, New York, Worcester and other cit
les have most promptly responded and
sent to the sufferers provisions, clothing,
beds and bedding. In Boston over $4,000
in money was raised for them within two
hours after they got the news of the great
calamity to their sister city. In fact the
fire had not ceased its fury when this char
liable work began. Since that time Bos-
ton has alone raised nearly $4,000
Some of the particulars and incidents
of the fire win be Of interest to the gene
raj reader, and we collect from various
sources the following:
All the newspaper offices in the city
were destroyed. Also all the banks, law
yer's Offices, and eight churches The
burnt district is some three hundred acres.
There was q strong wind prevailing at
the time, and all the principal streets were
destroyed except Commercial street next
to the wharf or sea shore.
The scene when the fire was at its
hight was one of fearful terror. The
flames, famed by the high wind, leaped
madly from building 10 building, some
times overlapping low buildings and seiz-
ing upon some high one beyond them, and
then, as if jealous that their desolating
work should not be complete, ssrging
backward and sweeping away, as in a mo-
men', those which they had before over
leaped. The air was filled with live Goals,
and shingles and other fragments, like de-
vastating torches, were borne onward TO
blocks beyond the present boundaries Of
the confagraiion, and thus hurried on its
ravages with fearful rapidity. The occu-
pants of houses in its line of progress, see
ing that their houses were sure to be de-
your ed, moved their furniture to places
beyond which they believed it could reach,
only to have TO move it again, and in many
instances to find ii at last consumed by the
flames. Such was the extent of the fire
that the firemen were almost powerless.-
While they were CALAMITY fighting it ir
one direction it held almost undisputet
sway in others. The firemen doubles:
did all they could, but they were power
less before such tornado of fire and
flame. The people behaved well, labor
ing with every energy to aid the fremen,
or to rescue the goods of those whose res
licences lay in the course of the fire
Buildings were torn down and blown up
far in advance of the fire, but the flames
would overleap the chasms thus made and
go on with increased force TO further con-
quests.
The population of the city by the last
census is about 10000, and $4,000 of
these are now without shelter, many with
out clothing, and AL nearly pennifess.-
The fortunes acquired by years of toll and
industry have been swept away in few
hours. The valuation of the city was
thirty millions, and now it is reduced TO
about fifteen millions. The report that
one half the city is in ruins was no exag-
geration of facts. Not less than fifteen
hundred fine buildings have been DESTROY
ed, and half as many more structures of
smaller size are laid in ashes. Generally
whole streets were destroyed. There
were however some curious exceptions
In some places dozen or more large
brick buildings, seemingly fire. proof, would
be burned down, and small wooden
structure in the midst of the flames would
escape unframed. The city hall building
which Was among the most valuable burn.
ed, contained the Probate court room.
| which was believed to be proof agains,
any fire, but when the doors were opened
/ all the records were found to be destroye
One Of the greatest disasters to the
beauty of what was well known as the
forest city" has been the complete des.
! iruction Of the beautiful shade trees which
] lined most of the streets through which
the flames spread. Some of them wer,
of fifty and sixty years growth and were
the most ancient landmarks in the city.
As usual in such places villains were
discovered plundering and measures were
taken TO guard against them. A despatch
from Portland says:
There were some cases of extortion b,
teamsters anil hackmen. One man paid s