The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-07-17
Great Fire at Portland,

Great Fire at Portland.
The fire IN Portland, Me, on the lib,
was the most destructive that ever oc-
cured in New England And i al or
iginated from fire-cracker which ign.-
ted somo shayings, ana from the latter
d high wind carried the fire toa cooper'a
shop nenr by The adjoining buildings
were soon seized by the dcyouring ele-
ment, and tho fumes speedily passed
beyond all control, An eyewitness Of
the conhagration, gave to tho Boston
Jouaal the following particulars
"The fire commenced about half past
four Wednesday afternoon ia small
cooper shop Oh Commercial street, in
the rear Of Browns largo Rlghr house.
After burning the foundry and small
shops in its vicinity, il destroyed the
planning mil Of Littleheld & Wilson,
Cpliams -four establishment and
Browns sugar home. Crossing Fore
street il took in it's path several wooden
buildings, and tie large storehouso be-
longing to Browns sugar house. 1t
then continued down Commercial street,
destroying Richardson's f@undly and
iron shop and several wooden buildings,
up through Fore street extending down
both sides Of the street. II ran up
Centre and Cotton streets to Gross
street. from Cross street it took Wins
lows machine shop, following on both
sides Of Union street up to Middle street
extending down Middle and Fore streets
to Exchange street. ii devoured eyory-
thing IN its path from Union to EX-
change and Lime streets taking III its
progress Woods large hotel, taking IN
/ Willow and Deer streets, nearly down
on the south side Of Middle street, to
4 India street. II crossed Middle street
at Cross, running down the lattcratreet
and sweeping away everything to Mont
! ioy's nll. Still on ia q northerly direc-
4 ton it went through from Middle street
4 to Cumberland street, destroying every
thing on that street TO Montjoy's hill
Ii also extended down many other
streets running at right angles with
4 Cumberland street to the north.
The above is a general outline of the
path taken by tho deyouring element
Us furnished by our infomer. lie es-
Inmates that it was over a mile in length
and about one-fourth Of mile in width
This whole area now presents to the
eve nothing but one vast forest ofchim-
news, the fury Of the flames famed by
the strong sJuthcrly wind beng SO
great that everything coiabuahble wa'
swallowed up ia is path.
In the yicinity Of tae spot where The
fire originated thefe were nothing bat
dry wooden buildings which furnished
the best possible food for tine flames
and tile watcr, of which, unfortunately
there was a scarcity had no effect what
ever upon it.
The fire was not got under ayUae
until about g'ci0ea oa til 44y HaS W
the 5th, aHd at IL o'cioca, the tAe O
the departure Of thls gentleman anum
Der Of buildings were SSH burning.
4 Very little was done il aid of Use sal
frers, 50 general was the loss.
I The suffering 81 those thus tmlcl
out II doors is increased by the fac
that for long time houses have ny
been ia proportion with the population
Of the cts, and hundreds Of iamllc
cannot by amy poasib.Aty be sheltered
Nearly ali the provision stores were
q troyed and this render il very din
cult 10 procure the necesaries ot hie
50 that il is absolutely necessary thu
they should be- sent from other places
Thousands II persons, male and r.
male. arc thrown ont oi employment
many Of whom lost their tools and i .
feared that ia many instances th1l
employers have lost all their property
aud May not BIZ able e pay them VIM
may have been due 70 them.
fhe scene when the fac Was AZ ~
hight was one Of fearful terror 1h'
flames famed b. tho high wind leapcl
madly from building 70 bulldlng, soine
times Overlapping low buildings ane
seziug upon some high one beyonf
them and then. as II jealous that thcL
4 olating work should not be complete
sarnng backward aud weeplng away
- ia : rnemsHt. those which they hs/