The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-26
still more biudjnc

the smoke came rolling In. hot, yellow and
still more binding
In many cases citizens going home We're
dashed against fences or buildings when caught
/ in sudden squall. So nervous did many be-
come at the terrible aspect o: affairs that they
sat up all night, having plenty to do to get pure
AR to breathe. To the ladies the scene was
very terrific and the effects of the smoke was
particularly painful.
La the townships of Gloucester, Nepean and
ttzroy the fire rOared on before the fierce gale
| devouriog barns, stables and no Uses, and Gag
| erly seized on small cOpses or woods, which
| were instantly snapped up. In Gloucester,
| wall of fire ten miles in extent roared on,
| while in the township of FitzrOy line Of seven
| miles was in blaze. The &C lntry people, ter
rer stricken, few about from house to house.
| almost powerless from fear, and exhausted from
exertiop. No sooner did they arrive at one
place, and before they could tell their tale of
suffering, they would be compelled to fly again,
accompanied by the occupants of the house.
The roar ct the fire, said one who heard it, was
terrible. AT an early hour people began to
flock in, and at present there ale large num-
Der of SUITE rers in the city.
La the township of March, Hugh Parker and
his family had to rush into the river to save
themselves.
The stages in almost eyery direction were
stopped by the fire; it was impossible for them
10 make way. The stake driver from Paken
ham was overtaken in March and had to stop,
tue horses refusing to go on. He remained on
the read AL night watchng his horses and look
ing after his own safety. The ire passed so
CLOSE! to him that his horses were singed and
ms hands severely burned. Numerous other
escapes were made, but we did not learn the
particulars
About IL O'clock last-nght two gentlemen
arrived from Bells Corners, and gave it as
their opinion from the appec rance and position
OF the IRE IN that-quarter when they left it,
that the village either had been destroyed or
would certainly be in very short time.
HIn Ill matt =
neighborbood, unfortr nately attended with
loss of life. Mrs. Hardy of Goulburu, and
Robert Grant of the same place, were both
burned to death. Particulars of this calamity
have not been learnt. A man in the township
OF March also met his death from the flames.
1t is rumored that woman and child were
burned in TempletOn. It will be we'll if more
lives are not lost
A gentleman who came in from Bells Cor
ners ABOUT an hour ago says that on the Rich
mond road there are two thousand persons
homeless and without any sustenance but
what they can pick up. A number are MAX
ing their way to this city. Their consterna-
tion and griefis great.
The fire did actually penetrate iE o the city
the night before last, in the direction of the
Sherwood property, and it was only through
the heroic exertions Of the inhabitants of that
district that the fire was Kept from spreading.
Mr. Sherwood and his family turned out, and
worked as hard as anyone could to STAY the
fames. Detective o Mel, and a. sqpad of po-
licemen were also hard at work the greater
part of the night, and hard work they had So
after all the fire was nearer to us than we
thought
During the evening, people from the burnt
districts continued to flock int) the city.
Many had been without food for nearly TWEEN
ty-four hours.
The city from the rrecaution and measures
taken, was declared during the evening to be
safe from the fires in the neighborhood, and
even the timid went to sleep with feeling of
security. AT the Chaukiere a sharp lookout
was kept, and the large hydraulic pumps of
the mills were kept constantly going and the
hose from them laid in every direction. The
arrangements were timely and perfect
The fires still went on their way through the
different townships lighting up the murky at
mosphere, and they will continue to do so un-
til heavy rains put an end to their progress
Although surror nded by raging fires of i'm
mense extent, the city last night Was safe.