The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-12-27


Harry NEW YEAR TO ALL.
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THE PORTLAND FIRE.-About ii
O'Clock on Sunday morning, three
quick taps Of the fire bell startled the
good citizens Of this burg. and caused
a general rush from all quarters to the
engine house to inquire the cause. Mr..
Jos. Webber, Foreman Of Albany No.
l, had received 4 telegram from Chief
Engineer Williams, of Portland, ask
ing assistance to quell terrible fire
then raging in Portland. With his
usual energy and readiness to answer
all calls made upon him as o fireman,
30. went for bis engine, and in a
very tew minutes after the taps from
the bell sounding the alarm, the
S.One4ers'' we're on their way with
their engine for the railroad depot
The engine was placed upon a car In a
fifty, and away went the train, the
Conductor assuring everybody before
starting that he would make Portland
in an hour and half. Immediately
after the departure ofthe train. a gen.
cral rush was made for the telegraph
Office to find out how matters stood in
Portland. Those who had heard tele-
grams read. and knew whereof
they spoke. confidently asserted that
the fire started In Ave blocks 1t one
and the same time. and that, as high
winds were prevailing, nothing short
OF miracle would save the city--that
the entire city would soon be . mass
of smoking ruins. 1t was also asserted
that. amid the lesOlati0n and devasta-
ton created BY the red-tongaed fire.
fiend. and while property was being
destroyed by millions, robbery and
murder aud red-liantled crime pervad-
ed every portion Of the city-that
from three hunlredtO five hundred San
Francisco thieves and cut-tllroats. well
armed and organized, had possession
of the city. and her citizens were pow
erless to preserve order or ave their
property. The excitement had reached
Its highest pitch. when telegram wAs
received from salem. to the effect that
the train from this city had reached
there safely. after run Of thirty min
utes; that they were met there with a
telegram from Portland that the fire
was confined to three blocks. and was
then under control. This alIayed the
excitement here to considerable ex-
tent, yet great anxiety was manifested
by our citizens to know how tie fire
originated. and what blocks or portion
Of the city had been or were then
burning. Abont four O'Clock, affer
persistent enquiry, 1t was positively
announced that the west side Of two
blocks only were burned, namely !;
commencing at the Occidental hotel.
on corner of Morrison aid First streets,
and nmiling thence 'lOwn First to
Washington street aud with this In
formation we were hrced to cOntent
ourselves Rillll The arrival Of tile noon
train on Monday. Between stxty and
seventy frpme1 and citizens accom-
panied our fire engine to Portland,
where they were well received and
well cared fOh
ORIGIN AMP ExTEHT or pilE TIRE.
The fire originated IN The rear Of
Chinese wash house OIl river side Of
Front street. near Morrison street
wharf. The ChInameu we're boiling
tar to- esalk the iiOOr Of tllriF house,
to n.ake Il carrx OG water " the rcar.
A kettle "a tap was spilled. the con-
tents took asp. and tblla started tlle
great coDfagEatlon. The alarm was
Sounded about lEalF past nllW :. n.
The fire department was promptly ont
but their efforts 70 stay the IRE were