The Portland daily press., 1872-06-08

of Portland upon the grand success of the first
meeting of the campaign and declared the
meeting adjourned. 1t was then almost II
o'clock
FIRE AT THE UNITED STATES HOTEL
About half past 6 o'clock yesterday morning
the inmates of the United States Hotel were
startled by the shock Of an explosion which was
sensibly felt all over the house, followed by
cry of fire from the boarders who occupied the
rooms on the upper floor. The engines respond
ed to the alarm with commendable promptness,
although on account of the accident to the
First Parish bell the signals were not generally
heard. The fire was found to be in the attic,
and the fremen quickly extinguished it, but
the floors below were flooded, saturating the
rooms below, the water running down through
the ceilings and wetting every thing do wn to
the basement. The furniture, bedding and
carpets in more than half the house were
drenched, and many of the boarders incurred
losses from the water Part of the roof was
burned off, and the fire was confined to the at
TIC The boarders who were still in bed were
awakened by the shock, and some who slept
In the vicinity of the fire say that the explosion
tore the plastering from the sides and ceilings
of their rooms and some partitions were forced
out of place in the fourth story The rooms
presented nasty appearance afterwards-car-
pets and beds thoroughly wet and blackened
with smoke and cinders.
1t is supposed the fire originated in spontane-
GUS combustion. The rubbish of years had &C.
cumulated in the close attic-oil-cloths, con-
demned bedding, &c.-and the heat from the
chimney, added to the damp atmosphere of the
last few days soon generated fire, and the ex-
plosion followed. The United States Hotel
was about fifty years old. Originally established
as the Washington Hotel, it afterwards became
the Cumberland House, and about thirty years
ago it took represent name. 1t has been remod-
eled and enlarged several times. and the owner
We understand, was about closing a contract
for complete renovation and further enlarge
ment at an expense of $4,000. 1t is owned by
John w. Lane, ESQ.,, of Hollis, and for about
six months had been kept by David N. Cush-
man. 1t is impossible to estimate the amount
OF damage; some setting it as high as $4,000.
Many of the boarders suffer loss. There was
insurance of $40, 900 on the building in the fol-
lowing offices: Narragansett, $4,000; Union of
San Francisco, $4,000; Merchants of Provi-
dence, $250O; Connecticut Mutual, $4,000; Union,
Baltimore $2500. There was an insurance of
$500 in the Phenix of Hartford on
the lease. On the furniture, stock,
&C., there was $4,000 insurance; $4,000
in the Imperial; $500 in the Han
over, New York; $500 in the Connecticut Mu-
tual; $1,000 in the International, New York;
$4,000 in the National, Bangor; and $500 In the
Hoffman, New York. Mr.. Cushman has an
insurance of $500 on his private property
Mr.. Cushman very handsomely remembered
the services of the firemen by giving them a
good breakfast after the work was done. All
the boarders have removed to other quarters
and the house is closed for repairs.
In the -.stores under the hotel Misses East
man & Cults, milliners, think their insurance
will not cover their loss as their stock was ru-
ined by water. Insured for $500, with Dow
Coffin & Libby and w. H. Foye. Mr.. Fonseca,
tobacconist, and Mrs. Dam, mlliner, have not
estimated their loss. The latter had an insur-
ance of $1,000 with Loring & Thurston. :.
PROF TRIP delivered in Fluent Hall last
evening the fifth of his descriptive series in
Portland. The subject for the evening was,
1.-THE Causes of the Franco-Prussian war and
the defeat of Napoleon" We will not attempt
even an outline of this lecture, except to say
that it was a comprehensive and exhaustive
treatment of the political influence that culmi-
mated in the late struggle between France and
Germany, and commended the close attention
of the intelligent audience throughout.
The last and concluding lec.lre will be deliv-
ed this Saturday evening on Lamartine, the
poet-orator t.
ACCIDENT. Yesterday noon John McDuffee,
employed on the pile driver at the Boston and
Maine railroad bridge, fell from the top of the
driver to the deck, distance of twenty feet
and was taken up insensible. He soon recov-
cred consciousness and was taken to his home
on Clark street, when DIR. Ludwig was called
to attend him. He received two very severe
wounds on the face, and it was feared that
there are serious internal injuries.
G Cape Elizabeth.
Messrs. Kennedy of Knghtville, have rebuilt
the wharf attached to the Oxnard Mill, Law
renee Cove, Cape Elizabeth, and will erect a
building thereon for storage of Superph os-
phate, which they intend to begin the manu-
facture of about the LIST of September Mr.. La
pin will retain the part of the mill devoted to
corn. The first mill built on this privilege was
commenced in 1727 and finished in 1928, by
John Sawyer and Benjamin York, who were
granted 100 acres as an incentive. They built
both saw and grist MILL A pine log used in
the foundation for the dam at that time can
now be seen, sound as a nut. Five mills have
been burned on this spot.
The benefits of the stoppage of the sale of
rum in Portland can be seen in this town. A
farmer who went into town every day now goes
in only once week and comes out sober For
the last ten years he has never exceeded three
fourths of an acre planted this year he has
three acres planted, and four sowed down to
grain; his fences are put up and he snapped off
an old rack of bones of horse and has a
good one.
Every morning when 1 go over to market
Isee one of your rumseller's teams delivering
jugs to his customers. The teamster says he
furnishes about forty places regular
This district has 2S3 persons. who draw school
money; eight are married ladies under 30 years
of ago; two married men under 81 There are
three persons between the age of 10 and 80 who
cannot read; one family of seven children who
do not attend school and another of four for
the reason that they have not decent clothing.
The Brewery of Mr. McLangin is engaged in
the manufacture of ale for sale out of the State
and the demand is fully up to the capacity of
| the works.
The farmers nearly through planting.
The fruit trees bl,ssomed we'll and the indca-
l