Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-11
THREE STEAMERS BURNED IN THE
hARB0R
The Grand Trunk Elevator In
Ashes!
Large Destruction of Grain,
MOsasses, Flour, &c.
LOSS 100000!
PORTLAND, August Q


freight sheds on Calls wharf are on fire, and
the fire has spread to the freight sheds OF the
Boston steamers on Atlantic wharf. The
alarm has bat just sounded. The Dirigo is
of the New York line.
$50. The fire has spread to and burned
the elevator on Galt's wharf, with several
thousand bushels of grain. The steamer
| Montreal, Of the Boston line, is burned.
Most OF the freight in the freight sheds was
got out. Five hundred tons of coal on Calls
wharf is also burning.
The fire took in the New York freight shed
in pile of excelsior close to the Dirigo, and
the boat was almost instantly in flames; in
half an hour she would have been discharged.
A large amount of freight in the storehouse
was destroyed. The Dirigo cost one hundred
thousand dollars in 1866. There is some fire
| insurance on her. The fire came across At
lantic dock into the Boston freight shed so
! suddenly, that the men on the lower part OF
the wharf had to jump overheard, as well as
those on board the steamers. The dock was
full of swimmers for a few minutes, until
picked up by small boats. There Is boat
| floating at this time bottom up in the middle
of the harbor, with a man on it, and several
boats are putting out to rescue him. S25, 900
insurance is reported on the Montreal; value
| $3.50, 900 The elevator had about 10000
| bushels corn and oats; it was built strongly
| of wood, sheathed with iron, and with its con-
tents was worth probably $4,000 The
Charlotte is worth about $50, 600 her iron hull
cannot burn. The store houses on Atlantic
wharf had large amount of sugar, fish,
canned goods and merchandise, discharged by
the Falmouth this morning; though consid-
cradle Of her freight had been taken away.
There was also large amount of flour in
barrels for her return cargo to Halifax. The
Montreal had just discharged. Her city
! freight was mostly out; the country freight
were considerably destroyed. There was a
considerable amount of stores and baggage in
the shed, which was all burned also cargo
Of coal just discharging from barque, which
hauled clear. though her foremost got on fire.
| The fire is now checked, and the buildings on
the two wharyes are now smouldering. Down
the harbor beyond the breakwater lie the
three steamers in flames. The Montreal is
burning its whole length. The Dirigo lies
stern toward US and is apparently burning
| fore and aft. The Charlotte is burning from
stern TO midship.
| 80. The steamer Falmouth hauled clear,
! and getting up sail, lowed safely down the
| harbor. The Montreal in trying to do the
same, drifted alongside the Dirgo, which was
adrit, owing to her fas,eninss having burned,
, and was soon wrapt in flames. She is now
anchored off Bug Light, burning down.
| The Chase and the Forest City got clear.
The Charlotte is burning on the middle
ground where also lies the wreck of the
Dirigo In flames. The s,ewarless of the
Montreal is reported drowned by jumping
overheard. Other reports say she was stew
ardess of the Dirigo. The Charlotte hauled
off and saved all buildings. The Montreal is
anchored off Bug Light. The Falmouth is
clear, as is the Chase and Forest City. The
Dirgo is on middle ground, and the Chariot
| Ia is still burning.
All the buildings on Atlantic wharf, which
is the Boston boat wharf, are swept off. The
Grand Trunk freight depot adjoining is in
danger, and freight train has just moved out
the goods, but it is hoped it will be saved.
The fire department is working to best adj
vantage. Engines have been telegraphed for
from several places.
5 80 z. M.-The fire is completely under
control. The engines are playing upon the
heaps of ruins and the burning piles of the
wharves. Away down the harbor, below the
breakwater, lie the wrecks of the burning
steamers, the iron steamer Charlotte still burn
ing, brig, and the Montreal and Dirigo burned
down TO the waters edge. The fire did not
spread beyond the two wharyes, Gait and At
lantic. There are rumors of several people
being drowned. Only one body has been
found that of Nellie Mccarthy, a girl of
twenty, who was cleaning up on board the
Dirigo. The s;ewardess OF the Dirigo, Mrs.
Elizabeth Miller, who has husband in New
York, and her little daughter, Mary Louisa,
aged II, are missing, but many have been
rescued. Their friends are anxiously seek
ing for them.
G 80 p. But very uncertain estimate
can be made of the losses at present. The
Montreal was worth not less than $4,000
and insured for S25, 900, five thousand dollars
in each of the following companies The In
surance Company of North American, at Phil
ladelphia; Phoenix; Continental; Imperial, of
London; and Springfield. The Dirigo was
worth 100000 Insured for $G5, 900 as fol-
lows: ten thousand dollars each in Home, of
New York, and Etna, of Hartford; five thous-
ans dollars each in the Insurance Company
of North America, Manhattan, Bangor, Ger
man, American, Exchange, Continental,
Springfield, Commercial, Union of London,
and Trademarks Companies. The Char
lotta worth about $50, 900. Insured for
S20,000 as follows; five thousand dollars
each in the North British, Fireman's Fund,
Springfield, and London.
The Elevator was owned by the Portland
Grain Warehouse Company, which is control
| led by Sir Alexander Gait of Montreal. 1t
was probably worth ninety to one hundred
thousand dollars, and supposed to be insured
in Foreign Companies. 1t was leased to the
Grand Trunk Railroad, and contained forty
thousand bushels OF corn and oats, valued
at twenty-five thousand dollars. ! learn Of
five thousand dollars insurance on the grain;
twenty-five hundred in the Girard, and TWEEN
ty-tive hundred in the Merchants. There
may be more. All the buildings on Calls
Wharf were owned by the Grain Company or
Mr.. Gait, and leased TO the Grand Trunk,
who under let them to the Maine Steamship
Company. Insurance unknown, loss not
great. l can get no reliable estimate of the
New York freight on Gait Wharf; it was in
sured for twenty.three thousand dollars a.
follows: Five thousand dollars each in the
Franklin and North British; three thousand
dollars in the Manufacturers Boston; TWEEN
t ty.five hundred each in the Home, .Etna,
, Manhattan, and Insurance Company of North
America. The buildings on Atlantic Wharf
were not valuable. The amount of Boston
freight is not ascerlained. 1t was insured for
81 500 in the Royal, and $4,000 in the Com
mercial Union. The Steam Packet Co. lose
one thousand tons of coal, valued at $1,000 !;
r insured for $1,000, in the Imperial; also,
one hundred cords OF wood. The Halifax