The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-11

The Carlotta which lay in the slip between the
two wllarves was cast off aud sent out to es-
cape the danger. AS she came out of the slip
tho Dirigo and the Montreal in fiery embrace,
hoated past her bows. The flames caught her
rigging and in a few moments she too became
entangled with the burning mass All this
time land it was very shorty, the crew of the
Dirigo were fioundering about in the water
with never boat of the many in the harbor
offering to assist The water was dotted with
heads. Every few moments some poor unfor-
tunate would throw up his arms, give his death
shrek and sink for the last time. After
while some boats induced by promises and
compelled by threats, put out to their relief
aud all but five of the sixteen struggling
wretches were rescued. For many minutes
there were no tugs to be seen in the harbor.
At the very beginning Of the oonaagration the
Gazelle had started on her island trip. All
about her were the foundering crew of the
Dirigo. Just to her left were the steamers in
extremity for want of a tug. The passengers
of the Gazelle clustered around her captain
and implored him to make efforts to save the
drowning men and burning boats. The cap
tain refused fand like the Levite passed by on
the other side. 1t is not our province to pass
judgement upon Captain Sands. The indigna
ton expressed by the citizens Saturday night
was most emphatic. In marked contrast to
the course of Capt. Sands was that of Capt
Oliver, of the Express. At the time the flre
broke out, he and his steamer were at the
islands. He Immediately steamed up tne mar
Dor, discharged his passengers and went 10 tne
rescue.
The burning steamers floated out into the
stream, became separated'.an drifted down the
harbor. The Drigo and the Carlotta drifted
about Bug Light for time and then swept
round to the further side of the breakwater.
There the Blue Light, Prof. hBaird's tug, fast
ened on to fthe Carlotta and towed her up by
Cushing's point. The Dirigo went in to Spring
Point LEDGE where she soon sunk. The Mon
treal drifted out to sea, but was taken in
charge Of by the Express, and beached on
Cushings island.
The scene in the harbor was appalling. The
vessels which lay at the burning wharves put
out into the harbor, where they had much diff
Guilty in escaping the fire-ship. The Magnet
attached herself to tile Forest City, but was
scarcely able to hold her and at one time she
narrowly escaped contact with the Dirigo The
barque Gertrude, the bowsprit RIGGING of which
had caught fire, was taken safely out by Capt.
Chase, who displayed great skill and clear
headedness in the manoevure A Boston three
masted schooner followed the Forest City out
of the slip and anchored up Fore River.
Behind her were two other vessels.
1850. ON THE LAND.
While this scene was transpiring in the har-
bor the flames were leaping from building to
building along the wharves. The great grain
elevator containing 1929 bushels of corn and
1855 bushels of oats, became nest of fire.
Streams from the steam fire engines were d.
rected against it without avail. All now be-
came excitement on Atlantic wharf and the
Grand Trunk sheds beyond. Barrels of -four,
of mackerell, and of kerosene and great
quantity of miscellaneous freight stored upon
the wharves, were got at, taken away upon
drays or thrown into the water. But before
the men got fairly at work the flames were
upon them A slender line of white smoke
crawled along theIridge- pole of the Portland
Steam Packet Company's freight shed, and in
a few moments after fire was breaking from
every portion of the building. There were the
offices of the packet company, o. s. bonded
warehouse the rigging loft of Alvin Neal, and
the sheds of the Halifax steamers. Very
shortly it was seen that all efforts to save the
wharf would prove futile, and the attention
Of the fire department was turned to the pro-
lection of the Grand Trunk freight depot, in
which was stored great quantity of kerosene
oil. Here the chief point of resistance was
made The firemen fought like devils, and the
many citizens around worked manfully and
well. The chief interest centered about this
spot The streets and alleys in the neighbor-
hood were crowded with an excited throng of
people, while on the house-tops clustered wo-
men and children. While the fremen were
doing their best, the G. L. freight house was
cleaned of its contents. Many articles being
taken away in cars. The heat along fthe track
was intense, and the train of cars caught fire
twice. At last, after two hours hard fighting
the flames were gotten under and the contest
was at an end.
THE AFTER PIECE.
During the remainder of the day and all
through the night, the engines and hydrants
con tinued to play upon the ruins of warehouses
and wharves After the dark came down the
spiles with their crimson caps of fire looked
like great candles set to light the harbor.
Had it not been that the breeze set to the sea
the confiagration would have been disastrous
10 the extreme, and large portion of the city
might have fallen prey to the flames. AS it
is, the loss is great considering the small area
of territory swept over, and will mount up in
ROUND Numbers to 100000.
-sf1 -F OF THE LOSSES. --CF
A careful estima of the loss reduces it con-
siderably below the figures given during the
excitement of the confiagration, and it now
foots up $500 900, distributed about as follows:
GALT's WHARF. -