The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-11
THE FIRE.
A Disastrous Conha-
grafton.
A FLEET OF BURNING STEAM
Frs.
Men and Women Perish in the
Flames.
100000 Worth of Prop
erty Consumed.

The most disastrous confagration with the
exception of the great fire of 1866, ever
known in this city, occurred Saturday after
noon. In less than two hours 5000, 900
worth of property disappeared in flame. A
large warehouse and grain elevator became
smouldering mass of cinders, great business
wharves were destroyed, fine steamers foated
down the harbor blackened wrecks, and men
and women went to their death in the water.
A few minutes after two o'clock P. NJ, an
alarm of fire was sounded from box SO. This
was Immediately followed by one from Is, and
tumbling on the heels Of % came one from 16.
People scarcely knew where to go, but all lent
their course toward the water, and a contin-
ually ascending cloud of smoke in the rear of
Cats block soon determined the direction
they should take. AS they broke through
Commercial street to Gat's wharf, three
steamers were seen enveloped in flames, while
the wharf and its shed were sheet of fire, so
quick had the confagration spread.
The fire originated in some bales of excelsior
which were slowed in the extreme end of
Calls wharf 1t was probably caused by a
spark from the pipe of an idiot. The flames
sprang up under the feet of receiving clerk j.
w. Clapp, of the Maine Steamship lCo. He
made an attempt to stamp it out, failing in
which he sprang to the hand hose, fastened it
to the hydrant and attempted to use it. Be
fore he could get stream in, the Ished was en-
velopep in flames and he was compelled to flee
for his life. All this did not take up five min
utes The bales Of excelsior communicated
sparks to the dry timbers sof the shed which
were on fire as soon as touched. Mr. Cammett
the clerk of the Company, at the first alarm at
tempted to save the books which were in the
office in the upper story of the she'd but before
he could mount the stairs the fire was upon
him. The sheet of fame with almost incon-
celvable rapidity swept down to the steamer
Dlrigo which lay directly across the foot of the
the wharf, and in an instant the red tongues
were licking her rigging and the combustble
material upon her deck. AS soon as her crew
perceived their danger they made a rush for
the wharf, but the broad sheet of fire with
edges OF dense smoke which the leeward wind
brought down drove them back. The unfor-
tunate men then sought the life preservers but
found them already charred and useless; no re
source but TO leap for their lives was left them,
and they awaited themselves of it. The fire
burned away the fastenings of the Dirigo and
she drifted down in front of the slip between
Galt's and Atlantic wharf, just as the Carlotta
was coming out.
ON THE WATER.
From the shed of the Maine Steamship Com
pany the flames extended to the city and to
the sea. While on oneihand they enyeloped the
Inflated Dirigo, on the other they struck the
great grain elevator Of the Grand Trunk,
streamed up her sheet-iron sides, and found
entrance through the windows of her roof. The
heat now became intense on Atlantic wharf,
and 1T was ascertained that the shipping was in
imminent danger. The Falmouth moored at
the east side of Atlantic wharf was immedi-
ately let loose and successfully carried down
stream The Chase had as good success. The
,io"treal lying across the end of the wharf
'ne rates against her. The lines were cast
Aon ner and bow line attached to the
s-"",.;. s just as the burning Drigo came
sweeping down, this bow line brake and tbo
Montreal swinging about, driftsd 70 har doo .r
The two boats became entanpled and 49,,
out into the stream together AT this n,on,ant
Q Few element was added to the conAaara.;o.