The Portland daily press., 1875-07-22
Sent from Several
Cities.
Especial to the Press.]
FIRST DESPATCH.

FIRST DESPATCH.
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, July 81 AT ten
o'clock and fifteen minutes tonight. the alarm
of fire was sounded on the quiet Beach. The
cupola of the Old Orchard House was seen to
be in flames. A general alarm was at once
given, causing quite panic among the guests,
many of whom had at the time retired. The
fire worked down rapidly, giving some just
time to escape from the upper story. Trunks,
furniture, glass and tin ware were thrown
promiscuoLsly from every window. Women
ran and screamed, and some tainted. The
house was pretty quickly emptied.
kilograms were Immediately sent to Port
land and Saco for help, and at 11.50 the engine
arrived from Saco. Water is very scarce and
at this hour Ills, no water from the steamer
has been thrown.
SECOND DESPATCH.
The Old Orchard House is now fiat and men
are doing their best with pals of water to save
the Ocean House, which is just across the way.
The Ocean House is smoking. but as the wind
is favorable it may be saved. There are 25O
have lost their valuable clothing and jewelry.
NO one Is yet reported injured.
THIRD DESPATCH.
A stream has started at II. 20 from the steam
err; wind still favorable The Old Orchard is
value at about 100000; no insurance. Most
Of the valuable furniture is saved. Mr.. Staples
and his men are considering the situation very
calmly, and doing all they can for the comfort
of the crowd of guests.
EoIrpru DEsp ATcr
1250-The Ocean House now is safe. The
engines have done good service. One small
cottage belonging to the Old Orchard House
also is saved. Trunks, furniture, bedding, and
women and children crowd the streets far and
near. The Ocean House people are doing we'll
for the guests and the house is crowded.
by the Associated Press.]
OLD ORCHARD, July %, 80 a. m.-The Old
Orchard House. E. G. Staples proprietor, is a
heap of smouldering ruins. At 1910 p. M,
fire was discovered in the attic near the cupola
and an alarm was sounded. FLAMES soon
walked up into the cupola and spread over the
whole house. The fire being in the attic a
good opportunity was afforded for all in the
house to get out. The season here is near its
height, and there were 225 boarders in the
house. Large numbers of them lose portion
of their wearing apparel. jewelry, etc. The
furniture in the lower portion of the house was
mostly removed. The alarm among so many
persons in the house was great, but no acct
dent occurred. The fire catching the centre
spread in all directions. and in short time the
whole building was in flames. The main
house, music hall, new dining hall, three story
ell, stables, billiard and bowling hall were de-
stroyed, but the original Old Orchard House, a
few feet north of the new one, was saved. The
loss is estimated at $4,000 No insurance.
Mr.. Staples is the pioneer landlord here.
His house was always full in the season. The
regrets at his loss are universal. The fire de-
partment and hundreds of citizens came down
from the city. Steamers from Portland were
telegraphed for, but the order was countermands
ed The Ocean House was scorched, but wa
saved by the efforts of the men with blankets,
carpets and extinguishers. The wind was from
the north and blew the sparks away from the
Ocean House.