The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-23
| A Night Of Fires.
The Savings Bank
Block Burned.
A Loss of 100000.
A BRICK WALL SAVES THE
CENTENNIAL BLOCK.
Contents Of the Bank. Vault
Doubtless Safe.
Fluent Block Also on
Fire.
But a Serious COnfiagratiOn
AVerted.
THE MUSEUM DRENCHED WITH
WATER.
But a Serious COnfiagratiOn
AVerted.
THE MUSEUM DRENCHED WITH
WATER,

Az uiou'But iaSt LlSut Tue cry VI nIo was
sounded by bank Waterman who had seen
fire in the Savings Bank block, which stands
just above the Post Office on Exchange and
Market streets.
The alarm was struck promptly from box %
The snow and sleet was falling fast at the
time, and the night was a most uncomfortable
one, and greatly hindered the fire department
from getting their apparatus out readily.
When discovered it was a small matter, but
wood work, it spread rapidly before the depart
ment was able to get under way.
At 2 clock, when every energy was being
put forth to save the Centennial Block, an
alarm was sounded from box "a, which called
the department to fire in the Fluent Block.
This alarm caused intense excitement, and
many who had not aroused from their beds
before hastily arose and rushed to the scene of
the conf agrations. The events of the fire of
66 came weirdly to the minds of many, who
for the time being were terror stricken. To add
to the CONSERVATION, the report was circulated
that the engine house of No. and another
buildir on Bracket street had been burned
Happily this proved to be untrue. Fortunately
the fire here in the theatre was got under con-
troll at 81 o'clock, with not as much damage as
was anticipated.
DETAILS OF THE FIRST FIRE.
The fire was discovered about IL o'clock by
the boy who carries telegraphic dispatches to
the daily papers. He notified E. D. Norton,
the Waterman in the Safety Deposit Vaults,
and he in turn told bank Waterman Smith,
who fho old hop fho
seen it was in the directors room of the Gas
Company Office, the southeast room on the
second story of the block. One or two men
rushed in and attempted to remove the furni-
ture, but before they had scarcely got under
way the fire had spread to the room adjoining,
the main Office of the Gas Company. From
there it rushed to the third story, aud by the
time the fire department was we'll under way
the flames were creeping into the French roof.
The steamers were all brought to the scene of
the confagration, but the flames spread like
wldfre and the main hall of the Masonic fra
ternity was soon on fire.
The fire worked from the south end of the
block towards the center, and ere long the en-
tire length was solid sheet of flame and the
stoutest fremen were driven from the block
They worked with heroic will, but the
flames spread on as though there was no alter
being thrown at all.
At 3 O. clock the fire had worked from the
third to the second story, and it seemed
scarcely possible that the building could be
saved. Still the Chief Engineer and his assist.
ants cheered on the men and all worked with a
will despite the piercing cold weathee.
As we 60 to press at 43O, the fire is still burn
ing despite the vigilant efforts of the fire de-.
partment. The block is ruined, and even if the
walls are left they will have to be taken down
before the building can be rebuilt. A good hose
taken up through the Centennial block, under
the direction of Mr.. Jose, saved that fine block
and assisted in deadening the fire in the DOOM
ed block to great degree.
The Savings Bank block was built in 1867,
after the fire and was very handsome build
ing. 1t cost upwards of 100000. The ground
floor was occupied by the Savings Bank,
Princes express, j. G. Proctor, real estate
broker, the Safety Deposit Vault, and W. 81.
Kohling the tailor. On the second floor was
the Gas Company'5 Office, which occupied the
entire southern end of the block, the law Office
of Bradbury & Bradbury, Kngsbury & Jor-
don, j. T. McCobb, Judge Knight and the
agency of the Massachusetts Life Insurance
Company and the room of the Grand Lodge of
Masons The offices on the second story all
saved their libraries and vauab!es in slightly
damaged condition, as did those who occupie
the first floor.
The Masons occupied the third and ourth
stories, the latter having French roof The
third floor was occupied by the large hal, finish
ed in Egyptian style, elegantly frescoed by
Schumacher, running up to the roof and occu-
plying half the floor, or over two stores. The
other half was cut up into an armory, where
the uniforms of Portland, st. Adams and
Blanquefort Communicates were kept, small
lodge room, called Tyrian Hall, the Tylsr's
room and two ante-rooms, closets, etc. The
third story had lodge room ip front, called
Siguet Hall, large banquet roon in the re IT
kitchen and two ante-rooms. In the large
hall was foe organ. In the adjacsnt ante
rooms was a library OF Dme four hundred vol
umes This was insured $500. An excellent
portrait of Henry H. Body, by Cole, the prop
erty of Ancient Landmark Lodge, was in the
Egyptian Hall. There were several other pic
lures there, but they were photographs and the
negatives are preserved.
The charters of the different bodies were all
removed safely, but scarcely anything else.
When the former hail. on Middle street, was
destroyed in the great fire., the charters were
| the only things saved. These halls were fitted
| up in 1867 at an expense of about $4,000. The
Communicates hal $4,000 worth of arms and
uniforms in addition, with several hundred dol
lars worth of fittings for work. The Roya
| Arch Chapters had probably $4,000 worth oil
| robes and working materials The lodges had
some private property, but not so much as the
| higher bodies The Scotch Rite bodies had &C.
| cumulated valuable lot of robes and specia
| fittings All these were fairly insured
The Grand Lodge room was in the second
story, and was only damaged by water Tht
records. plpsrs and part of the books were re
moved, but the work was suspended when thu
roof began to tumble in. The rest of its libra
ry, however, will probably be found in a fai
condition.
Tne records of the subordinate bodies wer
kept in the Safe Deposit Vaults below.
The contents of the Savings Bank and tn
Safety Deposit Vault are not injured in tn
least.
The cause of the fire is not exactly known
but it is thought that it caught either from
hot steam pipe or in closet used for waste al
ticles and was caused by spontaneous combus
ton. In either case it sprung up very quickly
There was no stove in the Office.
Frank L. Colley, compositor in this Office
was the first man TO 60 upon the burning ban
building with hose. he stood the heat brayel
for some time, until relieved.
| INSURANCE.
The savings bank block was insured for $50
900. w. d. Little & Co. had $4,000 in the Cor
tinental of New York; Rollins, Loring
Adams $4,000 in the Springfield of Spring