Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-22
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Portland, N. B. Suffers This
Time.
-
Loss 100000.
MANY FAMILIES HOMELESS.
Many Persons Injured by Falling Walls,
Chimneys, &c. ..
MEETING TO ADOPT MEASURES OF
RELIEF.
Two Bodies Found, and the Search Con.
tinuing More.
Two Bodies Found, and the Search Con
tinuing More.
SUMMARY OF THE INSURANCE.

ST. JOHN, N. B., October 20. A fire broke GU
this morning off Main street, Portland, which a
four o'clock had done great damage. At present
the entire block, Main street on the north, Chape
on the south, Acadia on the east, and Portland
street on the west, 10 in flames.
large number of buildings are destroyed and
many business men burned out. Many fsmiie.
are rendered homeless.
At four O'Clock fire was rapidly extended To the
lower streets. Assistance arrived from the city al
four o'clock.
Portland Methodist church, corner of Portland
and Chapel streets, was burned.
Thousands Of people gathered upon Fort Howe
looking down on the immense mass of flames.
People who were more interested in the work
OF the fire, rushed through the streets almos,
frantic.
Sick women were carried from burning build.
ings, and the cries Of them were pitiful.
The burnt district extends from Acadia street
and thence to Main street. Both sides of Chspe
street and several houses on the east side of Aca
dia street as well rs those on the west were in
flames at five o'clock.
At that time it was believed every house on
High street between Portland and Acadia streets
would be DESTROYED.
AT 8 81 drunkenness was rampant In town, and
considerable rowdyism was noticeable.
A meeting Of Portland town council was held
at eleven O'Clock to adopt measures OF relief.
The fire exhausted itself at nine O'Clock, prov
ing the disastrous one in town for q long time.
The body OF man was found in the ruins sup
posed 70 be that of g. Baxter, ship carpenter.
Several persons were injured BY falling walls
chimneys, etc., but none fatally.
The foundation Of q safe gave way while acme
men were working ct the ruins ct the fire this
morning. burying half dozen boys and q man.
The man was taken out dead. One of the boys
was fatally injured. All the others were serious
ly hurt.
Lster.-At the FIRE this morning, two hundred
and thirty wooden houses were burned. There
was only one brick house in the whole district.
Over two thousand people were burned out, of
which number seven hundred suffered by the last
great ERE on the 10th of June last.
The fire originated in the center of block on
Main street. and spread quickly in all directions,
the buildings fronting on the street being very
high.
The loss amounts to fully three hundred thous-
and dollars. Insurance about eight thousand dol
lars.
Another body, that Of . boy named Alexander
ellis. was taken from the ruins of q vault on
Princess street, dead. A gang of men are now
searching for another missing boy.
The name Of the man found this morning is
James Spinlaw of Portland.
The fire ragged till about ten o'clock in the d.
rections above indicated, and even this evening
the ruins are still smouldering and engines are
play ing upon them, though all danger Of spread
ing 10 over.
The following is = summary of the property
destroyed:
All the houses on Main street between Jones
corner and Orange corner; all the buildings on
Chapel street; AL on Acadia street, except one
very small block; all the east and part of the west
side of Portland street; the east side of Simonds
street from High to the water; and both side of
Camden street.
10 the district destroyed the houses were with
few exceptions made Of wood and crowded with
tenants, principally of the laboring class. Com
sidering the extent of the fire very small Bro
portion of furniture or shop goods was saved and
what there was so rudely thrust in the streets
will do for shelter 10 more than be defined.
Many large building had lately been converted
into boarding houses to make room for mechanics
and others from abroad, and these with others
have lost all.
The streets of the burnt district are swsrmed
with living victims of the fire. hou seless and des.
olate looking in win for what they hoped hey had
saved and trying to plan IS to what they could do
in the future.
number OF persons were reported missing and
later in the day the widest rumors were aHoat Is
to the probable loss of life, but ell the persors
have since turned up except one.
Several accidents are reported, many having
hair breadth escapes from death BY the falling Of
chimneys.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but believed
to be the work of An incendary, Is three attempts
have recently been made in the same locality.
The following Is the insurance Is near % can be
ascertained at present:
North British aud Mercantile $4,000; Queen
$l700; Citizens $1,000; Citizens $1,000; Canada
Fire and Marine $1,000; Royal Canadian $500 :
Etna $1,000; Hartford $500; Imperial $1,000 /:
British America $500; Northern Insurance Co.,
$65OO; Guardian $1,000; Lancashire $4,000; Iso-
late Risk $1,000.