The Republican journal., 1877-10-25
Another Great Fire close to St. John.

ST JoHN n b.. Oct 20 About 3 o'clock this
morning the residents of Main street, Portland.
aroused by an alarm Of fire. and although the
tremen and others were quickly at the scene con
siderable hcadway was gained before they arrived
and the lurld flames shot up from several buildings
The fire originated in the centre of block between
Main and High streets. and spread quickly in all
directions The buildings fronting on the streets
were wood. and very high and in the rear of them
were sheds and outbuildings filled with highly
combustible material. Although the tremen
rived early, some delay was experienced in getting
the engines to work, which added to the terror Of
the situation The resid ITS of the block where
the fire began saved no'llil4;, and barely escaped
with their lives, The fire soon worked its way to
the large buildings fronting on Main street. extend
lng from Jones corner to Orange corner These
buildings were occupied as shops below and dwell
ings above, The goods in the shops We're hastily
cast into the street. and furniture was thrown from
the upper windows, only to fall easy prey the
deyouling element. Although quite ii heavy show
rr had fallen early in the evening the dampness of
the buildings did not seem to retard the progress
Z" the fire. and it appeared as though the lament
able 2Oth OF June in st. John would be repeated
with increased vehemcncc in Portland The fire
meanwhile working to the south with amazing IA
pldltv the ire engines took the most available po
sltlonS but could do nothing toward preventing
the fire crossing to Chapel street, which it did al
most before the sleeping occupants Of the houses
could be aroused from their pcrilous positions
About this time it was found that there was ii
scarcity Of water and the entire town seemed in
imminent peril Previous to this the inhabitants
of High and other back streets had not considered
themselves in danger and when they began to take
in the situation.
SCENES or THE Widest CHARACTER
followed Men, women, and children. half naked
and some with 10 clothing, ran in every direction
Knowing not where to seek shelter Sick people
were carried out on beds and compelled to remain
IN the streets near the fire for some time till
means OF exit could be found. Although the
morning was calm, gentle breeze had now sprung
up. which was every moment increasing. while the
energies of the tiremen were being exercised to
the very best possible advantage The fire was
now raging IN the blocks between Portland, Chapel
Acadia and Maine streets. and threatened the
western side of Portland street but here Courtz'
solid BRICK building on the corner helped to check
the violence of the fire and aided the fre1nen in
SAVING the wooden buildings adjoining. With rare
courage they stood their ground while so com
pletely wrapped in flames that they were obliged
To cover their bodies with boards to prevent their
clothing taking fire The Methodist church. Rev
Mr.. iced, pastor was then in the track OF the
flames, and WAS licked mp i'll a few minutes The
parsonage shared the SANE fate, and everything
also III the same line to the waters edge was
reached. All this had only been the work of half
IN hour. when No. 3 steamer arrived from the city.
fully manned, and by their exertions a whole row
of bindings. and. perhaps the entire block were
saved. The Portland Temperance Hall fell an
easy prey. Price Shaw, carriage makers. occu-
pied the basement OF this building. and for the
third time in less than year driven ont with
heavy loss. At o'clock
THE WIND WAS BLOWING \ GALE
and the fire was at its height Where it would
stop no one could predict Entire blocks. from
Main to High streets, had been completely wiped
out, and only tall giant-hk chimneys stand
ing. Even these were totterng and falling in
such manner as to render approach exceedingly
dangerous. From High street to the waters edge
4l,a ir,..I l;,,,r
rectionS Camden street was burning large harlses
at the foot Of Portland street were in flames and
all the buildings from Temperance Hall. on Sim
onds street to Thompsons mill, was gone in the
twinking of an eye. Ferguson d Rankins wharf
with huge piles of excellent lumber, were in great
peril and the steamers Ida Whittier, Gphias and
Victor lying i'll the slips, far from safety but
by a happy change i'll the wind, the fire was con
lined to houses on the streets above named and
did not extend to the straight shore Three tug
boats steamed up the harbor within distance and
with their hose, threw water with splendid effect
on the lumber on the wharves which was saved
by their timely arrival and cXertions The fire
ragged till about | O'Clock, in the directions above
Indicated and even this evening the ruins are still
smouderng, engines being employed upon them
though all danger of spreading is over Those
abroad at all acquainted with the locality will re
alize the full extent of the fire BY the following
summary of property destroyed All the houses
on Main street between Jones Corner and Orange
corner; all the buildings on Chapel street; all on
Acadia street, except one very small block, above
mentioned: the greater part Of Chapel street; all
the east and part of the west side of Portland
street the east side of Sinonds street. from High
street to the water and both sides of Camden street
SEVEN HUNDRED FAMILIES MADE HOMELESS
The number of houses DESTROYED is about go
only one being of brick. and the number of fam-
lies made homeless about 700. comprising about
20O0 people Many We're persons driven from the
city on the 10th of June last who with nothing
left sought refuge here and now for the second
time are left doubly destitute Just at the approach
of possibly hard winter In the district destroyd
the houses Were with a few exceptions. made of
wood and crowded with tenements principally of
the laborng class Considering the extent of the
fire very small proportion of furniture or shop
goods was saved, and what those now so rudeyy
thrust into the streets will do for shelter is more
than can at present be defined. Many large build
lngs had lately been converted into boarding
houses to make room for mechanics and others
from abroad and these, with Others, have lost all
This morning, when the sun rose, in shone on a
sad and heart -rending spectacle in Portland. The
streets of the burnt portion swarmed with living
victims of the fire, houseess and destitute, look
ing in vain for what they hoped they had saved
and trying to plan as to what they could do as to
time, and were almost distracted while others had
lost what given them by the relief committee
since the last fire. but they bore up with great for
titude, evidently becoming used to the ravages of
the fire fend.
Clintonville, Clinton county, n. Y, has been de-