The New York herald., 1877-10-21
Two Thousand Three Hundred Per-
sons Burned Out.
$50 BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
Only $4,000 Insurance to Meet
100000 of Loss.
DISTRESS AMONG THE SUFFERERS.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.1

81. JOHN. N. B., Oct 20. 1877
One OF the most terrible disasters which has over
befsilen a suburban town occurred ths morning at
. quarter to three O'Clock. In the town Portland,
suburb OF this city. Upward or Ave hundred and
nity families. numbering 500 porsons literally
thrown homeless penniless upon the charity OF tie
benevolent Two hundred and nny wooden houses
ana small shops and sheds wore burned The district
almost entirely covered with wooden buildings,
having. In iact but ono brick structure In Il Tho
loss amounts TO upward OF ssoo.Coo. aud tho In.
suraneo companies held risks to tho vauo Of $4,000
only.
WHERE TaE yRR oRiGIxArKn
Tho Are originated IN q woodnoa,e In tho centre
Of the block between Main and High Streets Portland
This woodhouss In tho roar Of Henry Pratt's
house. Many suppose II the work OF ipcen.
diary. as tho place haa been ars twice during
the week, and q man vas found lurking about tho
premises shortly ailor tho aiarm was sounded.
SUPPOSED NcKSoIARr HANDLED ROUGHLY.
He was subjected to rough usage by tho infuriated
mob, but arrested The ars made great head.
tent. making tho danes leap hign in sho air.
aud q dozen houses were blazing
with frighiul rapidlsy. Tho Fire Department turned
out well and battlod with tho are with great spirit;
but the dry buildings burned so quickly that their best
efforts bailied and tho mad flames crackIed and
roared as they carried all before them. Tho nro
gained rapidly and made terrific hcadway
TnE LEAYlxG yLAxEa
The steam engines were early ON the spot. but the
wind blowing gale toward tho south, their Efforts
wore for timo unavang, and the Ore rushed with
tremendous violence into Chapel street SO quick did
It como that the terrified people we're un-
able to save their furniture aud barely es.
capped with their iivea Tho intense excitomont
prevailed Tho large buildings In Main street sue.
cumbed, and the blaze extended from Jouos' corner
to Orange corner. Tho 1ro raksd voss and south,
then crossed Chapel street. and both sides
being swept away. The heat was terrible, aud every
ono driven out Of tho street. Tho flames sproad
TO the water and while they carrying the entire
south, tho west too being brought under Tho block
between Portland, Chapel and Main streets was IN
ruins, and the whole western sdo OF Portland street
was threatened.
VALUE 4 BRICK BUILDING.
Courts brick building on tho corner saved the
street.
The Methodist chapel, which vas insured in tho
North British and Mercantile Company for 81 900.
went to the ground alter great efforts had been made
to save IL
BURNED our THREE TINES IN A YEAR.
Portland Temperance Hall burned. and these
were tho only two public buildings Prico Shaw,
carriage builders, occupied tho basement OF Tom
perauco ball, and this Is tho third time they have
bssn burned out within a year.
At nvo O'Clock tho Orc had reached its height.
Tho blocks from Main street to High street, inclusive
were completely obliterated and only gaunt chimneys
remained From High street TO tho very waters cdgo
tho flames spread on unrcsstcd Camden street was
burning. The largo houses at tho foot OF Portland
street, also houses from Temperance Hall, IN simonds
street, to Thomson's siip were consumed Ferguson
Rankin's wharf. containing immense piles OF lum.
Dor, dressed apd ready for market. wero partly de-
siroyed.
STEAMSHIPS IN DANGKa.
The steamers Ida Whittier, xyphus and Victor were
opportunciy and threw water on tho lumber and
wharves with excellent effect Al halt past eight
O'Clock the drc was still unDer way.
Tho properly destroyed consisted Of all the houses
,r Main ercst beawcen Joncs corncr nd Drama ror
ner all on Chapel street, all on Acadia street except
small BLOCK and tho greater part OF Chapel street, ai
along the side and part OF tho sido OF Port.
land street. side OF Simonds street, from Hign
street to water and both sides Of Camden street.
DRUNKENNESS AND REcKLEssSgss.
A great deal OF drunkenness prevailed and many
arrests were made Of drunken men and women. Sew.
era we're snalchcd from tho flames Just In time to save
their livea
rne distress Ia very great. ana in It's way this are is
more caamtous than the grca, connagration OF juno
20 Fully 200 persons who were burned ont to-day
were sufferers by the greater FIRE. and they nnd
themselves absolutely destitute
rHR INSURANCE
Tho Insurance is as foows:-
Provincial. 100 Hartford. 80. So 200
North British and BRUSH Amerca.... 500
Mercantile ...... $500 Guardian. ......... 1000
Royal Canadian... GO Lancashire. 6000
westcrn........... 1000 Canada Fire and
Ci.izcns' ........... $500 Maritime. ..... 1850
Qucens...... ......l6,0VO Northern.........6 5000
Imper ......... 6,yUo National. ........ 400
Elna. 5000 Isolated risk.... 800
ACCIDENTS
George Baxter, ship carpenter, lost his life in the
ruins OF his ONE High street. II Is supposed no
went IN TO save the window sashea Only his charrod
remains wcro discovered.