The Portland daily press., 1877-10-22
DISASTROUS FIRE.
Large Part Of Portland. N.
b., Destroyed.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY
FIVE HOUSES BURNED.
Seven Hundred and Fifty
Families Homeless.

ST. JOHN, N. b., Oct 2O-About 3 o'clock
this forenoon the residents of Main street, Port
land, were aroused by an alarm of fire, and al
though the firenen and others were quickly at
the scene considerable Roadway was gained be-
fore they arrived, and lurd flames shot up from
several buildings. The fire originated in the
centre of the block, between Main and High
streets, and spread quickly in all directions
The buildings fronting on the streets were wood
and very high. There were sheds and outbuild-
ings filled with highly combustible materials
A Although the fremen arrived early, some de-
lay was experienced in getting engines TO work
which added to the terror of the situation
The residents of the block where the fire began
saved nothing, and barely escaped with their
lives The fire soon worked its way to the large
buildings fronting Main street, extending from
Jones corner to Orange corner. These build
iDgs were occupied as shops below and dwell
hugs above. Shop goods we're hastily cast INTO
the street, furniture thrown from upper win
dows only to fall an easy prey to the deyouring
element. Although quite a heavy shower had
fallen early in the evening the dampness of the
buildings did not seem to retard it's progress
and now it appeared as though the lamentab BILE
10th of June in st, John was to be repeated
with increased yehemence in Portland. The
tiremen while the fire was working to the south
with amazing rapdity, took the most available
positions, but could do nothing toward prevents
ing the lire crossing TO Chapel street, which it
did almost before the sleeping occupants of
houses could be aroused from their perilous To-
cality
About this time it was found there was
scarcity of water, and the entire town seemed
IN Imminent peril. Previous to this the inhab-
tants of High street aHd other back streets bad
not considered themselves in danger. and when
they began to take in the situation scenes of
the widest character followed. Men, women
holf bod Vuif M
clOthing ran in every direction not knowing
where to seek shelter. Sick people were car
RED out on beds and compelled to remain in the
streets near the fire for some time till means Of
exit could be found. The fire was raging in the
blocks between Portland, Chapel, Acadia and
Main streets, and threatened the western side
OF Portland street, but here Courtz's solid brick
building on the corner helped to check the vio-
lence of the fire, and aided the fremen in saw
ing the wooden building adjoining, With rare
courage they stood their ground, while 50 COM
pletely wrapped in flames that tbey were oblg-
ed to cover their bodies with boards to prevent
their clothing taking fire. TIE Methodist
church was now in the track of the flames, aud
was licked 10 in few minutes amid the most
noble efforts to save it. The parsonage shared
the same fate. aud everything also in the me
line to the waters edge was reached
All this had only been the work of a half
hour, when No. 3 steamer arrived from the city
and by their eXertiOns whole row OF buildings
were saved The Portland temperance hall was
now gu fire and fell an easy prey. Price &
Shaw, carriage makers. occupied the basement
OF this building and for the third time in less
than year were driven out with heavy loss
AT 5 o'clock the wind was gale and the fire
at its height, ard where it would stop no one
could predict. The entire block from Main TO
High streets had been com pletely wiped out.
Ooly tall, glant-llke chimneys were standing.
Even these were lettering and falling III snch
manner as to render approach dangerous, From
High street to the waters edge the flames, un-
restrained, were extending in all directions.
Camden street was burning. large house at
the foot of Portland street was in flames, and
all the buildings from Temperance Hall 90 81
mouds street to Thonpson's mill were gone In
the twinkliDg of an eye. Ferguson & Rankin's
wharf, with huge piles of lnmber, were in
great peril, but by change in the wind the fire
was confined to houses on the streets above
named and did not extend to the Strait shore
The fire RACED till about 10 o'clock in the di-
rections above indicated, and even this evening
the ruins are still smouldeIing, and engines are
playing upon them though all danger of spread
ing is over.
The following is a summary of the properly
destroyed:
All the houses on Main street between Joues
Corner and Orange Corner; all buildings on
Chapel street; all on Acadia street, except one
very small block above mentioned; all the east
md part of the west side of Portland street;
Tue oaSJ sue Oh SlQOOuS SGreoG, from t1lSl TO
the water, and both sides of Camden street
The number of houses destroyed is about 175
and the number of families made homeless
about 700 Many Of these were persons driven
from the city on the Goth of June last, who
with nothing left sought refuge here. In the
district destroyed the houses were with few ex-
captions made of wood and crowded with ten
ants, principally Of the laboring class,
Considering the extent of the fire a very
small proportion of the furniture or shop goods
Were saved. What the people so rudely thrust
into the streets will do for shelter is more th an
can be defined. Many large buildings bad
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 swarmed with
living victims of the fire, homeless aud DESC
late, looking in vain for what they hoped they
saved ana trying to plan as to what they could
do In the future. A number of persons were
reported missing and later in the day the
widest rum0rs were afloas as to the
probable loss Of life, but sll the per-
sons missing have since turned up except Que.
Several accidents are reported, and many hav-
ing hail-breadth escapes from death by falling
chimpeys. The origin of the fire is unknown,
but believed to be the work of incendiary, as
three attempts have recently been made in the
same locality.
The following is memora ndum of the 10
surance, as II ar as can be ascertained at pres
ent
North British and Mercantile $4,000.
Queen $4,000
Citizens $1,000.
Cana Fire and Marine $1,000.
Royal Canadian 5000.
Etna $4,000.
Hartford $500,
Imperial $1,000
British Amer lea $500.
Northern Insurance Com papy $780,
Guardian $5000
LaBcashire $4,000.
Isolate risk $1,000.
A meeting of the Portland town officers WAS
held this afternoon, aud committees appointed
10 provide for the Immediate wants houseless.
Fhe relief and aid society of the city also this
afternoon Instructed its superintendent to CO.
operate with the committee from Portland