The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-25
ST. JOHN FIRE.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE
CALAMITY.
Incendiaries Setting New Fires.
One Nearly Lynched by Citizens.
GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS
STILL COMING IN.

ST. JOHN, June 23-Offers of assistance for
the sufferers by the great fire continue to come
in from the provincial towns, and also from
many American cities. Several carloads OF
provisions arrived this morning from Mrami-
Chi a special train from Halifax, and tonight
special from Portland, Bangor, Lincoln Centre.
sc, bringing HOO barrels of flour, lot OF
blankets, and quantity OF cooked food Mon
treal, Toronto Hamilton and other Canadian.
cities have despatched provisions. The relief
committees have been reorganized: and the
work systematzed so that the aid may as far as
possible, reach those most IN need OF 1t.
At a public meeting held today addresses
were delivered by Mayor Hamlin of Bangor,
Mayor Richer of Halifax, and others. A vote
of thanks was passed to the cities and indi-
viduals contributing to the relief of the dis
tressed.
A company of local volunteers having been
employed in blowing up the ruins to remove
dangerous walls, three men, named Lamp, An
derson and Ewing, were badly injured by the
premature explosion of a blast Lamb will not
recover.
A company of troops has arrived from Hall
fax to aid the civil authorities in maintaining
order. All is quiet.
The body OF Captain Fifth, well known
citizen, has been found in the ruins; also an
other body, identified as that Of James
Thomas, clerk. Several persons are still
missing.
The banks are reopening, business establish
ments aye opening in new localities, and in
some instances, rebuilding has commenced.
Yesterday Mrs. David Tapley was observed
running past the window of her house on Net
calf street. Shortly afterwards it was dscov-
cred on fire. The alarm was at once struck.
The Portland steamer had arrived by this time
and was playing on the burning building The
house was soon made thoroughly wet, and the
harmless The Portland firemen worked hard
to keep the flames down.
Hardly had this fire been quenched when the
cry of fire was again heard. Hundreds Of
people who had been at the burning of Tapley's
slid over the rock leading to Main street, there
to find that Charles Day had been caught in
the act of setting fire to schooner laden with
hay, lying at the steamer stairs wharf. Day
had been discovered by Mr.. Clark and knocked
down by him. The crown collected at the
wharf. The fellow was handed over to Mayor
Cunard, who tied him with rope and sue
ceeded in getting the dastardly villain into a
carriage amidst the outcries of lynch him.
When the Portland police station was reached
the prisoner was put inside. An attempt was
made to hang Day. One end of the rope with
which he was bound was placed around his
neck. when Mayor Cunard effected his release
by placing revolver to the head of the man
who held the rope The enraged crowd
which followed him to the station finally dis
persed.
Thomas Sloven and Charles Brown were
also arrested on suspicion of attempting to set
buildings ON fire.
That there had been regularly organized
attempt to fire Portland there appears but little
doubt, as fires were started the same time in
many different places. The residence of Ste
phen 70. Stephens was set on fire inside by
some miscreant who had obtained an entrance
through an open door.
There were Al prisoners in the Jail last night,
debtors included. Eight were arrested during
the day for various offences, one for stabbing,
and two others for attempted incendiarism. The
city is under military surveillance.
Food and supplies for the destitute come in
from all quarters and active committees are Or
ganized and working we'll.
The vaults of the Bankaof New Brunswick
were opened today. The contents were found
to be perfect
BANGOR, June 24-Mayor Hamln of this
city who returned from St. John, Saturday,
says: "The calamity there is overwhelming
The needs of the sorely distressed people are
very great and very urgent. tThey are not a
people who parade their misfortunes Some
bod must speak for them. 1t is only necessa-
ry for the cities of our country to know their
true condition