The Portland daily press., 1880-12-06
FIRES.
Kearsarge Mills at Portsmouth
Destroyed.
ONE PERSON BURNED TO DEATH.
Over 300 Persons Thrown Out Of Work

Over 800 Persons Thrown Out OF Work.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Dec. 4.-Shortly after
6 this morning. fire broke out in the fifth story
of the Kearsarge mills, and in less than an
hour the mammoth brick structure was in
ruins. only mass of badly broken walls re-.
naming. The fire caught from piece of
waste in the hands of an employe, which he
was using to clean off piping, when coming in
contact with gas jet, it caught fire, burning
the mans fingers and forcing him to drop the
same on the floor, the flames instantly creep
ing along the oily surface, and taking every
thing in their ,urse. The wind was blowing
quite hard at the time, and though the entire
hre department was promptly on the spot,
working like heroes, a second alarm was
yard force to the spot. Their combined efforts
failing to do anything against the fiery ele-
eDts, which were famed to fury by the
wind, causing sparks to fly in every direction.
telegraphed to Newburyport for assistance.
The destructi'n n o. the mill with
its appurtenances. is complete, causing one of
the most serious fires that has occurred in this
city for years, and proving public calamity.
The loss is estimated at not far from half
million dollars, besides throwing ont of en-
ployment between 800 and $50 operatives. upon
majority OF whom must fall much suffering
this winter unless something is done for their
relief. The fire started in room in the
minutes before six, spreading with such rapid.
ty that the occupants of the apartment barely
escaped with their lives As the flames rushed
toward the staircase thereto, the operatives be-
ing obliged to leap over the fire in order to
make their exit, several were severely burned
while endeavoring to escape. 1t is not known
that more than one person was burned TO
death, but had the fire burst out twenty min
ures later the destruction of life must have
teen great, as the mill would have been i'm full
nparativaQ hoipu Ot1 tr, ha
hand earlier Saturday morning, in order to
clean the machinery
The loss on the bnilding and general con
tents is mostly covered by insurance placed
1915, and was 204 feet long, rs feet wide and
six stories high, with two Is, each 100 feet by
80 feet two stories high. The machinery was
driven by one high pressure steam engine of
200 horse power, and one low pressure engine
of the building being Of the best. The mill
manufactured cotton goods, and was doing an
excellent business.
By hard work on this part of the local and
navy yard departments the destruction OF the
Free Will Baptist church was prevented, al
though the bnilding was considerably damaged,
more by water than fire. Insurance thereon
$1,000. The close proximity of the Jail to the
mill, at one time threatened the burning of
that building, whereupon Sheriff Kent had
the prisoners, ten in number, prepared for
speedy transfer to police headquarters, but
prompt assistance saved the structure. Sparks
from the mill set fire to several buildings in
various pa is of the city, causing much alarm.
Scores of houses, for long distance from the
main fire, had men at work on the roofs, put
ting out burning cinoers, which the wind car
ried great distance. All danger of a general
confederation was allayed before s o'clock.
The fire has attracted a large number of peo-
pie from the surrounding towns.
The insurance on the mills and storehouse is
$4l1,300. a~#
A Hotel Burned and One Person Suffo-
Gated.
OSHKOSH, Wis, Dec. 3. The Beckwith
House, brick, four-story hotel, built in 1876,
was burned this evening. Loss $50. GOO; in
surance, $4,000 on building and $1,000 on the
furniture. Mrs. s. B. Page, who was boarding
in the hotel, was suffocated by the smoke. Her
visiting Mrs. Page, jumped from fourth story
window and escaped with bad burns Molle
Halloran, waiter girl, is missing, and be-
lieved to have perished. The fire originated
from broken kerosene lamp.
Mrs. G. E. Harlow, who leaned from the
window, was the wife of prominent citizen.
Her fall was broken by robes and blankets.
Mrs. Page appeared at window, when this
crowd shouted to her to jump. but she feared
tn, and, retreating from the window, pershed.
B sides the servant girl two others are sup
posed to have been lost, one of them being the
night porter, who was asleep in his room.
Losses by the Biddeford Fire
BIDDEFoRD, Dec, 4.-The loss to the Pep
perell Conn ANY by the fire last night is much
heavier than at first estimated. Instead of 500
bales of cotton, the building contained 1902
bales, of which from 40 to 80 per cent. will be
saved in damaged condition.. The cause is
yet unknown, but the theory is advanced that
some bale took fire on the cars and was stored
unobserved. The loss is now estimated at
about $4,000.