The Portland daily press., 1880-04-22
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE RICHMOND FIRE.
The Losses Foot Up $40, 900.
TWO HUNDRED PERSONS THROWN
OUT OF WORK.
Narrow Escape of the Whole Town From
Destruction.
TSpecial DESPATCH to the Press. |

Especial Despatch to the Press.
Nj RIcHMoND, Me-, April 21-A dense smoke was
discovered about 2.30 clock this morning is
suing from the basement of Hagar Bros. shoe
factory on Front street. An alarm was quick
ly given, but before the engines arrived on the
scene the flames had full control inside the
building and were breaking from the windows
in the upper stories. The fire was quickly
communicated to the large four story brick
shoe factory, occupied by W. T. Morgan &
Co., through the belt box by which power was
conveyed to the smaller building, the intense
heat from the burning building at the same
time setting fire to the wood work of the roof
and windows of the brick factory, the inside of
which was soon prey to the devouring ele-
ment. Just south from Hagar Bros. factory
were building formerly used as hay barn,
and another known as the mechanics Build
ing" owned by the Patten heirs, both unoc
cupied also steam yacht owned by I. NJ.
Small that was hauled up on the wharf, all
of which were entirely consumed. North of
the two factories was building owned and
the basement occupied by Otis Whitney as
shoe box mandatory. The first floor was oc-
"a
cartoons or paste-board boxes. The upper story
was used as a button room. Adjoining this
building on one side was a shed used for storing
purposes, on the other an ice house owned by
J. A. Merriman and containing As tons of ice.
These three buildings were demolished, also
small building used for storing kerosene oil,
&c., close by the large factory.
Back of these on the wharf was coal sh ed
containing about 100 tons Of coal owned by A.
L. Theobald, and another shed, both of which
were obliterated Across the dock is hay
there the fremen got control of the flames
though one side of the building was badly
charred. For some time it was feared that the
whole business part of Front street was doom
ed, and store-keepers and occupants of houss-
were packing up their goods and moving them
to place of safety. Consider able anxiety wa
felt for the safety of the Lincoln House, but it
escaped without injury.
The estimated losses and insurance are as
follows:
On Hagar Bros. building and contents, loss
$20,OOO insured for $500.
On the brick factory. fixtures and engine,
loss $25 ,000 insured for $4,000.
On W. T. Morgan & Co.'s stock and
machinery, loss $4,000; insured for $4,000
Otis Whitney, shop and its contents, loss
$1,000; insured for $500.
A. L. Theobald, coal, damage 800; unin-
sured.
I. A. Merriman, ice house, loss $3.50; unin-
sured.
M. Small, steam yacht, loss 5000; unin-
sured.
These with losses on other buildings will
make the total loss about $11O, 900, with a
total insurance of perhaps little over $42,-
100. Morgan & Co., saved about 20 cases of
unfinished work valued at about $780, This
firm had orders in for 1000 cases of goods to be
manufactured the coming season.
About 200 persons are thrown out of employ
ment entailing heavy loss on the business
community, from $1,000 to $4,000 per week
having been distributed to their employees by
the two firms which was circulated through
the channels of trade to the immediate benefit
of the whole village, the loss of which cannot
well be estimated in figures.
The cause of the fire is not defnit ely known,
but it is supposed to have caught aroung the
chimney of Hagar Bros. factory fir ON burning
SCOT in the chimney although no ire had been
in the furnace since yesterday mo rning.
A night Waterman was employed in Morgan
& Co.'s but was asleep when the fire was dis
covered, his duties not requiring him to keep
awake all night.
Probably some action will be taken toward
erecting new factory on the site CT the burn
ed building, the foundations of the brick
factory being pronounced to be in good con-
dlt1on. PEN.