The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-01
A BRIGHT BLAZE.


Hamlin's Cooperage Factory in Flames.
The alarm from box II about 6.45 D. m. yes
terday was caused by fire bursting through the
upper story of the ell of e. S. Hamlen & Co.'S
cooperage factory on Richardson's wharf. 1t
seems that when the watchman, Mr.. Drink
water, went to the drying room-which is To-
Gated in the attic of the ell-at $40 O'Clock to
see if rything was in good condition, he dis
covered the interior in flames He immedi-
ately jumped on to barrel to turn steam into
the room to subdue the flames, and, as he did
so his foot slipped, the barrel fell and he fell
with it striking on something which injured
his leg badly and cut his face seriously. He
managed however to strike the alarm and,
when the department arrived, he was sent
home in hack.
Mr.. Frederic Hobson, of the firm, was
promptly on hand along with Chief Little
field and members of the department. The
f.e at this tine looked ugly. The great factc-
~, located in the midst of most infammable
property, itself crowded with lumber in va
rious conditions of manufacture, was pouring
out flame from the attic of the ell and throw
ing great sparks in every direction The en-
gines got to work promptly. The new Silsby
was located at the corner of Fore and Center
streets, and at once poured two great streams
into the flames. When, at 7.15, things looked
a little squally, the Chief pulled in the second
alarm. Just about the same time the Silsby
had setback, and for about fifteen minutes,
so it vas reported, wouldn't work. Then she
got to playing again and thereafter there was
no more trouble. By 8 o'clock tho fire was
under complete control, having been confined
to the attic and second story of the brick ell
and little scorching of the main factory, and
at 953 the bell struck for "all out" The
chief and department are to bA congratulated
for good work. 1t was very quiet night, bnt
if the wind had blown as it did the evening
previous nobody can tell where the mischief
might have ended.
Mr.. Hobson says his loss will be confined to
nome $4,000 slaves placed in the dry room yes
terday afternoon, and the damage to the belt
ing of the engine, and engine by water, and to
the stock of cooperage in the lower stories by
water. The betting is probably ruined. He
does not estimate the loss very high, and
says it is covered fully by the following insur-
ance:
Washington, Providence. 81 900
Northern Assurance, London ............... 900
Liverpool, London and Globe, London. 1900
Suesh, Lonuon. -..,...,,,..,. $500. 900
Total. observation-disclosures. .....,, $500
OF this amount $500 is on the shafting, ma.
chinery, betting and tools, and $4,000 on the
stock. Sterling Dow has the above-named
companies.
The building is owned by the Richardson
Wharf Company and the loss is fully insured
at the agency of William Allen, Jr. 1t is
probable the loss to the building will not ex-
coed $1,000. The building is very large three
stored structure, the main building of wood
and the ell of brick. The insurance on the
building is placed in the following companies:
Fire Insurance Association of London 81 900
PRESCOTT Insurance Company Boston,. 1000
Merchants insurance Company Newark. 1000
Bufalo German Insurance, Co., Buffalo. :. 900
The fire drew very large crowd at the
first alarm and, after the second was pulled in,
every street poured forth its quota to swell the
multitudes. The crowd reached from Union
wharf to above Browns wharf.