The Portland daily press., 1884-05-22
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
THE HORSE RAILROAD co - STA
BLEs NEARLY DESTROYED,
First Assistant Engineer SkiIlings and
Several Firemen Injured.

An alarm was rung in from box 46 at 1910
o'clock last evening, followed Immediately by
second and third alarms, caused by the dis
covery OF fire in the two and a half story
wooden stable near the corner Of Clark and
Spring streets, owned by thu Portland Horse
Railroad Company and used by them for the
keeping of horses, hay, grain and harnesses.
The fire seemed to have its origin in the
second story of the stable, where about so tons
OF hay are kept, but as the flames had made
SO much Roadway before their discovery, it is
impossible to say what they should be at
tributed to.
The fire was discovered by Victor Brewster,
a hostler, who was putting up a pair of horses
which bad just been sent in, and while at work
upon them a large spark of fire fell down upon
the floor from above. He hastily ran up the
stairs and found the whole hay loft in filnes
Then the alarm was pulled in.
Shortly after the second alarm was pulled
in the flames began to shoot out through thu
windows and roof of the building. and for
some time the flames reared on with thrilling
intensity. casting a bright light upon the roofs
OF the closely grouped surrounding buildings.
High upon the extension ladders, which rested
against the roof, and in the windows OF the
burning structure, the axemen busily cut
away, while from a score of pipes streams fell
upon tho conflagration, apparently without
effect. Firemen, policemen and citizens rushed
auxiously to and fro, for the building seemed
doomed.
From the car house adjoining a dozen cars
were pushed out upon the main track by
a hundred willing shoulders. In twenty
minut from the time tina the alarm was
rang in only the largest timbers of the roof
were left. In the interior it was white hot.
the flames we're making sad havoc there, and
the fifty tons of hay reported to have been
slowed here were compressed to only a small
body of burned matter.
Shortly after 10.30 o'clock the huge timbers
in the second story supporting the Western
end of the building tottered and fell blazing
upon the ground, narrowly missing eight pipe
men who we're working below. Meanwhile,
on the Eastern part of the roof near Clark
street another crew of iremen were bravely
fighting the fire, when part of the roof gave
way, and blazing timbers were dashed down
upon the heads of those below.
Mr.. e. Wallace, pipeman of Engine Compa-
ny No. 2, from the top of a ladder was trying
to recover the nozzle which had dropped from
his hand by the letting on of the water before
he was ready for it, when a part of the roof
fell out, and he narrowly escaped being hurled
to the ground. A shout of "come down.
went up from the crowd near by, but he gall
lantly replied that he would not come down
until he had located his stream.
When the burning beams and timbers were
rolled away from below, it was found that sew
eral men were severely hurt. Among these
were First Assistant Engineer G. D. Skillings,
who was carried toia!neighboring house, where
it was ascertained that, though there was no
wound visible upon his person, he was hurt
about the head, conclusion probably. He was
soon taken to his home. Fireman Brown
of Steamer 2, had his nose broken. and q Sc
we're cut over his eyes. Firemen Spaulding,
Miles and Moore, of Casco 8, we're injured,
though how severely no one knew. All were
we'll cared for in the ~neighboring houses.
The building, which in size was about look
60 feet, with all its contents that were not
easily movable, are a dead loss, but no esti-
mate could be made. Eighty-fve horses in
all were kept there, but at the time of the fire
a number were out on the road, though D. it was
said by one of the officials that some ffty-six
ere taken out while the exact number that
persisted was not then known, probably only a
few.
Among other things in the building were
80 tons of hay, so bushels of grain and a num-
Der of harnesses, sleds and tools.
The insurance, divided among the building
and its different contents. is said to be as fol-
lows: With VIM. Allen, Jr., Westchester,
New York, 81, 300; New Hampshire, Manches-
ter, N. H., $1,000; With Warren Sparrow,
Williamsburg City, $1,000; Boston Under
writers, $500; total, $1,000.
Mayor King visited the wounded iremen at
the houses where they were carried, and was
very anxious for their welfare.
Later.
Fireman Brown is reported to have had his
skull fractured An arm of Miles was hurt by
a falling Iiece of slate, which would have
struck his head had it not been for a thick fire
hat which he wore. Spaulding's shoulder was
wrenched, but Moore was not injured as first
reported. Engineer Skillings recovered con-
seriousness just before two O'Clock.