The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-07-13
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
The Greatest confIagration Since
1873 Rages in Belfast.
TWO Human Beings Burned to
Death.
Twenty Horses Burned In Their
Stalls,
And Property Destroyed to the Value
of $4,000.
Especial to the Press.

BELFAST, July 12.-Fire broke out in the
stables of the Belfast Livery Company
this morning, burning them with twenty
horses Wesley Twombly and John
Casey, hostlers, were suffocated and burned.
Before the fire was controlled it burned the
American House, the old telegraph building
and the store of Furber g. Bean. Twelve
firms were burned out. Loss about $4,000;
partly insured. The cause of the fire is un-
known.
ITO the Associated Press.]
BELFAST, July 12.-The greatest confla-
grafton since 1873, when one-fourth of our
city was laid in ashes, visited us early this
morning, resulting in the death of two
human beings and twenty horses, and loss of
property estimated at about $4,000. The fire
broke out shortly before / o'clock in the
stables of the Belfast Livery Company on
High street, and in few minutes the build
ing was enveloped in flames, and before as
sistance could arrive twenty horses were lit
orally roasted alive in their stalls, their
agonizing cries piercing the still midnight
air.
The flames next communicated with
Howe's block at the corner of Main and
High streets, known as the telegraph
building, which was entirely destroyed. The
building was occupied in the basement by
Field d Carter, fish market, and NJ F. Carter,
meat market. The first floor was occupied
by w. M. Priest, tailor; Fred III. Francis.
boots and shoes, and l.. D. Fogg. confec-
toner. The second floor was occupied by
Nathaniel Delano, barber; Moses Rich, cob
bier; f. A. Carle, tax collector, and w. G..
Tuttle, organs. Mr.. Tuttle also occupied the
third floor for Photographic rooms. The
building was insured, but the tenants are
heavy losers, except Priest, who was fully
insured.
The American House, owned by Fl. N.
Lancaster and occupied by Landlord VIM
Weeks, the leading hotel in the city, next
succumbed to the devouring elements The
guests all escaped with their baggage, and
Landlord Weeks saved the greater portion
OF his furniture, which is now piled up in
Custom House square. The house was par
TALLY insured, but Nh. Weeks was uninsured
The carriage house belonging to the livery
company and a wooden carriage shop owned
by n. Mansfield and occupied by Hiram w.
Trundy, were totally destroyed, but the COM
pany saved their carriages.
The brick building adjoining the Ameri-
can House, owned and occupied by Lewis &
Joseph Bean, hatters, was completely Quilted
but the walls are standing. f. A. Greer,
lawyer, had an office in the second story
The larger part of Mr.. Beams stock was
saved.
The flames then crossed High street, ig-
hitting the roof of Whitmore's store and
threatening the New England House and
Masonic Temple, but fortunately the flames
were checked in this direction.
The large grocery store of A A. Howes &
Co., opposite the American House. was
saved by the use of canvas and a stubborn
fight by the firemen. All the glass in the
front of this store and all the plate glass in
the High street front of the Masonic Temple
was broken by the extreme heat. Had
Howes' store burned that side of Main
street to Chase's Corner would certainly
have been destroyed. The firemen worked
with great heroisn, and by o'clock the fire
was entirely extinguished
The saddest event of all was the death of
the two men who perished in the stable of
the livery company. Their names were
Wesley Twombly and John Casey. They
were in the second story Of the building.
Twombly's charred body was found on the
sidewalk as though he had fallen from the
building. He was employed as hack
driver by the New England House, was %
years of age and leaves a wife and one child
Casey's body was found in a stall beside the
remains of a horse. He was % years of age
and unmarried 1t was an agonizing sight
to witness the grief of lis widowed mother.
who paced the street bitterly moaning while
the spectators raked the charred remains of
her son from the burning embers.
The origin of the fire was incendiarism.
Twombly and Casey, the two men burned to
DEATH and a companion named James Nc
Cabe, drove to Northport Saturday evening,
returning about midnight. They were in
toxicated, and shortly after they entered the
stable the fire was discovered, and without
doubt they were the cause. McCabe escaped
from the burning building, but with his
hand and face badly burned Charles Baker.
chief engineer, was badly burned about the
face while fighting the fire. The firemen are
entitled to much praise for the work per-
formed. Great excitement prevails about
the streets, and they do not present a Sun
day appearance. While all deplore the loss
of life and property there is but one univer-
sal sentiment Rum did it.
The following are the estimated losses:
H. n Lancaster 900
Belfast Livery Company ....... .......... 10000
4.OOU