The Republican journal., 1885-07-16
BIG BLAZE IN BELFAST.

HORSES BURNED UP AND $4,000 WORTH OF
PROPERTY DESTROYED. ONE HOTEL AND
FIFTEEN OTHER PLACES OF BUSINESS GONE.
Rum DOUBTLESS THE CAUSE. FULL PARTICU-
LARS OF THE CALAMITY.
The most disastrous fire which has visited Bel.
fast since 1873, when one-fourth of our city was
laid in ashes, occurred early Sunday morning the
18th inst, resulting in the death of two human be-
lngs, twenty-one horses and destroying property
valued at $4,000. At a quarter past one Sunday
morning the night watch discovered fire in the
stable of the
BELFAST LIVERY COMPANY
and at once sounded the alarm. The fire depart
ment responded promptly, but the flames, having
originated in a loft where there were twenty five
tons of loose hay made rapid progress before water
was procured. SO rapid was the progress of the
fire that in few minutes the stable was mass of
roaring flames MIR. Albert McIntosh who was
asleep in the sable onice was awakened by the
kicking of the horses. His room was densely filed
with smoke, and half dressed he fell rather than
ran down the stairs, barely escaping with his life.
Near by was the stable attached to the American
House, in which there were eleven horses, which,
added to those in the livery stable made some
twenty-five horses in number. 1t was impossible
to rescue the poor beasts and twenty-one of the
plumber literally
ROASTED ALIVE.
The spectators said it was heart rending to wit
ness the struggling of the horses, their cries
Were piGfal and could be heard blocks away
Some broke their haters and ran frantically about
until they were licked up by the flames Such a
scene cannot itttingly be described on paper. Many
loose horses could have been saved but the poor
animals We're bewilllered and did not know enough
TO walk out at the open doors. The horse ow ned
by AleNhnHer Burgess, m1rketmen, which was
i'll the upper stable, the only horse that escap-
ed there. Three or four were got out of the lower
stable, but some were badly burned that they
VIII have to be killed 1t was impossible to rescue
them The flames spread rapidly and soon COM
munlcatcd with the
HDwES BUILDING,
known as the old Telegraph building al the corner
of Main and High Streets. The building was ocrli-
pied in the basement by Field 4 Garter, fish mar
kct, and by Charles NJ. Carter, meat market But
little WAS saved. On the first floor was the tailor
shop Of William NJ. Priest, the shoe shop OF Fred
II. Frances aud the confectionery store of l.. ID.
FoSS. Priest saved the larger portion of his stock
Mr.. Frances about onelalf while the store of Mr.
Fogg was not entered at all and everything was
consumed Mr.. Fogg had been up several nights be.
fore with his wife, who was ill and he did not know
Of the fire until all was over In the second story
of the building were the barber shop Of Nathaniel
pelano, the shoe shop of Moses W. Rich, the
oihce of Fred A. Carrie, tax collector, and the organ
rooms of W. q. futile. Delauo lost his stock Tut
Tie LOST five organs and one piano. Rich and earle
lost but little. W. c. Futile occupied the third
door lor photograph gallery, and lost nearly
everything. The flames from the burning stables
soon communicated with The
AMERICAN HOUSE,
and it at once became evident that the building
must 90 There We're twenty guests i'll the house,
besides the help, but all had ampr time to save
thrir effects. The larger part of the frrniture was
removed and piled up in Custom House square,
women rs well as men lending helping hand in
saving tie furniture one woman, Mrs. William
Crosby, with ,ruck did excellent service The
American House was owned by n n. Lancaster
and was one Of the oldest public houses in ,ane.
1t was built in 1924 by Thomas Pickard, of Belfast
and Otis Little OF Ca-tinc, and was then known as
The Eagle liolcl, having large ded eagle pcrched
over the front entrance. IN 1913 the premises
purchased by H. n. Lancaster VINO Immediately
began 10 make improvements. In lsl7 a brick eli
was added. 1t has always been Il good hotel but
never ranked higher than on the day it was burned
when under the management of Mr. William Weeks
The flames crossed Bray cr street and communicate
ed with the
CARRIAGE sHoP
owned by II. y. Lancaster, but occupied by the
Livery COMPANY for the storage of carriages. The
building was destroyed, but the vehicles were
saved Just above this was building owned by
II. \. Lancaster, and occupied by Hiram W. Trun-
dy, carriage maker. This building destroyed
with its contents. Next in line was the
MANSFIELD SHOP
owAed by \. Mansfield, and occupied below by J.
r. Simmons blacksmith and above 10y H. G. Bick
neil, painter The building and portion of its
contents were destroyed. The flames were stopped
in this direction by the brick shop in the rear of
Haytord block occupied by John Damon, black
smith. The side next to the Mansfield building
was somewhat damaged. Below, the carriage re-
pository of +. IL. Hanson was considerably dam
aged, but the building was saved.
ON Main street and adjoining the American
House was the brick Store Of
JOSEPH BFAS
which TOOK lire from thc burning hotci The stock
of hats and caps in the l. wcr story was all remoy-
ed, but quantity OF Old fashioned hats in the attic
ius was completely Quilted but the brick walls are
standing. +. A. Gireers law office was in the sec
ond story. His loss is small. The flames crossed
high street and com-nu heated with the building
owned by
FRANK WGITMORE,
enaangcriIg the New England House on one hand,
f. B. knowlton's store ard the Masonic Temple on
the other The roof took fire, but the fremen
made a heroic stand and by fighting desperately at
last ovcrcamc the destroying element. Had this
building gone there would have been great de
siructor in this direction The heat was so intense
that the door of the New England House was
twisted out Of shape, and along the front of Ma
sonic Temple the thermometer went up to 10. The
heat broke every pane of plate glass the High
street front of the Temple, melted the cement and
soldering and blistered the paint, damaging the
building to the extent Of about 81 200.
At the store Of A. A. Howes & Co., corner of
MaiE and High streets, was another warm place
and mere the iremen also distinguished themselves
Had thi. building gone doubtless everything would
have been destroyed to Chase'5 corner. Much of
the credit for saving this building is due to Mr.
George Frlsbee, an employee of Mr.. Howes, who
mounted the roof and spread canvas over the entire
front Of the store. 1t was so hot that the iremen
played the hose Frisbee to enable him to live.
ile performed great duty not only to his employ
er but to the public generally.
Another hard fight was made iii the rear OF Hay
f"rd Rlprk. At time ii looked rs though the
entire building must 90. Tue tenants in the block
and also in Michelrs block packed their goods and
many moved out. Another hart point was at the
ola Locke house.
The most melancholy feature Of the whole was
the loss of
HUMAN LIFE.
at the Livery Company stable, where Wesley
Twomby and John Casey persisted in the flames.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Nine O'Clock Saturday evening Wesley Twombly,
John Casey and James McCabe, employees of the
Livery company, took team and drove 10 North
port campground, They lett the latter place about
eleven O'Clock and arrived at Belfast half an hour
later. When the men left Belfast they were com
palativey SOBER but We're intoxicated Gu their re
lurn Whether they took liquor with them or pro
cured it at Northport are unable to learn.
The journal las been particular to investigate
the facts relating to the origin of the fire and gives
the result can,iidv without accusing any one, al
lowing the fault If there be any, to fall where it
may. When the men returned TO town they drove
rapidly through the streets and were noisy. Al
bert Mcintosh says that Policeman Robinson came
to the stable, woke him up and informed him that