The Portland daily press., 1886-10-18
THE EAsTPoRT CONFEDERATION.
Over One Hundred Families With
out Homes.
The Town PIundered by Thieves
from the Canadian Shore.
Benevolent People Responding to
the Call for Financial Aid.

EAsTPoRr, Me-, October 16-Eastpor is a
sad looking place tonight. The view across
the bay is unobstructed by a single
building on Water street, from Key 10
Adams and the entire length of Sea street.
1t is impossible yet to give separately the
losses and insurance Several insurance
agents from Portland and Boston are here
making estimates. They can giveno figures.
Sen. Leavitt, the largest local insurance
agent estimates the total loss at over $780,
600, but can give nothing definite about the
amount of insurance.
There is no truth in the rumors in some
papers about lives lost or persons missing.
One old lady, Mrs. Lawler, who was expect
ed to die at any minute, had to be moved
during the fire and died soon after.
Several safes were opened today, with
better result than expected. A former re-
port that insurance books and reports were
destroyed was a mistake. All the savings
bank, Frontier Bank and post office books
are found to be safe or nearly so, and the
same with insurance papers.
The most serious part of the calamity is
the great number of families homeless and
destitute and out of employment. One
hundred families are without homes, many
of whom were formerly quite comfortable,
but are now living with friends. The suffer
ing will increase as the weather gets colder.
A relief committee has been organized.
Some aid has been received, but only suffi-
cient to partly relieve temporary distress.
The Mayor of Bangor sends $1,000; the
Mayor of Calais, $500; Frank Peavy, Sioux
rN.l- Anpn Nofta oE Q100
E. T. Russell & Co., Boston. 500; E. 5.
Buxton. E. FL. Bucknam and Fulton Peayy,
Sioux City, 800.
The sardine factories will be rebuilt, but
not this fall. They could not be built in
time for the seasons packing, which ends by
law December Is, but all will be ready for
work when the season opens Aprif15 next.
No stores except temporary structures will
be built this fall. Probably most of them,
when built, will be brick. Both newspapers
must suspend for time till presses can be
obtained from Boston. Nothing but one
small job press escaped the flames.
One great hardship to the factory owners
is that up to the present time they have
made little or nothing. The best part OF the
season was just coming on. Some Of them
paid off their hands today. This was un-
looked for and greatly appreciated.
Plunderers and thieves were busy during
both days and nights Some reaped har-
vests They went in gangs from store to
store while the fire ragged, broke open doors,
carried out goods and destroyed what they
could not carry away. At night they went
with teams to the fields where goods had
been left for safety and plundered the un-
fortunate people. They were like tigers
that had got a taste of blood, and the worst
among them were those from the neighbor-
| ing Canadian islands, who swarmed here in
| boats and hoyered about like vultures over
| dead carcass. George o. Grady discovered
| Campobello thief getting away with lot OF
| pork belonging to a neighbor. Grady's fac
| tory. the largest and best fitted in town, with
| thousands of dollars worth of stock, was
| lust catching fire and he was trying to save
| it, but found time to take the thief by the
| throat smash him in the face and make him
| drop his plunder
| These Canadians, who have been so fierce
| ly anxious for their government to enforce
| treaty and drive our vessels out OF their
| harbors after laying "a hours, came and
stayed two days and nights to steal and
| plunder, but Captain Dean of the cutter
! Woodbury. put an end to their international
| wrecking operations today by ordering them
| to leave the harbor and not to return except
for legitimate business. Tonight none OF
| them are to be seen.
The weather is cold and the moon shining
Many poor people are gathered in knots sur
veying the ruin and wondering what will be-
| come of them.