The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-04-15
A BAD FIRE.
Destruction OF w. L. RobbIns's
Livery Stable.
Houses in Trowbridgs Place Par
TALLY Destroyed.
Eleven Horses with Carriages and
Harnesses Burned

The alarm of fire at 1.45 o'clock this morn
ing was caused by the discovery of flames in
the livery stable of W. L. Robbins in YER
non Court, leading off of Congress street,
just above Vaughan. When the fire was
discovered the flames were bursting from
the roof of the stable, a low wooden struc-
ture, standing in nest of wooden buildings,
and two houses on Trowbridge Place, which
adjoins the stable, had already begun to
burn. In the confusion two alarms were
pulled in, one from box 81 and the other
from box So, causing some confusion as to
the whereabouts of the confagration.
When the 6remen reached the scene, Trow-
bridge Place was rapidly filling with half
dressed people. The upper of the two burn
ing houses and small house in its rear, also
partially burned, were owned by the Huston
heirs, and occupied by Patrick Martin, Mr..
Clark and James Coffee. Mr.. John Coyne
owned and occupied the next house, The
occupants of the houses were aroused from
sleep by the cries of fire, and arose and par
TALLY dressed by the light of their own burn
ing houses. A good part of the furniture OF
the houses was removed, but much OF 1t Will
be total loss. Mr.. Coyne had his house IN
sured for 500 in the agency OF VIM. Allen,
Jr. Mr.. Martin said that he woke up at the
cry of fire, and found the flames bursting in
to his room. He had no insurance.
The stable, in which the fire originated,
burned fiercely, and was a heap of blazing
ruins within half an hour after the alarm
was first pulled. The doors were not opened
re +h< 1,,; Il
were totally destroyed.
Mr. Robbins informed our reporter that
there were eleven horses in the stable, and
not one was saved. Six of them belonged to
him and the other five were owned by Wal
ter Corey & Co., Dexter S. Rice, E. t Bur-
rowes, Adam Leighton and C. P. Ilsley.
There were also ten carriages, six sleighs
and many harnesses in the building beside a
nearly complete outfit of household
goods, all belonging to Mr.. Robbins; and it
was reported all the carriages, sleighs and
harnesses owned by the other gentlemen
named above were inside. All of these were
burned.
Mr.. Robbins stated his loss would be $4,000
or $4,000 on stable, horses, etc. He was in
sured $1,000 on his horses, carriages, etc., and
$500 on his household goods.
The other losers our reporter was unable
to find, but it is said all the horses were val
liable ones.
At 3 o'clock the fire was under control.
The stable was in ruins, but the adjoining
houses were only damaged about the roof by
fire and by being thoroughly wet down.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the
department. TWAS a bad fire and in very
bad locality to fight to advantage; but the
'boys" swarmed about the burning struc
lures and where stream was needed there
they placed it. Chief Cloyes was always
present coolly directing the men in their
work.
A later report states Mrs. Huston has
$1,000 insurance ON her house; also that Mr..
Rice lost two horses instead of one, and had
$1,000 insurance on them and his carriages.