The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-13
BURNING OF THE OTTAWA.
A Big Blaze on cushing's Island
Yesterday
The Large Hotel Burned to the
Ground.
Both Mr.. Cushing and MIR. Gibson
Partially insured.

with an engineer from the Preble House and
an employee of the Portland Water Gas Com
pany, went to Cushing's Island and up to the
Ottawa House. 1t was intended to pipe
portion of the house for the introduction of
gas next season, and the man from the water
gas company took the measurements neces-
sary for the work, while the engineer blew
out the boilers land disconnected the water
pipes in the house preparatory for the win
ter. The blinds of the hotel had been
already closed and fastened with rope, and
not wishing to undo the fastenings, lamps
were used to give light in the Office and the
corridors where the measurements were
being taken. When the work was COM
pleted the party left the island and returned
to the city. 1t was then about o'clock and
everything was apparently all right
Some time between and o'clock smoke
was observed coming from the building by
number of people at different points. Mr..
Frank Cushing, the owner of the property,
saw the smoke from Cape Cottage and tell
ing Mr.. Benjamin Gibson, the proprietor of
that hotel, that it looked very much like fire
at the Ottawa and that he had better tele-
phone to his brother in the city, Mr.. Cush-
ing then took boat and started for the isl
and, but long before he reached the landing
the flames were bursting from the building.
Two Frenchmen employed on the island by
Mr.. Gushing saw the smoke at about the
same time and running to the hotel forced an
entrance. One of them stated last night
that when he entered the office of the hotel
he found the upper stories in blaze and
burning material was dropping already to
the ground floor. Others who saw the fire
from Peaks Island and the harbor shortly
after this said that the smoke was pouring
from the cupola on the top of the building
crowd soon gathered around the burning
hotel, many coming in boats from Peaks
Island and boats which were near the
island al the time being put for the shore.
An effort was made to save as much as pos
sible, and some furniture, crockery and car
pets taken out The articles were more or
less injured, however, and considerable
quantity of the goods was probably carried
on by INSCRIPTIONS persons in the crowd.
The men who first arrived ON the scene were
apowerless to do anything to stay the progress
OF the flames, and the fire spread until the
old brick portion of the house was a mass of
ire. The cupola soon tottered from its
place and fell into the ruins, and after it
Went the root, floors and partitions falling in
turn until by O'clock the interior of the
brick building was clear of debris above the
first story. There was little or no wind, and
the structure resembled huge furnace, the
flames springing high above the walls and il
Illuminating the waterfor miles around while
every window was mass of fire.
At O'Clock, upon the request of Mr.. M. S.
Gibson, the proprietor of the hotel Chief
Engineer ClDyes despatched the fire boat
Mary W. Libby to the island. Twenty-Five
hundred feet of hose were placed upon The
boat and number of the members of the
department went to man it. When
the Libby made fast to the wharf
at the island, the fire had spread
into the wooden wings of the build
ing and was burning tiercely along the
piazza around the house. 1t took some time
to get the hose laid, the jgger and span of
horses upon the island, being called into
play to help the firemen in their work. Be-
fore the line could be completed to the house
the flames had begun to creep along the COW
cred way connecting with the detached
building, containing the bowling alley and
amusement hall. The building and the sta
bles in its rear were all that was left for the
hremen to. save and they set to work with a
will. rope was tied to the roof of the pas
sageway and that was pulled and pushed
down inst as the flames drove the men from
tpelr place. When the hose was laid, MANY
In the crowd expressed doubt as to the abiIi-
ty OF the Mary W. Libby to throw a stream
OF water through the 21O0 feet of pipe extend
ing from the shore to the house up over the
hill. The steamer did it well, notwithstand-
ing, and this stream doubtless prevented the |
flames from extending to the building Can't.
John Sterling aided in the work by climbing
out ON the roof of the building and fighting |
the particles OF flame started among the |
shingles, with bucketfuls of water
At about o'clock, the wooden wing at |
the left of the building had been entirely
burned, with the exception of the skeleton
and that fell piece by piece until pile of |!
charred timber lying by the side of the stone |
was all that was left Of this wing. |
The wing on the other side Of the building |
burned for some time longer and the wooden |
ell was leveled to the ground. At about |
half past eight two pieces of the brick wall |
IN the front ofthe building fell out, but the
greater part of the brickwork remained in
place, although left as clean in the interior
IS 1t was before the laths and plasterIp~. +
we're first put on. -
By nine O'Clock the freMea l,- ! o,,,a,
ho 49, sae vAS" ZION of reloading
nd nnn,,rra. ssso liner. The bare walls
,os lofa - Jutbuildings were all that
opans- aiding of the hotel and there was
..fatively little debris, the fire having
consumed everything of a combustble nature
that came in its way.
The origin of the fire W ill probably never
be known. The flames evidently started at
or near the second story and spread upward
from floor to floor through the staircase well
in the middle of the building.
THE BUILDING.
Mr.. Cushing stated that the Ottawa House
was erected by his father twenty-eight years
ago. The house then comprised only the
brick portion and was built with great care,
costing as prices then were, $4,000. Some
years ago, Mr.. Frank Cushing became the
sole owner of the property and Immediately
V~5"H tnS Wolh VI iHPioFiHS H. IHe uidiH-
age was overhauled and other improvements
made and two years ago large wooden wings |
were placed on each end of the building, |
giving the hotel $50 rooms and accommoda |
tioES for from $50 to 300 guests. The hotel |
as it stood yesterday afternoon had cost $7o,-
D00 "+.''' ''
Mr.. NJ. S. Gibson took the house two years /
ago and spent $25,OOO in furnishing it, The |
carpets, furniture, crockery and beddingS |
were all the property of Mr.. Gibson and in
the house when the fire broke out.
Next year the house was to be still further |
improved and large business was con-
tidently expected, the house having paid |
hattar durino thu two uaarS ,Iudar Mr. Cih- /