The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-15
RACING FLAME
Providence Just Escapes the Worst
Conflagration In Its History.
Property Worth over Half a Million
Dollars Swept Out of Existence.
Death and Vandalism Accompany
Fire In Elmyra, NY.

TdkluB HtIt, over oCNCidA DiOVho oAeu"eNN
across the street to the west of the Union
depot and involving anumber Of brick build
ings. partially occupied by manufacturers
and jewellers, several hotels, including the
Aldrich House, stables and carriage houses.
The alarm was sounded at 10.45 and the
whole FIRE department called out. strong
northwest wind carries the.sparks across the
most important business part Of the city, in
cluding Westminster and Broad streets, and
number Of fires have started and alarms
sounded, but so far they have been quickly
extinguished without damage. The big fire
is blazing up to the buildings opposite the
City Hail. but the wind is carrying it away
from the hail. So far the flames are having
their own way without check.
1t is impossible to estimate the losses or
even the heavy losers, but If the flames are
not stopped where they now are it will prob
ably be the most costly fire the city ever had.
The four story brick block where the fire
started is the Robinson building, owned by
VIM. II. sRobinson's widow. 1t was filed
with carriage stock, sashes and blinds and
other infammable material. The whole
block. enclosed by Fountain, Eddy, Union
and Washington streets will be totally
cleaned out
[Second Despatch-2 a. MI
The fire is practically under control and
will probably not cross Washington street.
The Aldrich House is now blazing like big
bonfire. No other buildings will catch. The
Aldrich House is valued at $4,000, and IN
sured for $4,000. 1t is impossible to obtain
the other individual losses, but the total loss
ooN Gwac 90. nj
at AS and spread so quickly that little prop
erty within the hotels and manufactures, ex-
cept personal effects, could be saved. Several
persons, including iremen, were injured by
falling bricks and timber, but no fatalities or
very serious injuries are reported.
EInyra Also Suffers.
ELMYRA, N. Y.-Feb. 15.-Fire broke out
this evening in the jobbing room, in the
basement of the Advertiser building, on
Market and Lake streets, causing total loss
of 100000. The folFsstory Advertiser
building was completely destroyed. The de-
partment was hampered by the extreme cold
and two engines were disabled. The AuNsf--
tlser building was valued at $4,000. and the
plant at S35,000. The Sunday Tidings Office
in the same building loses plant valued at
$1,000. Mrs. Anderson, milliner, and sew
eral other concerns, occupying the rest Of
the building, suffered considerable losses.
A stiff north wind carried the flames to
+. A. Keeton's retail grocery, one Of the
largest in the city. 1t was burned, and the
next building south, occupied by Mr.. Suss as
barber shop, expensively fitted up, was al
so destroyed.
Robinson e. Sons extensive furniture fac
tory, one of the finest buildings in the city,
was soon in ashes. The Robinsons estimate
their loss at 100000. THE senior partner is
a son of ex-Goy. Robinson, and the latter is
financially interested.
Winfield s. Foster, foreman of the Adver-
tifer composing room was badly burned
The editors had to escape by ladders so
swiftly the flames spread.
At $50, the city officials telegraphed to Os-
wego. Corning and Horse Heads for assis-
tance Kraum's boarding house near Rob
inson's was burned, and also 151 Lake street,
occupied by ID. A. Morgan's saloon and two
tenements. The loss at 151 Lake street is
$4,000.
The fire continued to spread and soon after
10 O'Clock, the Lake street wall of the Adver-
tiser building fell and struck Fireman Bent
ley Of IrGek Co. :, no, NO. ana James lanes FsneT. Fisher
mating Company. Fisher escaped with
slight injuries, but Bentley was fatally in
jured and was dying at IL O'Clock.
Engines and fire companies arrived from
Oswego, Households, Waverly and Hornells-
will, and the fire was stopped at Robinson's
furniture warehouse. IL was the most dis
astrous fire that has visited Elmyra in fifteen
years. AT 8 O'Clock the reserve police force
was called out but despite their efforts all
the thieves of the city turned out and reign
of terror was inaugurated. The police piled
their clubs with vigor on every crook discov-
cred conveying property from the threatened
district. No arrests were made. A compost
tor named Rev reported TO be burned to
death was saved after narrow escrpe.
THE LATEST.
The latest estimates make the loss $780,
600; insurance S1Co000.
Connecticut Towns Blaze.
HARTFORD. Ct, Feb. 15.-At 115 the Am
NOR business block. large two story build
ing in Rockville, is burning and is past
saving. The adjoining Methodist and Con-
gregational churches are in great danger.
The lower floor of the burned building was
the dry goods store of Carroll & Mcdonald.
The upper story was used as residence by
ID. r. Moore. The loss Is probably S25, 900.
The hydrants were frozen but the firemen
worked well. Richard Farrell broke his