The Portland daily press., 1888-11-03
CARRIAGE FACTORY IN FLAMES,
The establishment of zenas Thomp-
son Badly Damaged.
Hard Work Confines the Fire to
the Building.
Loss Probably $4,000, which Is
Covered by Insurance.

The alarm of fire from box 412 at 2.15 this
morning, was caused by disastrous blaze in
the carriage mandatory of Zenas Thomp-
son on Union street. Mr.. w. A. Staples, the
watchman, smelt smoke while making his
rounds on Middle street. He ran down
Onion street and found the wooden elevator
shaft in the rear of the Thompson establish
ment mass of flames from top to bottom.
Mr.. Staples went to the nearest box, but
found that his key would not fit. and had to
run back to the electric light station to get
another key. This of scourse caused some
delay. Officer Eaton met Mr.. Staples and
pulled the alarm. The department respond
ed promptly. While the hose carriages were
unreeling their lines willing hands quickly
cleared the lower floor, running the
carriages out of harms way. The fire
at this time was burning fiercely in the ele-
vator shaft and in the two story brick build
ing adjoining the main factory, while clouds
of smoke were pouring from the windows
and chimneys of the large building, and
showers of sparks were falling on the roofs
of the surrounding structures The depart
ment fought the flames from the side and
rear of the building and at three o'clock it
looked as though the fire would
be kept out of the lower floors of the
main building. The two story brick addition
was then falling, great sections of the walls
dropping off every few minutes. This part
OF the establishment was occupied by the
blacksmith shop in the lower story and a
storage room for stock above.
In the main bnilding above the first floor,
which is used for the display of carriages
and was entirely cleared of its contents, were
the various departments of the fac
tory and the store rooms. As this
is the season when the stock is large,
consisting in part of thousands of dollars
worth of valuable cloth and trimmings, and
many thousand feet of valuable lumber, the
loss will be heavy. There was an insurapce
of $4,000 or $4,000 on the factory. The
building was owned by Henry st. John
Smith and was probably insured.
During the next half hour the fire appar-
emily gained headway in the upper story of
the main building, and at half-past three
flames were bursting from beneath the
caves. By this time the firemen had got to
the roof of the high buildings opposite, and
were doing effective work in keeping the
flames within control. Apparently the
worst was then over.
An employe of Mr.. Thompson's stated that
the stock in the building was just now very
heavy All the sleighs for the winter trade
were completed and stored in one of the up
per stories. II not destroyed by the flames
they will be badly damaged and perhaps
ruined Among the finished carriages was
coach just completed, to be shipped
to South America. This was badly
damaged. 1t was valued at $780,
Some time ago Mr.. Thompson enlarged his
establishment by occupying the store form
erly occupied by Smith & Abbott, who mov-
ed into the next store. Doors were cut into
this portion. Whether or not damage was
done here by smoke or water was not ascer-
tanned.
Later 1t was stated that the loss would
probably be about covered by the insurance
which is between $4,000 and $4,000. The
insurance was divided round among the diff
ferent agencies. AT the agency of VIM. AL
len, Jr., there was $1,000, in the Westchester
and $1,000 in the New Hampshire, on stock.
The National British Mercantile loses 5000
on machinery in rear of building.
The department did another good job in
holding the fire so well.
Burnham g. Co. s ice house on Cross street
Was damaged to the extent of 800; insured.
1t was reported that man and boy walk
ed off the roof of one of the low buildings
nearby, and that the boy broke his thigh.