The Portland daily press., 1890-08-11
CAME THROUGH FIRE AND SMOKE.
Grand Army ExcursIonists Escape
from a Blazing Car.
They Couldn't Stop for Baggage and
Now Wear Borrowed Clothes.
How the Trains Rolled Into Portland
ION the way to Boston,"

i a. IL. Iidino irom Tue west rolled into the
Grand Trunk station last evening. Train
after train arrived and still the crowd re-
NAMED.
From the time the first train reached here
In the afternoon the widest rumors were cir
culated regarding the rest of the trains. A
strike all along the line was one OF the
things said to have occurred.
As matter of fact the winds and waves
combined against the western visitors They
tried to vary their railroad experience by
passing by steamer through the Thousand
Islands. but the storms on the Great Lakes
made the passage down the rapids of the ST.
Lawrence too dangerous to be attempted,
and SO part of the visitors landed At miles
west of Montreal and to that point their train
was sent back from Montreal to them. The
rest passed slowly through the locks,
around the falls of tie st. Lawrence, and so
missed their train connection out of Mon
treal.
The Pullman sleeper "Freeport" was num-
bered 1872 when it pulled out of Chicago and
some jokes were passed on the unlucky num-
Der. and the fact was recalled when "l3'' left
Montreal Saturday night with only nine per-
sons on board.
At o'clock Sunday morning only one per-
son was awake on ''13" and that one was the
porter Samuel Adams A lamp dropped
from its place overhead in the forward part
OF the car, and the oil was spattered all
about. The fire followed close after every
streamlet of the oil and in moment the cur
tains and other drapery at that end of the
yUpr m fro Tn n he &.o \
from one end of the car to the other. If one
person was to escape 1t must be done right
quickly.
Samuel Adams. the porter, proved
equal to the occasion He aroused
all the occupants of the car telling
them that they must escape once if at all.
So close was the call and so scant the meas
ure OF time left, that one lady found the cur
tains Of her section on fire, and had to pass
through the flames to the outer air.
Thomas P. Hunt. a reporter ON the staff of
the Omaha World-Herald, had a very narrow
escape, finding his way out through the
smoke and fire just in time to save his life.
With the assistance of brother journalist
he proceeded at once to get the facts in the
case. and actually succeeded in sending off a
special to his paper, getting scoop" on all
the wo Then, and not till then did he
turn his attention to the replenishing of his
wardrobe, for like the rest, he lost the great
or part of his clothes.
When seen at the Grand Trunk station
last evening MIR. Hunt wore silk smoking
cap. a light coat and other garments never
ordered of his tailor. Another man wore a
cuit mr. tan forh
fed gentleman had a tall hat and long
butchers frock. "We are all wearing bor-
rowed Clothes" said one lady.
The accident happened at point "a miles
east of Montreal. The exact damage is not
known, but Mr.. Hunt of the World Herald
was of the opinion that about $3.50 of money
was burned up, that the loss of baggage
would be over $4,000, and that $4,000 would
cover the damage done to the car.
Mr.. Smith, the Crank Trunk agent here.
sent the nine persons who were in the "Free-
port" at the time Of the fire to the Preble
House, and they will 60 to Boston this
morning.
Every person on board the "Freeport" had
narrow escape. and apparently that
they escaped at all was due to the GOODNESS
and bravery of the porter. Samuel Adams,
who was the last to leave the car, and who
risked his life to save his passengers. He
aroused them just In time.
The Boston steamers took the veterans as
fast as they arrived. The first boat, at
O'Clock, only had about 500, the early arriy-
ais being few compared with the later rush.
The second boat took 1900, and pulled out
only few moments before the arrival of a
train. The fremont and New York will be
hear this morning in time to take the last ar
rivals.
Over 1900 of the visitors on their way from
the West to the G. A. R. reunion in Boston
slept on board the Pullman cars at the
Grand Trunk station last night. On arriv-
ing here the duty of the road ended, but Mr..
Smith concluded that the old soldiers might
as well be the guests of the Grand Trunk for
the night. 1t was first come. first served"
however, and the fact that a man had occu-
pied section from Chicago to Portland did
not entitle him to that section last right If
somebody else pre-empted it, There was
some kicking" because of this fact, but as a
rule the crowd was good natured, much
given to the singing of hymns and to story
telling.
The old "vets" accepted the situation at
once, and gathered wherever they could find
seats. and many good camp FIRE. battle field
and long march story was told and retold as
they sat and smoked. Mr. Smith and his as
sistants were up all night, intent on looking
after the comfort Of late Corners