The Portland daily press., 1890-01-09
LEWISTON LOOKING AT THE RUINS
Ard Wondering II They Can ae
Made Useful In Rebuilding.
The Janltor's Story Of the Rush of
Flame Through the Struc ,ure.
A List of the Insurance-other
Matters of interest.

LEWISTON, January 8.-The cause of the
fire, which destroyed the City Building last
evening has not been learned. The stories
that the elevator shaft had not been cleaned
for weeks are not true, but some refuse
caused by the poultry show was in the shaft
and it was in this that the fire originated
The exterior walls of the building are stand
ing and there has been considerable specula-
tion today among the by ISLANDERS whether
or not they might be utilized, in whole or in
part, in rebuilding. The contents of the
safes are thought to be in good condition,
but during the day they were too hot to be
opened
A man is kept at one of the school houses
to sound alarms on the bell there in case of
other fires, the city bell having been in the
tower of the burned structure. Postmaster
Walker has obtained store lin the central
part of the city and will move the post office
property there in a few days. Although
working at grea. disadvantage, the post office
people have prevented any serious delay in
the business. The greatest trouble has been
In the money order department, which was
suspended until the safe could be open. The
city departments have found temporary
quarters.
The local press voices general sentiment
in thanking the fremen from Bath and Port
land, whose work was Of great assistance in
preventing the further spread of the flames.
Janitor III. j. Pearson was on duty in the
City Building from six in the morning until
SIX at night, and was on duty when the fire
caught at twenty minutes past five. He is
quiet, steady, reliable young man, and was
on duty in the main hall, just about to turn
on the circuit of the electric lights when the
fire was first seen. He told this story:
Il was In the main hall and was about to
turn on the electric lights. A man whom |
do not know. but who was dressed in blue
Jacket and was on duty in the hall, had, as |
understood, just been sweeping up and been
dumping the sweepings and stuff down the
the very attic to the ground at the SOUTH
west extremity of the building and which
came to the ground at the door marked "D''
In the alley-way nearly opposite the back
door, over Frank HOyts store. This door
opens out doors and the elevator had no con-
nectl0n With the boiler room, the police sta
tion, or any of these parts Of the building.
II had just spoken 10 the man whose name
do not know, when suddenly the tire was
discovered at the back Of the stage in the
main hall, bursting right out into view with
gust of smoke and fame that was astonish-
Ing. was startled as you may suppose.
There were not many folks in the hall, but
/ said at once, "Tell those folks in the City
Small Hall where the dogs are" This
elevator, as you know, came up just where
the little stairs went up to the back of the
stage at the end of the right hand corridor.
1T is where they brought up the horse for
the fire department exhibition and where
they showed how they could put out fires,
you know. This thing was evidently all
ablaze. Smoke poured out at once into the
ball and shower Of sparks followed. The
wings Of the scenery caught fire and the
flames at this time were way up to the attic.
had just been starting to open door to get
fellows coat out, intending to do that as
soon as had the lights on, but dropped
that and started for the basement, telling
every body, as went along that the building
was afire."
The insurance on the buildings burned
and damaged was placed i'll the docal agen-
cies. The following is thought TO be cor
rect and full list of insurance on the same:
$1,000 insurance. $1,000 of it was on J. Y. Scru-
toms interest in Tracy Block and the $1,000 on
stock. Mr. Scruton's $1,000 is in the
Western Canada Fire Insurance Co.
f. A. Conant & Co.. had $4,000 o. the NJ. & NJ.
library, divided az follows: Holyoke Mutual,
$1,000, Quincy Mutual, @ $4,000, Fire Association; ASS
$1,000 in the Buffalo German Co. on the stock of
f. L. Hoyt, $5Ou in the North American on the
propelty of the Nealy Rifles; S11O0 in the Conti-
Lancashire for ID. w. Smith on the Lewiston Daily
Advocate; 900 in the Orient on the ". W. Far
the W. H. Weeks stock and machinery: sl100
in the Merchants, S1100 in the Ango-Neyada
and $l15 in the United iremenS.
Chamberlin & Little had $500 on Mr., Gree
ley's nteres In Tracy Block, in the Hartford, and
$4,000 on thu M. & NJ Library in the Royal.
The three buildings between Tracy and College
blocks, occupied by J. NJ. Jordan, the grocer;
Mrs. Mooney, the milliner; and j. p Narcotic,
the barber; are owned by Mrs. Mary c. Little, and
were insured in Chamberlain & Littles agency of
the Home for S10u0.
The George II. Harrison building was insured
in chamberlain & Littles agency OF the Phoenix
and Hartford for S1,400. b. ID. Ba5cock had
5000 insurance in Chamberlain & Little's agency.
Callahan & Howe carried insurance for the La
belle Wiseman stock drug store for $500, in
the Fireman's Fund and $500 in the Providence
OF Washington. They also had $1,000 on F. l..
Hoyps stock In the Germania. They had S700
in the Providence of Washington on Walter Sut-
tons furniture, over j. Nj. Jordans grocery store.
They had $500 on j. p. Narcotics barber shop
fixtures In the German American.
Two special agents, Messrs Gould and
Sampson, are here adjusting losses.
Some time after the blaze had burst
through the roof something flew cut of the
midst OF the fiery furnace. 1t was hen
with her tail feathers alight, escaping from
City Small Hall after her coop had burned
away. She was the sole survivor of the
poultry show. Her flight was short but
glorious. Never did a hen acquit herself
more superbly.