The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-17
moRRILl's CORNER AsLAZE.
Tannery Buildings and a Dwelling
House Destroyed.
Other Structures saved by Prompt
Work and the snow.

Work and the snow.
Morrilps Corner this morning presents a
different appearance from what 1t did when
the sun set last night The buildings Of the
old Bucknam tannery, which have long been
landmark there, are a heap OF smoking
ruins, over which the tall chimney stands as
sentinel, and the dwelling house adjoining
on the east. which the late Rufus Morrill,
erected 72 years ago. Is minus its roof and
generally gutted. The fire was discovered
at about 10 80 and was then fercely burning
In the tannery proper. From this building
1t soon communicated to the storehouse and
barn, and at quarter Of eleven the sky was
all lit up by the flames which enveloped these
three building. comprising the tannery es-
tablishment. The neighbors. most Of whom
had retired. were aroused by the cries OF fire
and fastened TO begin the battle with the
flames. The town is well supplied with
hose, but the hydrants in the neighborhood,
so 1t was stated, were found to be frozen,
and this delayed the efforts Of the volunteers
who ran out the lines OF hose. But they
worked with will and it IS to their credit
that much Of the neighboring property was
saved
1t was seen from the first that nothing
could be done to stop the blaze In the tan
merry. Oh the west is a two story building.
the property Of Captain Morgan of Fal-
mouth. This building contains the post
office, the general store of j. r. COBB and. in
the second story, the clothing mandatory
of l.. L. Watkins e. Co. While at one tlme
the end of this structure began to blaze mer-
rily the fremen were able 10 check the
q ,mes, and when the walls of the tannery
building fell, to extinguish them.
The Morrill, house on the east did not fare
so well. 1t caught fire around the roof. the
flames running through the garret and
bursting through the shingles in several
places. Finally the big chimney in the cen
tire Of the house went crashing down and
completed the general wreck. The house
was occupied by Mr.. Rufus Morrill,. the son
Of its builder, and his aged mother, who
owned the premises. Mrs. Morrill,, who is
over so years old, was taken to the house Of
a neighbor. The furniture was mostly re-
moved and the barn was saved.
just opposite the tannery buildings is the
house of DR.. Parker, which will need new
coat of paint in the spring but is otherwise
unchanged.
On the same side as the Morrill, house,
towards the city, is the f. o. j. BODICE place,
consisting Of substantial house and large
barn. These premises fortunately escaped !
all damage. Iu the barn were over 20 head
of fine cattle and valuable stallion. HAD
it been necessary to attempt the removal of
these animals from blazing building some
of them would probably have been lost.
An Animated Scene.
The scenes around the burning buildings
were animated. A great crowd of people
had gathered, some coming In sleighs which
were drawn up by the side of the road and
left in neighboring yards. Teams were
moving back and forth carrying away the
furniture which at one time was stacked in
the middle of the roadway in front OF
the Morrill, house. Great showers OF
sparks and blazing brands, carried by the
wind, were constantly falling, but as all tht
roofs were covered with snow tine spark,
did no damage. Houses in the neighbour
hood were thrown open to receive the goods
hastily taken from endangered buildings,
and the ladies Joined their efforts with those
II the men In the work Of rescue.
At the first alarm. Mrs. Sarah Morrill, the
postmistress, went to the Office and succeed
ed In removing the mails and valuable arti-
cles to place Of safety.
An effort was made to procure assistance
from the city, but no apparatus appeared.
The aid it could have rendered would not
have been great, as before the apparatus
could have reached the place the tannery
was doomed, and also apparently the Nor
rill house. This house, by the way, should
not be confounded with the big brick house
which stands on the other side Of the Port
land g. Rochester railroad track. The tan
merry buildings stood just opposite the heater,
oD the city side of the tracks, Dr. Parker's
house being situated on the triangular lot
which forms the heater.
Losses and Insurance..
The tannery buildings had been recently
purchased by Mr.. @. X. Marsh. who lives at |
Woodfords. Mr.. Marsh bought the property |
Of Mr.. f. NJ. Hought0D, and was about
ready to begin business, having some stock |
in the premises. As near as he could tell |
last night, his loss would be about $1,000 or
on the property, placed through the agency |
of Colonel III. r. Millett of Gorham.
The Merrill house was worth several thou
sand dollars and was insured, the insurance
being placed by Mr.. Cyrus Varney, of the |
irm of J. IL. Coffiu & Co.
The building owned by Capt. Morgan is |
probably insured. 1t is, as already stated,
only slightly damaged.
Mr.. Cobb, the store keeper, values his
or $500 insurance with Dow & Coffin.
L. L. Watkins &c Co., the clothing manu-
facturers are probably insured.
Messrs. Cobb and Z. L. Watkins & Co.
suffer only by smoke. and their loss may
prove to be only trivial.
The loss fails heaviest on Mr.. Marsh
whose preparations for business are abrupt
ly ended. He would have given employ
ment to number Of men to whom the fire
Is an unfortunate accident.
the Cause.
AS near as can be learned, the FIRE started
at least forty feet from the stove In the build
Ing. There had been fire In the boiler but
this Is enclosed In brick and could not In all
probability, have been the cause. MI
Marsh's foreman, Mr.. Little, was In the
building as late as O. Is and everything theh
was all right. Neither he nor Mr. MaIsn
could throw any light IN the origin OF the
blaze.
Marine Jottlngs.
An unknown two masted schooner Is
RnpkA s.