The Portland daily press., 1892-02-06
Plucky Citizens Did Their Best and
at Last We're Successful,
BUT NOT UNTIL SEVERAL BUILD
INGS WERE BLACKENED RUINS.

The Emery Building Entirely Destroyed
One House Blown Up in the Hope of
| Arresting the F1ames-Labor of the
Citizens Save the High School Build
ing-s. G. Bottoms Fortunate Escape
| from Loss.
Aserious fire occurred in the village of
Gorham last night, involving loss of
about $12, 900 worth of property.
The fire broke out in a dwelling occu-
pied by Stephen P. Libby, in the Emery
block. The family were awakened by the
barking of a dog and had hardly time to
escape. The flames shot rapidly
through the large block situated on the
corner of Main and South streets. A
two-story house owned by A. t. Keen,
was blown up, but the flames
spread to Cyrus Abbott's grocery store
and dwelling, and they were destroyed.
McLellan's blacksmith shop and the
High school building took fire, but the
flames were extinguished.
f. FL. Emery's loss on his dry
goods store was about $4,000, a
large portion of the goods being saved.
He had $4,000 insurance. The Emery
block was owned by the heirs of Daniel
c.. Emery. 1t was insured for S5000 Alb
bott had $500 insurance, $1,000 on his
grocery stock and $500 on building.
The Keen building, which was blown
up, was occupied as a dwelling by Mr..
Cummings C. Kneeland, who lost every
thing. Fl. O. Avery, who lived over Alb
bott's store, also lost all that he had in
his dwelling.
The burned buildings are in the center
of the village. The reporters who went
out from Portland could see the light of
the fire shortly after leaving the city.
When they arrived in the village, the fire
was entirely under control while nearly all
the people of Gorham stood about the
ruins. In the square on the corner of
South and Main streets, the only thing
remaining standing was that portion of
the Emery block which was of brick, but
the debris was still making it plenty
light enough for the people to see the
ruin which had been wrought.
The village of Gorham had for protec-
ton against fire hand engine and a
hook and ladder truck. For water it
was dependent upon two small streams
and the wells in the yards of the houses.
| At the first alarm, when the people
| focked to the scene, at about Ills, the
need of prompt and united action was
apparent. Not a moment was lost.
hand pals were used. To add to the
terror of the moment, it was found that
the nozzle Of the hose was missing.
Several times the High school
building took fire, but each
time the people succeeded in extin-
gushing the flames in the manner above
described. McClellan's blacksmith shop
was saved in the same way.
An exciting incident of the fire was the
blowing up of the Keen building. This
was between the Emery block and the
Abbott store on South street. 1t was
thought by destroying this the fire might
be stopped, but this hope proved
to be delusive one. A small
portion of the contents were hasti-
ly removed and then large quantity Of
gunpowder was placed in the cellar. A
fuse was laid and then the crowd were
warned away. An explosion followed
which nearly demolished the building.
Then the hook and ladder boys, whose
conduct during the fire received many
words of praise, closed in on the ruins
and pulled them apart. The fire, how
ever laughed at their efforts, and leaped
over the newly cleared space to the Alb
bott building.
1t was reported there were several
| slight accidents, but no one was srriously
injured When it is remembered that
! Gorham is village built largely of
wood, and that at one time
after the fire broke out the wind was
very high, the narrow escape of the vii
lage from the loss of all the business por-
tiou will be apparent
The Emery block was large three
! story wooden building with one corner
built of brick. In it Mr.. Emery ran the
largest dry goods store in the place, and
one of which the citizens were justly
proud. Up to the day before the fire, S.
| G. Bolton, the clothing manufacturer, had