The Portland daily press., 1893-03-11
Scenes and Incidents,


j. C. Young, manager of Lariet Manu-
featuring Co., located on the third floor
Of the Ames building, says: There was
| at first puff at the end of the room fol-
lowed by the screaming of girls. The
room was flied with black smoke, within
a minute, driving everybody to the win
dows. Two or three ofIour girls jumped
from the window, and we saw people in
the street trying to catch them. My son.
F. C. Young, and Fl. f. Toby of Thorn
aston, made their way out by telegraph
pole. | handed Miss Rideout to Mr..
Toby across the gap. My son followed
with boy. Maggie Love also helped.
All went down the pole safely, but the
current had been turned off,"
Young further said: 'When looked
window we had left. 1t was not five
minutes from the first intimation of fire
until we reached the ground. Our stock
consists almost entirely of ropes but wo
had not time to grab them, though ly-
ing within 80 feet. Six OF our employees
are missing. The first smoke came with
puff like s'flushed'' fire cracker with
hardly any report. 1t was dense, blind
ing, suffocating and very hot. Tne
rapid progress OF the flames was the
most marked feature. The smell might
have been of burning rubber. There
was no smell of gunpowder. Mr.. Young
and party escaped without injury beyond
few scratches from falling glass.
II. G. Young said: s'We swere not So
riously alarmed after reaching the win
dow, except fearing that the girls would
jump. Toby came back to our window
I, ,so Arx yf,,rr RI,
trip down the telegraph pole was safe.
1t looked easy, and the girls Gained
down. I was starting down when Toby
yelled there was another woman inside,
but on going back could see nobody.
1t was getting too hot for safety, SO
down went. The fire was well under
way when the apparatus arrived. When
almost on the ground we saw ladder
pushed past us nearly TO the third floor.
A man hung from fourth story window
exhausted or unconscious, and another
hung on the telegraph wires. 1t was
dreadful sight,
Employees OF many large stores in the
vicinity were on duty until the fire was
under control, ready to move out goods
if necessary. Jordan, Marsh & Co. kept
1000 men for that purpose. Many pro-
prietors nearest the fire moved their
InOSL FdludUlo luSICudu9lScs to NiO Dow
eral panicky house holders. The three
largest buildings burned, the Ames,
Lincoln and Brown Durell, were of mod
ern construction, built in the most non
combustible style possible for mercan-
tile use. Brown Durell had front walls
of sandstone, rear walls of brick. The
Ames and Lincoln buildings were much
like it. al&
Incoming trains from all directions
were heavily loaded during the early
evening. Probably over $4,000 outsiders
helped to pack the streets. in the vicinity
while the fire was in progress.
The Loss.
A conservative estimate of the total
loss is $4,500,000. The insurance will
amount to about 81, 100000. ~
1t is impossible to give detailed losses
tonight owing to uncertainty as to water
damage. Insurance upon principal
buildings and of firms occupying them
is ascertained as follows: On the Ames
building. owned by F. l.. Ames, $685.,
600; on rents $34, 600; Brown, Durrell &
Co. stock, probably $72O, 900; on building
owned by the Real Estate Trust Co.,
about 100000; Barnard, Armstrong
Silk Co., in the Brown, Durrell & Co.
building, insured $25, 900; Horace Par
fridge 6 Co., insurance, about 100000;
Swain, Fuller Manufacturing Co., insured
about $4,000; Woonsocket Rubber Co.,
loss $50, 900, insurance about the same;
six story building, 10s and ia Lincoln
street, owned by John Flagg, valued at
800, ,000 fully insured; damage to United
States hotel will not exceed $4,000, in
sured; six story brick and brown stone
building, 131 and 1873 Essex street, be-
tween the Ames and Brown, Durrell
& Co.'s buildings, owned by the Thurlow
Manufacturing Co., valued at $4,000,
fully insured; Brown, Durrell & Co.
carried stock probably worth $1,500,000,
which is total loss.