The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-10
A TOWN BURNED.
Fire Left But0 BuiIdingon
Main Streetof Norway, Me.
Ssyenty.Two Dwellings Burned-Busi-
ness Houses Furnish Food for Flames
pu The AssoeIatea Press.

PoRrLAxD, Me-, May lo-The little
village Of Norway was visited yesterday
By the most disastrous frs that place has
seen since 1851. Every store and other
buildings on Main street were crumb bled
Into ashes. and the total loss will amount
20 100000
Fire broke out yesterday afternoon In
Cummings' furniture factory across the
river from the village. and before it could
be subdued had jumped the stream, set
hrc TO the opera house and communi-
Gated to neigh boring buildings. Norway's
only method of lighting flames was with
y hand engine and this had no effect on
the fire.
IL was soon seen that the whole town
was threatened, and aid was summoned
from Lewiston and Portland. II was an
hour before the engines fro IN these cities
could reach Norway, and by that time
all the buildings on Main street had been
burned to the ground Merchants on the
street made frantic efforts to save their
stock, aud In many cases were successful.
but the flames spread so rapidly that 1t
was impossible to save much.
Wind swept the flames directly down
the principal street, and sparks from the
burning buildings set fire to many houses
remote from the heart of the fire. Sew
enty-two dwelling houses. including the
homes of all the prominent merchants
and professional men, were burned, and
hundreds of people were forced to fee
from houses, leaving everything to the
mercy Of the fire.
Many people were badly injured by fall
ing tim bers, and several are supposed 10
have met death. II is impossible to give
any idea Of the horror of the scene or to
estimate the losses. The principal places
Of business were destroyed.
The Business Losses.
The following stores were buried, in
addition 20 az dwelling houses: Cum
mings' furniture factory: Hamlin a. Bick-
nell, groceries; II. b. Foster, clothing;
Norway National bank and Savings bank,
the Oxford company's shoe store: Mrs. Il.
W. Hill. milliner and fancy goods; b. w.
Hill. jsweler: Thompson's barber shop,
A. J. Hanson's store the Norway laun-
dry; Merridge. dry goods; Miss Libby.
millinery; G. H. Tucker, harnesses; Gull
ford a. Co, groceries; Dingley's bakery,
the CongreRationalisJ church, the Nor
way academy. Wallace's tannery; Welch.
dry goods; Hamlin tS Bieknell, clothing;
B. B. Farnsworth a. Co, boots and Shoes
the Western Union telegraph and tele-
phone exchange, the postoffice. Several
1awyers', doctors and dentists Offices
were destroyed. with their contents
The Bcal hotel was saved by miracle.
but the rest CT the street Is entirely swept
away. AS soon as the engines from Port
land ard Lewiston arrived they were put
TO work TO save such buildings ar had not
been burned, and four hours after it
started it was under control
The Norway militia company are under
arms. patrolling the streets and guarding
such property as has been saved. Home
less people are seeking shelter in houses
that escaped the flames.
Physicians report many cases Of injury.
hut no dead bodies have been found as
yet. although severai people are reported
missing.
III. M. Fonce, a prominent merchant.
says that the loss will amount TO at least
t500, 900. The insurance cannot be learned.
At midnight mothers were huntin for
children and children for mothers. while
. relief committee hastily organized by
citizens was aiding the authorities in pro-
viding quarters Tor the homeless and car
ing for the injured. Several cases of at
tempted robbery have been reported.
Continued on Page IL