The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-18
sACo's FIRE.
Her Handsome City Building Practically
Destroyed.


$aco, March l7.-Saco and Biddeford peo-
ple would like TO know whether fire bug
is at work here or not. Three mysterious
fires, in two causing heavy loss, and
iii the last case threatening one nearly as
large have occurred within two years. First
came the destruction OF the Biddeford high
school. 1t was a new building, and they
said the boiler did it, but the origin of the
fire WAS never satisfactorily explained. and
fhe loss was between $4,000 and $4,000.
Next came he Biddeford City hall, burned
December 80 The fire inquest said the
steam pipes did it, but no one knows how
that ire OF oliginated. II will cost Biddeford
100000 for a new City hall. and the insur-
ance will not go far towards paying this.
Then came SaCo City hall last night. In
surance men say that electric light wires
did it. but no one can explain just how it
caught, and the electric light men declare
it impossible. Many believe that the fire
was set. AT any event the circumstances
are peculiar.
SacO fortuna tely escapes any of the loss.
damage was fully covered by Insurance,
but had the fire smouldered little longer,
the entire building would have gone, and
it would have cost the city nice little sum
above the insurance for new hall. AS it
was the ire had an ugly look when it br oke
out, and it was only through good work by
the tremen that the fire was kept under
control. BiddefoTd furnished ready assis-
| tance, and both departments worked togeth-
er with will
Members cf the City Council held eau
Gus in their rooms unil 1890 Saturday night
and it was nearly eleven before the build
ing was locked up. Soon after, d. f. Little
field. who wassgoing home. smelled smoke
and after Several minutes discovered some
issuinga from the ventilate in the middle
of the roof. Before the department could
arrive the ire had burst through the venti-
lator and the building appeared doomed.
The fire was all in the garret over the main
hall. The big ventilator inside burned and
dropped to the hau floor. 1t was a strange
sight to see two bands of men standing in
the middle of that bali floor directing two
powerful streams up through the ventilator
overhead, while sparks dropped on them
continually.
The Saco department was handicapped
by the lack of decent hook and ladder
truck. and no one reached the roof until
the BIddeford truck came over. The Bid
deford department responded promptly. as
soon as word could be got to them, and
rendered ready assistance. The new Saeo
fire alarm system, which is to connect with
the Biddeford. is to be ready next week.
The fire was con fined to the attic ,and not
drop of water reached the stage, but
there is big hole in the roof, and the rest
of the building is thoroughly soaked. The
hall and nearly all the offices will have to
be Terlastered and Iedecorated. The eie-
CANT dance floor, one of the best in the
state, wa. three inches deep with dirty
water after the fire. Today it was covered
foot deep with sawdust, and tonight the
floor is dry and will come out all right.
The wax saved it. The hole in the Icof
was covered today. The hall will be wired
again tomorrow. and the Mikado will be
produced there Friday night on schedule
time. There are no flies on Salo. if she Is
old fashioned
| The permanent repairs will take some
| time. 1t is funny that both city halls ara
out of use at the same time. Saco's nsw
city government will be inaugurated tomor-
row in York Institute hail. and biddeford's
| in the Enmet's hall.
] The insurance on the building and con-
| tents was $4,000 with George A. Carter &
| Co. The loss it is estimated at from STSlD
| to $4,000. The stage is separated from the
rest OF the hall by a urick wall, aud the
scenery is not damaged a particle.