The Portland daily press., 1896-07-13
A SUNDAY BLAZE.
Warehouses ON Union Wharf on Fire
Yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon at s. 20 O'Clock Mr..
White, the watchman for the cooperage
company, saw smoke issuing from the
warehouse known as No. IL, located on
Union wharf and owned by the Fox heirs
of which property Gen. Francis Fessen
mediatelY pulled in an alarm from boz
412 and the department quickly re-
sponded.
AS soon as Ohief Eldridge arrived on
the spot he saw that he had an ugly
blaze to fight. There is almost solid
line Of two story wooden warehouses with
gravel roofs running from u. A. Waldron
& Sons store down to the end OF the
wharf, the only break occurring at the
southeasterly end of No. 10 where the fire
started. The end of No. 10 next to this
gap has brick wall and there is an
other brick wall between warehouses No.
9 aud 10. The fire was confined almost
wholly to Nos. 10, II. and 12, a little
damage being done to No. g. All told
there are some % warehouses on the
wharf SO that fire well started is q
menace to the commercial part Of the
city.
When Chief Eldridge saw what he had
TO contend with he ordered second
alarm and the apparatus was quickly on
hand. The engines were stationed at the
hydrants at the head of the wharf and
long lines of hose run down to the fire.
Engine No. 2, the fire boat, took her
place on the westerly side of the wharf
and threw two streams SO powerful that
they made tho cIapboards fly in great
shape. No, 10 where the fire originated
and was hottest was filed with some 20
tons of excelsior and those who remem-
bered the great firesof 1875 that started in
the Maine Steamship sheds and which
was caused by excelsior getting afire
feared for the result. The smoke created
by the burning excelsior was something
fearful. tt rolled up in huge clouds and
foated down the bay, it swooped down
| on the wharf and the adjacent streets
| and almost suffooated the firemen and
the spectators. 1t would apparently die
| out only to revive with renewed vigor.
At every vantage point was gathered
hundreds Of specta tors. Commercial
street and the wharves sdjacent to Union
wharf were black with people. A long
train standing on the wharf were covered
with people until Deputy Serling and the
police drove them back. fearing they
| would meet with injury, and right here
we desire TO again praise the work of the
police. AS in the case of the fire at
Delanos mills the approaches of the
wharf were roped off, the policemen
| stationed at salient points, and fremen.
| property owners, insurance men and re-
| porters had a clearer field and could do
their business quickly and promptly.
Deputy Sterling and his force are TO be
congratulated.
During the progress of the fire line of
hose burst and the cataract gave small
crowd that had taken positions on the
cars good soaking.
| Nos. IL, II, and 10 were pretty well
| quilted and probably held more water at
| the end of the fire than many reservoirs.
| The excelsior in No. IL was owned by W.
| II. Winslow who had about 70 tons in the
DullQtnE Valu6Q AG SOIU0 SloUU. OD tnlS
he had some $500 insurance which was
| formerly placed with Anderson, Adams
& Co., but has lately been placed we un-
| derstand by Clark Barker. No. II was
filed with hogsheads of molasses belong
ing to D. W. True 81 Co, but as the
m olasses was not burned, it is probably
not injured. 1t is we'll insured. No. 10
was empty. No. 9 was filled with feed
of every description and was owned by
f. A. Waldron & Son. The property here
| is but slightly damaged. 1t is valued at
| about $1,000 and William Allen. Jr.. has
| a policy on it of $780, The three build
ing are valued at about $1,000 each and
are all insured.
| The all out was sounded sc 9.55 p. N.
During the evening T. A. Waldron &
Son gave the police and fremen
stationed at the fire good layout Of
coffee, beans. cold meats and other
| eatables.