The Portland daily press., 1898-09-12

DIR. johnson, building, l,500UnknOWn
Mrs. Charles Berry, resi-
dence, 1900 700
Reynolds & Alden, build
ing, 1,500Unknown
The other property destroyed brings
the amount up to the estimate.
The fire was undoubtedly of incendiary
origin, 1t broke out in the saw mill of
the recently formed International Paper
company, large wooden building on
what is locally called Mill hill, in the
south side of the town. Those in the
rniIl had no chance to extinguish the
flames as they had ignited the dry wood
en- partitions. also some loose lumber, and
were burning fercely within a few
minutes. Within very short time the
entire saw mill and a quantity of lum-
Der near 1t were mass of flames. A
moderately high westerly wind prevailed
land hampered those who had fastened
apparent that a disastrous fire was in
progress and dispatches were sent to the
lcities of Lewistona aid Auburn, and to
the town of Pennington, the latter
1 about IL miles north Of this place.
| Liyermore Falls has only one fire en-
CINE and some time ago that became
disabled. 1t was sent to Portland to be
days ago. The engine was on the scene
of the fire early and attempted to get q
good stream on the saw mill. Unfortu.
nately the steamer would not work. Me-
chanics worked over it for half an hour
and finally succeeded in getting it into
operation. In the meantime, however,
the flames had spread rapidly along the
left side of Main street and the situation
became SO serious that it looked at one
time as if the greater portion of the town
| would be wiped out.
! From the saw mill the fire spread to
the pulp mills and the leather board
plant which were located near by. These
mills were also owned by the Internation-
al Paper company. The company's
grist mill, which was leased to Geo.
Chandler, on the same side of the street,
next caught fire and within few min
utes the International Paper company's
planning mills, operated by Raymond
Bros. WAS also burning. All these build
| ings were of wood and burned like tin
der. At Raymond Bros, the fire jumped
over toward the right side of Main street
and gained new foothold in the large
wooden machine shops of Millet IL
Brosnahan. These were destroyed.
The fire then swept through Main and
Depot streets, wiping out the buildings
for a long distance on each street.
! The local fire engine had to be aban-
doned near Raymond's planning mill,
owing to the intense heat, which drove
the firemen away. The engine was par
italy destroyed.
The fire continued down Depot street
and at O'Clock 1T attacked the Riverside
house. Before the fire reached the River
side house, the dwelling of Mrs. hyde was
blown up by dynamite and similar steps
were taken at the residence of George
Whittier. This was blown to pieces, but
the dynamiting operations had little
effect.
An engine from Lewiston and one
from Auburn, which arrived at II 30
were pouring great streams of water on
the burning district and at the Riverside
house determined stand was madesto
prevent the property beyond from catch
ing fire. At 1.45 the hotel was burning
furiously.
A two-story building occupied by Il.
l.. Hersey, cigar manufacturer, and by
Batohelder's harness shop, near the hotel,
was destroyed AS far as known at IL. 80
O'Clock, only one life was lost. A two
year-o d child ola family named White
was left in it's crib in che house and was
burned to death.Fa q
This afternoon while the fire was at lts
height, blaze was noticed In the drand
View house, some distance from the CON
fagration. From the nature OF me
blaze 1t Is thought that it was staroe =
by an incendiary. 1t was extlhguisheo
without much damage.
~rx5a- ~