The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-17
Deering Threatened With Terrible
COnflsgratiOa.
BARN DESTROYED AND IWV
HOUSES PRACTICALLY In RUINS.


uoned From Portland.
One of the most stubborn fires and most
difficult to handle, owing to the danger
to surrounding property, was fought
yesterday forenoon by the Deering fire
men. 1t was about II O'Clock when Mr..
j.. q Eldridge, a painter, who was at
work in the Newman house on Spring
street, heard a rumbling and cracking
noise in the lower part Of the house.
The family were all away at the time be-
ing in Portland. Mr.. Eldridge opened
tire door leading into the ell of the house
when he encountered stubborn blaze.
lie lost no time in sounding the alarm
from box IS at the corner OF Spring and
High streets. The Newman house is
two and one-half story house, and is oc-
cupied by Mrs. Edward Newman, the
mother of the superintendent of the Port
land Railroad company. and her daugh-
ter and husband, Mr.. and Mrs. Augustus
Small. Adjoining the house at the side
is an ell. Another ell and porch at the
rear connects the house with a large two
and one-half story stable. In the stable
was quantity Of hay, two or three car
riages, a horse, young heifer, young
pig and number of chickens.
The fire worked its way through the
porch and into the stable and before the
alarm had finished ringing the stable
was in flames. Some of the tiremen with
the assistance of bystanders, rescued the
horse, carriages, heifer, chickens and
some other property, but the pig being
suffocated by smoke, did not make the
f1remen aware of his presence, so that the
animal was roasted alive. The wind,
which was fortunately not very high at
the time, famed the flames across the
street and set fire to the shingles of the
large house occupied by Manasseh Smith,
and the small house occupied by Messrs.
A. a. Huston and Mr.. Alonzo Hanson.
BY prompt attention these blazes were
promptly extlnguished.
Chief Moody was in Portland when the
alarm was rung in, but arrived promptly
on the scene, being conveyed in the
wagon driven by Chief Eldridge of the
Portland department. The fire was an
intensely hot one and in very short order
worked its~Nay into the Newman house,
but by prompt attention the fire was con-
fined to the ell so that the damage to the
main house from fire was small.
Adjoining the Newman property is the
handsome two and one, half story French
rooted residence of Mr.. VIM. II. Scott, the
Portland sheet iron worker. The intense
heat of the fire soon set fire to the Scott
house near the ROOF, and the flames worked
into the walls of the building near the
attic.
just prior to this a second alarm had
been sent in calling the entire Deering
department.
Chief Eldridge kindly rendered the use
Of engine and hose OF Portland, which
were soon on the spot and rendered val
liable assistance.
At one time it looked as though the fire
in the Scott residence was nearly extin-
gu1shsd, Ebut it broke out again fiercely
just as the Portland engine was ready to
send in stream of water.
While the fire was in progress Word was
sent to the chief that fire was in pro-
gress on Chestnut street, in the story and
half house owned by J.Maroney and &C.
vupied by a Mr. Madden and family, the
house being situated next the Maine Gen.
trail railroad.
Assistant Engineer Cloudy with hose
2 and we're detailed to attend this fire.
J, This fire caught on the roof as a result
of sparks which were blown in that di-
reotion nearly a quarter of mile from
the Newman fire. The fire was quickly
extinguished and the damage is very
small.
About o'clock another fire was dis
covered on the. roof of the ell of the house
Of Mr. Henry Green, Mechanic street.
some distance from the fire, but which
was caused by sparks from the big fire.
Assistant Engineer Themes with the men
from Hose and attended to this blaze,
which Was soon extinguished.
The tiremen rendered excellent service
and large amount of the furniture be-
longing to Mr.. Scott. was saved from the
flames.
During the fire, which lasted until near
Iy 2 O'Clock the neighbors furnished the
fre1nen with hot coffee, doughnuts and
other refreshments, which were heartily
appreciated.
The origin of the blaze is a mystery as
there was no fire in the house stove.
which was in the ell of the house where
the fire caught.
The ell of the Newman house was bad
Iy Quilted by fire, and two of the rooms in
the main house were damaged by water,
while the stable was an entire loss. The
loss to the Newman heirs is estimated at
$500. There was an insurance of $4,000
on the house, stable and furniture in the
agency of Palmer, Anderson & Co. ,Eof
Portland. The SCOTT house Is owned by
Mrs. Mary II. Scott, and is valued at
about $40. 600. Mr. Scott had about $4,000
worth of furniture, and his son-in-la law,
MIR. James Parker, who resided with the
family, had about $1,000 worth :. Of furni-
ture.
The damage to the house andaproperty