The Portland daily press., 1900-07-06

Fire again broke out on Peaks island
yesterday and assumed the largest pro-
portions that have yet been known in the
history of the island. The numerous
blazes communicated to the immense
forest towards the southerly and south
easterly section of the island, new part
for the fire. Early in the forenoon two
zig blazes were discovered in this tract
of woods One was on the sOutherly
part and the other was on the northerly
part several hundred yards beyond.
There are no cottages in the near vicinity
where these flames were discovered and as
result the fire had got a tremendous
headway before tbs alarm was
given. At once word for help
was despatched to the city and at noon
the bells sounded for the freboat which
arrived at the scene within few min
utes. By direction of Chief Engineer
Eldredge the water boat Fannie G. was
also sent along to assist.
Men and boys on the island joined the
force of fremen from the city and during
the afternoon about 300 men were busily
engaged in staying the progress of the
flames. Two lines of hose were thrown
out from Engine and one line from the
Fannie g., these making in all about
s, 0OJ feet which were brou ght into ser
vice. AS there has not been heavy rain
for several days the lou of woods in this
section was very dry and made regular
tinder for the flames which at times
famed up in a most dangerous aspect.
Between 2 and o'clock in the afternoon
the fires from the two opposite points had
spread at such rapid rate that they hal
nearly met. About this point of meeting
there are a number of cottages whose oc-
cupants lost not minute of time in
hauling out the effects and then getting
ready to save the cottages themselves
These cottages which were so greatly
threatened are owned by George Ed
wards, Mr.. Way, Edward Darker, Robert
Gould, Mrs Kendall of Boston, Mrs. Mary
Chapman, Mrs. Cole and Judge Tolman
of Westbrook. The cottage of Mr.. Gould
was the one above all others which
seemed to be in the most dangerous con-
dition. The flames worked up through
the dense woods and had they not been
stopped from crossing the road in front
of Mr.. Gould's that cottage would have
been swept away. At o'clock the part
of the fire which was raging the most
fiercely, rolled up to within about 100
feet of Mr.. Gould's cottage and the smoke
was SO thick that the people who had
gathered at that spot found great diff
Guilty in breathing. Indeed the very thick
smoke drove away many of the sightseers
who had arrived at the scene.
BY dint OF the hardest kind of work
which was carried on under the direction
of Assistant En- gineer HodgsOn, the fire
was got under fair control at clock,
and after this hour there was little likeli-
hood that any of the cottages would be
caught by the flames. Stream upon
stream was thrown into the woods and
then the fremen, as they had done at the
fire on the other part of the island Satur-
day and Monday, chiefly confined their
efforts to thoroughly soaking the spots
to which the fire might spread. At 3
O'Clock the line of hose was taken from
the Fannie G. and connected on to tn
lines from the fire boat.
Great masses of smoke issued from the
fire. and were plainly seen from the city
SO that after the alarm was sounded
large numbers of people went to the
island.
At o'clock Chief Engineer Eldridge
sent an additional 1900 feet of hose to
the island. Engine was bus1ly at work
in pumping all OF last evening and the
indications at that time were that she
would probably remain at the island all
day today
Mr.. W. w. Edwards of Rock Bound
Park, invited part of the firemen to his
cottage and served fish chowder, coffee
and bread. The food which had besn
ordered by Chief Engineer Eldredge did
not reach the island until late.
At midnight last night, the fire had
passed the danger line and was under
| complete control The two lines of hose
worked all night. Every part Of the ISL
and over which the fire has been burning
is completely drenched.