The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-06
Worst Fire Seen In Portland For
Several Years.
Both Building and Stock Were Covered
by Insurance.

At a little before two o'clock this morn.
ing the fire department. wss called out by
svo alarms from box 10 10 fght the worst
fire which has been seen In Portland
for some month";.
The blaze was discovered BY Night
Watohman Hugh AcDonough who 10 en-
ployed BY some of the banks on Exchange
and Middle streets. When the fire was
first seen It was bursting out through the
lower windows on tie Market street side
of the y. o. Bailey building at the corner
Of Market and Middle streesa In this
corner Of the building, which is fve
stories In height and covers large area.
there il an elevator we'll. The furnsce Is
also In the basement in this corner near
tire elevator we'll and it is not Improbable
that the fire started from this. Nc
Donouah lest no time In getting 10 boz
as which Is near by and the response to
the nrst alarm shows how well ths Port
land fire department ID fitted 10 meet inst
such emergencies as this. The firss round
had not done ringing before the chemical
engine was on the spct aud Chief FL.
bridge arrived only few minutes later.
In the meantime Councilman Z. X.
Josselyn, who 10 . member OF the nre
committee, had reached the scene and de-
cidsd that q second alarm was neoessary.
He lost no time in pulling 1t in and the
portion of the department which responds
to second alarm from this box was
q uiokly on the spot.
The fire made rapid progress through
ths building. leapins with great rapidly
from floor to floor and following the sls-
vstor well to the roof. On each floor the
nre spread out towards the front Of the
building and for time 1t seemed as II
the entire block was doomed.
1he flames arose In great sheets sky-
ward and rolled out into the narrow
street towards the post office, but this
was soon ended when five or six powerful
streams Of water were put into play.
The y. o. Bailey repository Ia very
large bxiok structure and has acres of
floor room. On every floor 10 stored much
valuable stock. sOn the hasemens::fioor are
the harnesses and horse fittings; on this
second floor sls,shs; on the fourth floor
carriages, aud on the fifth floor carriages
and packing oasss.
The entire stock is valued at 90. 900 and
1t is insured for $50. COO. The building Is
owned By the Black estate Ct Boston and
Ia fully insured.
Next 10 the Bailey store an d above 1t
on Market street Is the block occupied by
tbs msuufaosury Of 7. p. Besls and Tre-
fsthea's grain store.
After the,Drs. few minutes the oceans
OF water which were poured ON the IRE
seemed 70 drive II bAok into the build ing
aud then the narrow street was filled
with stifling black smoke which made 1t
almost impossible to stay in the thorough
fare for minute. The frsmsn were very
anxious ta set into she ffont Of the bald
ing on tho Middle street side and drive
the flames hack. Many attempts were
made to do this and tho greatest courage
and hsro,sRa was displayed By the man.
Clarence Hart. cna sf the Hrsmsn. suc-
cssdsd In getting On to the first floor
which is little below ths level Of the
street. He crawlsd along towards the
back part OF the hser With pipe In HIS
hand bat finally thKsush some mischancs
hts rsspiIator came OF and he was left
without protection In the thickest Of