Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-22
Nearly Half the Summer Ho.
tel Section Destroyed-Loss
100000.
INADEQUATE PROTECTION
one Small Engine and Hose Wagon
Comprised Fire Department-IIo-
tells Burned Include the Fiskc,
Emerson, Alberta, Aldine,
md Lawrence House.

Old Orchard, Me, Aug. 15.-Nearly
one-half of OLD Orchards summer ho-
bel section along the shore front was
swept by fire tonight. tho loss prob.
ably amounting to fully half a mil
lion dollars, At 40 o'clock the flames
were under control The Hotel Fiske,
one of the finest on the beach, valued
at $4,000; the Hotel Emerson, valued
Hotel Alberta, the Aldlne, the Law
renee House and half "A dozen smaller
hotels together with about so cottages
were destroyed within two hours. All
the buildings were OF wooden construc-
ton ana before the flames, famed by
n southwest breeze. were an easy prey
The Old Orchard fire department.
which consists only of one small steam
fire engine and a hose wagon. was ut
terly unable to cope with the blaze
when 1t was discovered and the fire.
men from neighboring cities. Portland.
l}idjeford and Saco. who responded to
calls for assistance, were hampered
for some time after their arrival by
difficulty with the hose couplings.
STARTED IN HOTEL A;,NEX.
The fire was discovered about eight
o'clock in the upper floor Of the Olympia
Hotel Annex which was occupied mainly
by servants employed in the Hotel Emer-
son. 1t IS supposed that an upset lamp
was the origin of the blaze. Adjoining
buildings containing stores located along
the board walk beside the Boston &
Maine railroad tracks soon caught fire
and from these the flames jumped the
berta Hotel and several other large build
:nCs near the shore
An area of about 20 acres along the
beach was soon blazing In this area were
located some Of the most popular of the
hotels all of which were filled with sum
mer guests Many valuable summer cot
tages were also located in this district and
these too were swept by the fire. Most of
the guests managed to save a consider
able quantity of their personal effects.
COMMUNICATIONS CUT OFF.
cut off both by telephone and telegraph
at II 30 1t is reported here that three
men were killed by dynamite used in
blowing UP buildings to stop the progress
of the flames.
The Boston & Maine railroad station
was blown up by dynamite TO arrest the
fire in that direction. The Hotel Seashore,
ncross the street from the Hotel Emerson
has been burned.
From the Hotel Emerson the fire leaped
across the main avenue leading from the
railroad station to the shore and attacked
the Hotel Seashore. This big structure,
one Of the oldest and best known OF the
guest houses here, was soon enveIoped
in flames and was totally destroyed. a
considerable gap of vacant land between
this and othoc buildings to the west
however, served to cut off the further
spread of the contlagration in that direc-
ton.
OLD ORCHARD HOUSE SAVED.
The Old Orchard House and other
buildings on the edge of the CAM
ground plateau overlooking the beach
were saved.
saw mill and lumber yard belonging
70 VIM. T.. Newer and several coal sheds
owned by Porter e Victor were burnec
during the early part OF the blaze. The
bowling alleys and restaurant owned BY
Thomas L. Cleaves HoaGan's drug store
McDonald's drug store and several store.
located along the board walk near tn,
railroad station were also destroyed. Th'
central office of the New England Tele
graph and Telephone company and thu
Postal and Western Union Telegraph of
fees We're burned out.
The fire was under control at l1:4O p