The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-08-22
Old Orchard Beach Swept By Fire.

night of last week, the loss probably /
to full half million dol
lars.
The Hotel Fiske, one Of the finest
on the beach, valued at $50, 900, the
Hotel Emerson, valued at S75, 900 with
its furnishings, the Hotel Alberta, the
Aldine, the Lawrence house and half
a dozen smaller hotels, together with
about so cottages were destroyed
within two hours.
All the buildings are of wooden con-
struction and the flames, famed by a
southwest breeze found them an easy
prey.
The Old Orchard fire department,
which consists only of one small steam
fire engine and hose wagon, was ut
terly unable to cope with the blaze
when it was discovered and the fire.
men from neighboring cities, Portland
Biddeford and Saco, who responded to
calls for assistance were hampered
for some time after their arrival on
the scene by difficulty with the coup
lings.
The fire was discovered about s
O'Clock in the upper part OF the Olym-
pia hotel annex, which was occupied
mainly by servants employed in the
Hotel Emerson. 1t was supposed
that an upset lamp was the origin of
the blaze. When the Old Orchard
firemen were called out they found
the entire upper stories of the annex
in flames and were unable to prevent
the spread of the fire to the main por-
ton of the hotel.
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 tracks
and communicated with the Alberta
hotel and several other buildings near
the shore.
An area Of about 80 acres along the
beach was soon blazing. In this area
were located some of the most popu-
lar of the hotels, all of which were
filed to overlooking with summer
guests.
Many valuable summer cottages
were also located in this district and
these, too, were swept by the fire.
Most of the guests managed to save
a considerable quantity of their per
sonal effects from the blazing struct-
ures, but nearly all the furnishings Of
the hotels were destroyed.
Two lives were lost and five persons
were injured, three seriously by the
fire which swept through this sea-
shore resort Wednesday night, caus-
ing loss estimated at from S50O,000
to $750,0O0. The dead;
Philip Partridge, "a years old, of
Pittsburg, Pa, struck by Boston &
Maine train at Kennebunk and killed
while on way to the fire at Old Or
chard.
An unidentified man, killed by ex-
plosion of soda tank; head blown off;
nothing in clothing to Indicate iden-
tity.
The injured: Rev. Rufus H. Jones,
rector Trinity Episcopal church, Saco,
Me-, at Trull hospital, Biddeford:
seriously injured by soda tank explo-
sion with possible fracture of the
skull.
Melvin T. Morrill,, Salem, Mass,
Boston & Maine Railroad engineer,
visiting friends, left leg fractured and
collar bone broken by soda tank ex-
plosion.
An unidentified man, probably ia
tally hurt by tank explosion; uncon-
scious since the accident; nothing in
clothing to show identity.
Samuel Emerson, of Old Orchard, So
years old, father OF VIM. T. Emer-
son, manager of the Hotel Emerson,
found unconscious in the street from
tank explosion.
Miss Alice Minard, Pittsfeld Pa,
severely bruised by being thrown
from carriage at Kennebunk while on
way to Old Orchard with Philip Part
ridge, who was killed.
Seventeen summer hotels, 60 cot
tages and score of building occu-
pied by stores were destroyed. The
explosion which caused SO many in
juries occurred in Horgan's drug store
on Old Orchard avenue.
The fire is supposed to have started
from an overturned lamp, in the an
mex of the Hotel Olympia.
The total insurance, it is said, will
not exceed $4,000
In the clothing of the unknown man
killed by the explosion of the soda
tank, Coroner F. G. Bradbury, Friday,
found the address "Miss Eva Single
ton, North Abingdon, Mass, "a Harri-
son avenue" and another memoran-
dunn on a slip of paper bearing the
name of CDR. Northrop, Gardiner,
Mass.
The principal losses by the fire are
as follows:
Joseph Bernies, Bernies House, $50
500.
Thomas L. Cleaves, Cleaves House,
$25, 200.
Charles H. Fiske, Hotel Fiske, $780,
600.
Charles w. Graham, Gorham house,
and livery stable, $4,000.
a. L. jacques, New Palmer House,
$4,000
J. l. Mason, Florida House and vari-
ETY. store, $4,000.
Fred Mclaughlin, Bath House, s5,
900.
Frank G. Staples, seahore House,
$4,000.
J. c. R. Whittemore, billiard hall,
$4,000.
Fred Whittier, stable, $4,000.
Nathan Woolf, Boston, souvenir
goods store, $4,000.
w. o. Alden, Portland, Hotel AL
berta, S35, 900.
Mrs. H. E. Barton, Lawrence, Mass.
two cottages, $4,000.
E. L. Smith, Granite City cottages,
$4,000.
A. D. Morse, Barre, VT, cottage,
$4,000.
H.N Dyke, Saco, Me-, New Marl-
boro hotel, $4,000.