The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-24
Portland, Me-, Sustains a Fire
Loss of 81, 100000.
Value OF Public Documents De-
stroyed Can't Be Estimated.
OF PYTHIAS
We're Holding a Jubilee In the
Building at the Time.
Of the 700 in Attendance ONLY
a Few We're Injured.

Portland, Me-. Jan. PA fire which
caused property damage of s1.Ooo,Ooo
early today, destroyed the city hall and
police buildings and endangered the
lives of more than 700 persons AL
though known as city hall, the building
was divided between city and county
offices, while the police building shell
tered the supreme. judicial and munich
pal courts in addition to the police de-
partment.
The fire was the worst in the state
since the great Portland conf1agration
of 1866, when the city's business ana
residential sections were almost COM
pletely wiped out.
There were more than 700 persons at
tending the Western Maine knights of
Pyth1as jubilee gathered in the auditor
1um OF the city hall Only a few per-
sons were hurt, Chief Engineer Melville
Eldredge being the only one seriously
hurt and he was able to direct the fight
against the flames throughout being
supported by two assistants. The finan-
cial loss, estimated at $1,000. 900, will not
cover the loss of the papers and docu-
ments in the registry of deeds, where
everything was destroyed.
Other departments were swept clear
of everything by the flames, with the
exception of the city clerks and. the
city treasurers offices, the money and
securities in the latter being believed TO
be intact, although it will be almost
impossible to ascertain definitely until
the vaults have cooled sufficiently for
an examination to be made. One of the
most valuable libraries in the state, the
Greenleaf law collection. was complete
ly destroyed, with a loss estimated at
500, 900.
Caused by Crossed Wires.
HI ,seJ, +oI in, fI1 oif al
trician's office and was caused by cross
ed wires, and this made it impossible
to ring a call for the fire department in
any Of the boxes.
The fire was discovered by newspa-
per man on his way home, who noticed
q red glare as he was passing the city
engineers office He tried to pull an
alarm from a nearby box, stationed
outside a fire station. The signal rang
the station alarm and brought the fire.
men from that house to the scene, but
they and a few others who were sum-
moned by telephone constituted the
whole fire fighting force for half an
hour during which time the flames
gained such headway as to become un-
controllable. When Chief Engineer
/ ldridge arrived he gave up all hopes
Of saving the building and confined the
efforts of the department to protecting
surrounding property.
When the flames were discovered
William A. Turner, chairman of the
meeting of the Pythian body was met
in the hallway by three men who ac-
quainted him with the condition of
affairs He coolly entered the auditor
ium and assembled the stage, interrupt
ing the rites of investure which were
going on at that time. He calmly
told the assembled members Of the
existing conditions and thus averted a
panic, bringing out more than 700
persons uninjured.
Earlier in the evening there had
been more than 1900 people in the
auditorium for the jubilee exercises
as the hall was, many lives might
have been lost.
Chief Engineer Eldredge sustained his
injuries by the breaking away of
coupling of hose which hit him in the
stomach. When the flames climbed to
the police building, where the county
iail is located, the prisoners were set
free They had been arrested for only
minor offenses.
The building which was five story
structure of brick, burned up and down
from the third floor as did the hall.
Aid was summoned from Bath, Bidde-
ford, Saco and Lewiston, but the lat
ter was the only city to get its ap-
paratus in the city before daybreak.
When 1t arrived 1t was too late to take
any active part in the fight against the
flames The city hall survived the great
fire of 1885, although it was badly dam
aged at that time. 1t was first opened
in 1859. The building had a frontage of
$50 feet and was 200 feet long It's
central dome rose $50 feet above the
roof. The building was constructed of
colored Nova Ecotia Albert stone and
contained so rooms.