Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
Property of Grand Trunk at
Portland, Me-, Destroyed.
ESTIMATED LOSS, 100000
Freight Sheds and Valuable Con-
tents q Total Loss.
LOCAL FIREMEN
HELPLESS
Lewiston and Biddleford Depart
ments Called-Steamship Corn
ishman Has Close Call.

Special Dispatch to The Star
PORTLAND. Me. December 4.-tire,
which started early this morning in the
storage docks of the Grand Trunk rail-
way here. swept across the water front
and caused a loss which will, at is be-
lieved. reach 100000.
The entire Portland fire department was
called out within a few minutes after
the discovery of the blaze, which had
already, however, gained such Roadway
that the fireinen were helpless against it.
Within half hour the fire chiefs decided
to call upon nearby towns for aid. and
special trains were rushed from Bidde
ford. Bath and Lewiston with additional
apparatus.
The Grand Trunk railway has eight
mammoth docks at this point. The lower
two of these where the fire started, were
completely destroyed. The docks above
these were swept by the flames. and most
of the freight lying in them will be
total loss.
There were three ships tied up at the
docks at the time. The largest Of these
was the Cornishman of the Dominion
line. This was saved only after a'long
effort by firemen and dock employees.
When warped out into the stream her
stern was on fire and the flames had
reached her cargo. The crew, in mid
stream. succeeded in putting out the fire.
with only small damage. The boats de-
parture will. however. be delayed some
time while the necessary repairs are be-
ing made. She was all loaded and ready
to start for London today.
Grain Elevators in Danger.
The fire was discovered at 1856 o'clock
in No. shed. and spread rapidly to the
adjoining buildings The Grand Trunk
plant consists of six large and wide piers
covered with freight sheds and two other
piers occupied by the largest grain ele-
are connected with the sheds by gal
leries The galleries, as well as the sheds
themselves, run the whole length of the
piers, SEQ feet
The fire began at the extreme westerly
end of the plant and spreas! rapidly.
AS the flames gained Roadway they ate
through the partitions and swept un-
checked to the adjoining galleries. In a
few moments they were raging along the
galleries and We're menacing the e,e-
vators.
The fire was discovered by Henry Way,
customs officer who rang in an alarm
from the city system and also the Grand
Trunks private system. The company
has complete system, with steam pumps
ready for action. a trained fire-fghting
force and a number of bell alarms. The
Grand Trunk department was first to
come and in a few minutes had streams
on shed No. |.
High Wind Carries Sparks.
The wind was blowing from the west
and hurled sparks and glowing brands
directly across the piers. The Portland
department was prompt in arriving and
as soon as Chief Eldridge reached the
scene he ordered second alarm, and a
few moments later called for a general
alarm. Realizing that his force was in
adequate to cope with the fire, he tele-
phoned for help from Lewiston and Bid
deford.
The long galleries for transporting grain
to the holds of the steamships running
down on each wharf are SO constructed
that that part of the structure could be
demolished by the firemen and this was
done by means of long cables in an effort
to check the flames.
BY this time the flames had worked
their way up toward elevator No. 1, which
is the smaller of the two big elevators.
1t holds three-quarters of million
bushels of grain and is valued at S75O,O
At o'clock the firemen made a stand
at this building and directed all their
energies to saving it. The fire was final
ly stopped here.