Evening star., 1908-01-24
City Hall of Portland, Me-,
Wholly Destroyed.
CAUSED BY CROSSED WIRES
Loss Does Not Include Valuable
Library and Papers.
FIRE CHIEF IS BADLY INJURED
Considered Remarkable That No.
body Was Killed-Previous
Big Fire in 1866.

PORTLAND Maine. January "A fire
which caused a property damage of ST.
900. 900 early today destroyed the city hall
and police buildings. and endangered the
lives of more than 200 persons. Although
known as city hall. the building was di-
yided between city and county Offices,
while the police building sheltered the su
preme. judicial and municipal courts in
addition to the police department.
The fire was the worst in the state
since the great Portland confiagration Of
1866. when the citys business and residen-
tal sections were almost complet tely wiped
out.
That there were no fatalities is re-
markable as there were more than 700
persons attending the Western Maine
knights of Pythias jubilee gathered in the
auditorium of the city hall when the
flames were discovered. Only few per-
sons We're hurt. Chief Engineer Melville
E!dridge being the only one known to be
seriously injured. and he was able to di-
rect the fight againust the flames through
out, being supported by two assistants.
Crossed Wires to Blame.
The financial loss is estimated at ST.
600 900, but this sum will not cover the
loss of the papers and documents in the
registrys of deeds, where everything was
destroyed Other city 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 i'm
possible 10 ascertain definitely until the
vaults have cooled sufficiently for an eX-
animation to be made. One OF the most
valuable libraries in the state the Green
rpl GtN-
stroyed with a loss estimated at $40, 00e.
The blaze originated i'll the city "iec-
trcian's office and was caused by crossed
wires and this made ii impossible to ring
n call for the fire department In any of
the boxes.
Fire Fighters Handicapped.
The fire was discovered by newspaper
man on his way home. who noticed a red
glare as OF Kissing wires in the city engi-
neer's office. He tried to pull an alarm
from nearby box stationed outside
fire station. The signal rang the station
alarm and brought the firemen from that
house to the scene. but they and few
Others who were summoned by telephone
constituted the whole t1re-hgnting force
for half an hour during which time the
flames gained such headway as to be-
come uncontrollnDle.
When Chief Engineer Eldridge arrived
the building and confined the efforts OF
the department TO protecting surrounding
property.
When the flames were discovered VIII
liam A. Turner. chairman OF the meet
ing of the Pyth.an body, was met in the
hallway by three men who acquainted
him with the condition OF affairs. Coolly
he entered the auditorium and ascended
the stage, interrupting the rites of invea-
tfure which were gong on at the time.
He calmly told the assembled members Of
the existing conditions and thus averted
panic bringing out more than 100 per-
sons uninjured. Earlier in the evening
there had been more than 1850 persons in
the auditorium for the jubilee exercises.
and had the fire occurred then, packed as
the hall was many lives might have been
lost.
Other Big Fire.
chef Engineer Eidr.dge sustained his
injuries by the breaking away OF a
Samese coupling OF hose. which hit him
in the stomach. 80
When the flames communicated to the