Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-30
Seen by a Yellow Journal.

Seen by a Yellow Journal.
A bit Of yellow journalism, which is
not an unfair sample but which is of
special interest since it concerns
matter with which we are familiar in
these parts, is the account of the Port
| land fire which appeared in the New
York Journal, the most yellow OF all
the saffrOn-hued denominations which
William Randolph Hearst infiicts upon
the helpless world. We print this ac-
count below, and to those who know the
truth about the fire as told by the
home newspapers its grotesque
exaggerations and extravagant
absurdities may cause amusement, and
yet there is another side to it which is
not so amusing The type OF news
paper which handles the Portland fire
| in this fashion handles everything else
in the same style and is read by
millions of people. For these people it
fills the world with horrors and
calanties which do not exist and gives
them distorted ideas concerning the
days happenings on all sides. How
can intelligent people, who seek TO
know the truth and who have other
newspapers available, waste their time
and money upon a newspaper which
can publish such things as this? Here
is the New York Journals account of
the Portland fire. Read it and ponder
upon the journalistic moral which it
carries with it.
Portland, Me, Jan. 24.-The worst
fire in the history of Portland is rag
ing.
The blaze is beyond the control Of
the local department., who are fighting
in the face Of a terrific blizzard and
the entire city is in peril
Emergency calls have been sent to
neighboring cities, but the responses
have been 50 slow it is feared The
greater part Of the historic old town
will be RACED to the ground before help
is at hand.
Already the new 100000 City hall
has been levelled and the fire is now
conferred in the business district
Two thousand Knights of Pythias,
who were in convention at the hall,
barely escaped with their lives
People are deserving their homes in
the midst of the awful storm and TAX
ing refuge in the hills.
A bowling northwest storm is blow
ing the flames south of the City hall
The old Longfellow home and the
Union Mutual block, built at a cost of
more than 100000 are in the path of
the flames and are in danger.
Many fremen have been terribly
frozen and Fire Chief Eldridge has
been taken to Il hospital.
The streams of water freeze as thay
are turned on. The fire department
from Lewiston arrived by special train
and its members are aiding the local
workers. but the water supply is so
scarce their help avails little.
The companies of Bath and Bidde-
ford are on their way.
The Chestnut street church and the
big block Of the Fulton Trust Co. are
doomed.
Hundreds of narrow escapes from
death have been reported, but so tar
the police department. demoralized III
aiding the firemen. has heard of no
fatalities.
How the fire started is Il mystery.
1t was discovered in one of the rec
ord rooms of the City hall at Els A.
NJ.
The firemen reached the scene in
quick time, but were hampered in their
efforts by the gale.
When the police realized the great
danger thousands Of citizens were
asked to help in fighting the flames.
Many responded, but owing to the pit
ter cold most We're compelled to give
up their efforts. The pumping sta
tons at the waterwOrkS are being
taxed to their utmost capacity, and it
is feared the water supply will give
out at any moment.
The superintendent of public in
struction has just given orders to
open the schools for the relief of those
who have been driven from their
homes.