Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-02
ONE THIRD OF CITY
BURNED To GROUND
BY FIERCE FLAMES
Thousands Left Hungry and
Homeless by 100000
Fire Which Ragged for Many
Hours in Bangor, Maine

BANGOR, Ne. May 1.-Homeless. wet,
hungry and exhausted by the long fight
against the flames which last night de-
stroyed practically third OF the city
of Bangor. thousands of persons today
faced the problem of providing them
selves with food, shelter and clothing.
while municipal and state authorities be-
gan the consideration of plans for re-
building the city. ss~
When dawn broke over the stricken city
today hundreds OF groups of men, wo-
men and children could be seen huddled
Ground smouIdering bonfres or stretched
along the edge OF the smoking ruins. en-
deavoring TO warm and dry themselves.
RAIN QUENCHED FIRE
Although the rain brought discomfort
TO the homeless, ii was the means OF
bringing under control the conflagration,
which ragged for more than seven hours
last night At a time when the battle
against the flames seemed hopeless, a
Providential shift of wind and a down.
pour OF rain drove the fire back over the
burned district. and drowned out the
flames which had just started IN unburn-
ed property.
At 7:45 this morning the fire was vir-
tually extinguished. One-third of the
city had been destroyed, including some
of the finest homes in the residential
ings with the exception OF the city han
and the greater part of the retail sec
ton.
Estimates of the probable loss varied,
but il was generally thought that at
least ss.ooo.ooo worth OF property. had been
destroyed. The loss of life. so far as
known this morning. was confined to two
persons and only half a dozen injured
had been admitted to hospitals.
MANY ARE HOMELESS.
The rain and change of wind having
solved the problem of controlling the
fire, the attention of the authorities was
directed today toward the housing of the
homeless and feeding the hungry. Every
householder in Bangor. whose home es-
capped destruction. opened his doors last
night TO the less fortunate, but in spite
OF this thousands were forced to spend
the night in the streets. surrounded by
the few clothing and household utensils
they had been able to save from the
flames. Many of these suffered greatly
from cold and exposure.
More serious. however than the prob
lem of sheltering the homeless was the
matter of feeding them, on account of
the destruction of food supplies in the
retail district Every morning train
brought food 10 the city, but 1t was some
little time before the authorities could
arrange for Its distribution.
To aid the police in the protection of
the little heaps OF furniture and clothing
saved from the fire by individuals, one
company OF militia was ordered out for
patrol and guard duty.
The fire started near the corner OF
Broad and Union streets in the vicinity
OF the city hall at o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon. Famed by a high wind, the
flames swept along in a northerly direc-
ton on either side of Kenduskeag stream,
a small river which flows into the Pc
nobscot. Most OF the public buildings
and banks were in the path of the FIRE
and with the exception Of the city hall.
which was saved after the hardest kind
of fight, all these structures were de-
stroyed.
The burned area includes about 20 city
blocks.
Among the principal buildings destroyed
were the followfngs: Bangor high school;
Bangor public library, in which was To-
Gated the Bangor Savings bank; central
fire station. United States custom house
and postoffice. Universalist. Central Con-
gregational, First Congregational. st.
Johns Episcopal. First Baptist and Ad-
vent churches: Norembega hall. includ-
ing the Gaieth theater, Exchange build
ing. in which was located the law school
OF the University of Maine; Windsor no
tel and Tarrantine club.