The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-01
Food and Clothing For the
Homeless Needed at Once
Flames and Dynamite De-
stroy 200 Dwellings, Six
Churches, Public Library,
Law School, Post Office,
All Hotels and Restaurants
and Scores of Business
Buildings
fspecial from United Press. ,


broke, today. Bangor came to the first
full realization of the appalling ex-
tent Of the disaster which in a few
hours wiped out nearly half the entire
city. Hardly person in the whole
community slept during the night. for
although the progress of the flames
was checked at midnight, hundreds
were homeless Instead of trying to
find shelter, these forlorn refugees
walked about the streets all night
gazing dismally at the blank, charred
masses that represented all that re-
manned of their homes and businesses.
1t is. plainly seen, today, that no
such calamity ever visited this part
of the State and insurance adjusters
declare that the conflagration was by
far the worst since the great Portland
fire of 1866. In spite of the stunning
blow that has fallen upon the city.
however, the stouter hearted of the
community are already looking to, the
rebuilding of the city. But these
plans are more or less tentative be-
cause there are far more pressing
needs of the moment. The disaster
of rich and poor and there is hearty,
if somewhat disjointed efforts to all
leviate suffering. The homeless are in
need of immediate relief in the way of
provisions and clothes, the first
batclles of which came in on the early
trains. today.
Mayor Mullin, after a survey of the
ruins this morning. sent out the fol-
lowing appeal for relief:
1.-The situation is worse than any
body can realize More than two hun
dred dwellings have been destroyed
and their occupants rendered home
less. Although most of the people have
means. their present need is great. At
the same time, many are absolutely
destitute as a result of the fire.
A tour of the city shows the situa-
tion has not been exaggerated. There
is hardly a grocery. bakery or restau-
rant left standing and the food prob
lem is a very serious one. The actual
suffering for lack of food has not been
much in evidence so far but unless
adequate supplies come in, today, some
of the homeless will be hungry before
night
The troops, called out by Mayor
Mullin just before midnight when he
declared the city to be under martial
law, are patrolling the fire zone. Lit
tie outlawry has been reported, so
far.
During the night, the light rain that
helped check the progress of the fire
had continued to sprinkle the ruins
and only in a few isolated spots did
the flames leap into life anew and
these outbreaks were not serious The
rain, while doing a large share in
saving the rest of the city from des-
truction, made the lot of the home
less a dismal one. Practically all the
restaurants were destroyed and the
refugees many of whom had been I'M
able to gather sufficient clothing in
their flight, wandered about aimlessly,
cold, hungry and disheartened.
A survey of the ruins, today, in
dicated that the loss will reach five
millions at least and possibly more.
While no bodies have been recovered,
it is practically certain three persons
more Communication with the out
side world is greatly hampered by the
fact that the wires are down in many
places but as rapidly as possible this
is being repaired. Within an hour af-
ter the fire destroyed the telephone
exchange driving 40 operators from
the building a. new switchboard was
here this morning and was imnedi-
ately installed outside the stricken
area so that some semblance Of SER
vice was possible by noon.
The fire started in a hay shed in
Front street. Before it was finally
checked it had swept over two miles
north. along the Kenduskeag stream
over an area a mile wide. The flames
devoured everything in their path.
schools, public buildings, houses and
barns.
The first alarm was sounded at
o'clock, yesterday afternoon and it
was seven hours later that firemen,
called from outside cities, had con-
trolled the flames In the meantime
dynamite had been used unsparingly
to demolish buildings in the path of
the devastating onslaught but without
avail The flames leaped chasms that
looked capa BILE of defying their pro-
gress and at one time shot across the
Kenduskeag and continued their march
of destruction with renewed fury.
By this time the Bangor firemen
were absolutely helpless and the ter
ror stricken people fled madly from
the city, believing the entire town
doomed Later in the night dynamite
was again resorted to and although a
score of buildings were blown up, the
flames marched up triumphantly. The
county Jail was in the path of the
flames and as the prisoners saw the
approach of the flames they were in
a panic. The warden prepared for in
stant removal of his charges but be-
fore the fire reached the prison a shift
in the wind. light rain and fresh fire
fighters had checked the blaze.
In the meantime. six churches over
200 dwellings, the public library post
office. several hotels. University of