The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-05-04
THE BANGOR FIRE.
One Third of the City in Ruins. Property
Loss $2,50O,0OO to So, 5OO,OO Two
Lives Lost. Bangor to Rise from Her

| Ashes.
About 10 o'clock Sunday afternoon, April
SOth, fre was discovered in large frame build.
ing at l76 Broad street, Bangor, used for the
storage of hay and miscellaneous merchandise
How the fire originated is not known. The
fire department responded promptly to the
alarm, but the conditions for fighting the fire
were terrible. The buildings were dry as tin
der, the wind blowing gale, and falling wires
and poles impeded progress. Dynamite and
every Iossible means of checking the flames
were used, butit was not until midnight that the
hremen felt that the flames had done their
worst and that there would be no further ex-
tension of the fire limits. The burned district
extends on both sides of Exchange street from
York to State, excepting First National bank;
York from the bank to French; Park from
State to the Tarratine club; State from the
kenduskeag stream to Exchange; Harlow from
State to Haynes court; Central from Harlow to
Hammond, with exception of few stores on
north side; large sections of Broadway, French,
Center, Park and the cross streets of that
neighborhood; the postoffice and several wooden
buildings in Broad street where the fire origi-
mated. The burned district cannot be described
by exact boundaries as the fire made long leaps
and detours. Many of the beautiful residences
on the west side of Broadway between State
street and South Park, went up in flames Be-
tween the same limits on French street nearly
every residence was burned, while starting
from Harlow street the flames made an almost
clean swath clear to the east side of Broadway
between State and South Park, burning hun
dreds of dwellings on Harlow, Spring, Penob-
scot, Prospect, Cumberland, Center, Somerset,
Garland and Park streets.
Seven churches went up in flames and smoke
Other notable buildings that are now but ashes
are the post Office and custom house, Norum-
bega nall. Penobscot Machinery Co.'S plant, the
Bangor high school, the Windsor hotel, Central
Fire station, Bangor Savings bank and the sub
station of the Bangor Railway & Electric COM
pany. A great loss comes in the destruction
of the Bangor public library, which was located
in the Kenduskeag block and which was totally
destroyed with its many thousands of volumes
and also the valuable collection of the Bangor
Historical society. Totally destroyed are such
splendid business blocks as the Stetson,
Stearns' property, including four and seven
story blocks, six-story Exchange block, seven
story Morse-Oliver block, four-story Kendus-
keag block. and all the blocks on the northerly
side of State street, between the bridge and
Harlow, and the Graham building.
The newspaper Offices escaped, and the
Daily News and Commercial appeared as usual.
The electric service was disrupted, depriving
the city of light and putting the trolley cars
out of commission. The local telephone SER
vice was completely Frustrated by the burning
of the central office and the telegraph service
was cut off for time.
of Brewer, who was surrounded by flames and
then crushed to death by falling wall, and
George Abbott, also of Brewer, who was work
ing as volunteer fireman and died the next
day from injuries received when felled by
toppling chimney
The postoffice employees were able to save
the mails and temporary post Office has been
established in the city hall
Rev. A. A. Smith, who recently left Belfast
to assume Bangor pastorate was one of those
burned out, losing all his household goods, his
library, everything in fact but the clothes he
and his family had on and his church was also
burned.
Conservative estimates of the aggregate
loss are from S2,50O,O00 to S3,5O0,00O, with in
surance of about 60 per cent.
The rs families left homeless and destitute
were all accommodated, either at the homes of
friends, at the city amshouse, or otherwise
and there has been little suffering as a result
of the fire.
Expressions of sympathy and offers of aid
have been received from all quarters. The
steamer Belfast which left Boston Monday
brought 500 beds.
That the "Queen City of the East" will rise
afresh from her ashes, undiscouraged by the
devastating experience in the fire of last Sun
day night, without the necessity of going be-
yond her own borders for aid in rebuilding, is
the sentiment and attitude of Bangor's chief
executive and representative citizens.