The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-05-05
BIG FIRE AT BANGOR
.wEs SWEEP BUSINESS AND
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS OF
MAINE CITY.
s6.ooo,oOo is THE LOSS
rl,emen Are Almost Helpless Before
Gale-Fanned BIaxe-Dynsmite Re
sorted 10 10 stop conflagratlon-
Hundreds Are Made Homeless.

hangar Me. May Fire. starting
Il, broad street, near Union. close by
no junction OF the Penobscot river
ana the Kenduskeag stream, which
divides the city. swept northward.
sorned by a stiff southerly breeze,
viped out practically all OF the bust
,aas district and public buildings and
large portion OF the best residential
district on the northern side. render
ing thousands homeless. The loss is
estimated at s6.000.000.
Fire Fighters Inadequate.
The efforts OF the fire department
from the time the fire started were
absolutely futile. The flames swept
north along Broad street from Union,
then Jumped the Kenduskeag stream,
running along on the western bank
along Exchange street.
The Smith and Strickland blocks at
~. junction OF Hammond and Central
streets and the Kenduskeag stream
were dynamited, in vain attempt 10
keen the flames from leaping the
stream.
After the first rush OF the fire TO the
north. the back wind set up by the
fire itself famed the flames toward
the south, threatening that part of the
civ that at first seemed safe.
Post Office Is Wiped Out.
Early in the advance of the flames
the post office fell before the on.
slaught OF the flames. The Maine Cen
trail railroad was Obliged 10 vacate its
dcpot. the retreating Office force and
crews seeing the building engulfed al
most before they were out of danger.
Az the start all communication ex
cent BY the Postal Telegraph company
was cut OFF. The Western Union and
the telephone Office went early.
City Hall Is Saved.
For long time the city hall. at The
foot OF Main street, was saved by
slight shift of the wind. The Haines
Chalmers block. the Hodgkins block
the Fiske building. the Fairbanks q
Ct. plant, the Morse Oliver block, thu
Offices OF the Bangor & Aroostook rail
road the Offices OF the Bangor News
the Windsor hotel and the public II
brary we're destroyed with many 9th
or less prominent buildings.
IN the residential district the peopl
started TO move out early. fighting 70
conveyances on which to pile their ei
fects The people were panic strict
en- Running wildly, carrying all sort
Of useless articles. snatched up !
their frenzy. they poured out OF tn
city toward Old Town.
One Man ls Killed.
One fatality is known. a man name
Scribner OF Brewer having been bl
ried under the falling walls OF III
Morse Oliver building and II is repor
ed that several other persons hay
persisted
Neighboring cities were appealed
and responded by sending fire app
ratus and men.
Among the additional building
burned are the Tarratine club. Fir
Baptist. Universalist and Advel
churches, Jewish synagogue. post {
fee and custom house. Central II
station. forty to fifty business stru
lures anu ulN VI wv NNNiA''
structures, all Of the better class.
The city was in darkness, all sourc
Of light having been cut off and q
greatest confusion prevailed. the G
tire population being in the stree
Already 1t is difficult 10 obtain foe
many restaurants we're burned.
gether with one large and sever
small hotels
Militia Is Called Out.
The fire was visible for rs mil
around and thousands OF people a
swarming in from surrounding tow
The militia was called out by May
Mullen to aid the police in preservi
order
As the fire spread many deeds
herolsm were enacted. The first ca
Tor aid TO Augusta. Portland a
Lewiston we're made by wire chiefs
tho New England Telephone and TIE
graph company. who climbed
poles. cut the wires. attached inst
ments and clicked of the messages