The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-05-16
TWO THOUSAND
ARE HOMELESS
Suffering Follows Big Fire
at Bangor, Me.
LOSS IS ABOUT S6,OM,OeO

Fully one.third OF the Business and
Residential Sections Is Destroyed,
Providential Change of the Wind
and Light Fall Of Rain Quenching
the Fiames-Food Rushed to Scene
From Nearby Towns.
Bangor, Me-. May E.-Homeless,
wet, hungry and exhausted by the
long fight against the flames which
destroyed practically third of the
city of Bangor thousands of persons
faced the problem OF providing them
selves with food, shelter and clothing,
while city ard state authorities began
the consideration Of plans for rebuild
ing the city.
When dawn broke over the stricken
city hundreds OF groups Of men. wo-
men and children could be seen hud
died around sm0uldezing bonfres or
stretched along the edge of the smok-
ing ruins, endeavoring to warm and
dry themselves.
Although the rain brought discom-
fort to the homeless it was the means
of bringing under control the great
confiagration which ragged for more
than seven hours At a time when
the battle against the flames seemed
hopeless Proyidendal shift of wind
and doWnpour Of rain drove the fire
back over the burned district and
drowned out the flames which had
just started in unburned properly. At
that time onethird of the city had
been destroyed, including some Of the
finest homes in the residential part of
Bangor, all Of the public buildings
with the exception of the city hall,
and the greater part of the retail sec
ton.
Damage Six Millions.
Estimates of the probable loss va,
ried, but it was generally thought that
at least 100000 worth of property
had been destroyed.
The loss of life so far as known
was confined to two persons, and only
half dozen injured had been adj
mitted to hospitals.
The rain and change of wind hav-
ing solved the problem of controlling
the fire the attention of the authori-
ties was directed towards housing the
homeless and feeding the hungry.
Every householder in Bangor whose
home escaped destruction opened his
doors TO those Less fortunate, but in
spite of this thousands We're forced to
spend the night in the streets, sur
rounded by the few articles of cloth
ing 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
problem of sheatering the homeless
was the matter Of feeding them, on
account Of the destruction of food sup
plies in the retail district Every
morning train brought food to the city,
bat 1t was some little time before the
authorities could arrange for its dis
tTfbution.
Forty Blocks Destroyed.
The burned area extends from the
junction of Kenduskeag stream and
the Penobscot river to Broadway park,
and on the other side is bounded by
Maine and Center streets on one side,
to Grove street on the opposite side.
This area covered about forty blocks.
Among the principal buildings de-
stroyed were the following:
Bsnsor high school, Bangor public
library. In which was located the bank
Ing rooms Of tbs Bangor Savings
bank; Central FIRE station, United
States customs house and postoffice,
universalist, Central. Congregational,
First Congregational s. Johns Epis.
opal Hrsk Baptist and Advent
churches; Norembega hall. including
the 0aiety theatr: Exchange build
ins, = which was located the law
pc1nl q tho UufyrsttY OF Maiaa;