Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-05-01
0ne-Third Of Thriving Maine
Town Destroyed Property
Loss Estimated at More Than
Six Million Dollars.
DYNAMITE FAILS TO
CHECK FURIOUS BLAZE
Burning Of Churches, Restaur-
ants and Public Buildings
Leaves Unfortunate People
Without Food and Shelter,
nv Morning Journal spec.al Leased wlreI


NY MoruiuR Journal SPECIAL Leased wireJ
of Bangor is in ruins, thousands of
persons are homeless ana a property
loss estimated at $4,000, 000 was sus-
tanned as the result OF a conflagra-
ton which ragged for hours tonight.
Starting in hay sheG on Board
street, the fire swept along Board and
Exchange streets through the heart
Of the city, leaving residences, busi-
ness blocks and all the public build
ings with the exception of the city
hall, mass of smoking ashes.
For many hours the firemen assist
ed by men and apparatus from other
Maine cities battled against the blaze
before they conquered it. Dynamite
proved of little avail Buildings were
blown up but the flames easily leaped
the ehasms thus made and it was not
until the wind, which had been blow
ing almost gale during the night,
shifted and light rain fell. that there
was any indication that the firemen
would win.
Cheered by the help from this un-
expected quarter the fire fighters were
concentrated near the corner of Ham
mond and Central streets, nearly two
miles from the start of the blaze, and
there the spread of the flames was
checked at midnight.
But while the rain and the shifting
Of the wind to the east saved the rest
Of the city, 1t only added to the dis
comforts Of thousands who had seen
their homes go up in flames. and who
we're huddled together in the street.
The burning of churches and public
buildings left many of the unfortu-
mates without shelter
Three lives are known to have been
lost. A-tireman was injured by a fall
Ing wall and died on the way to the
hospital; an unidentified young man
was crushed to death when one of the
churches collapsed and an elderly man
from Brewer, who had crossed the
river to watch the fire was also buried
beneath falling debris.
Neither of the city's newspapers
were burned and both will publish as
ust,a, tomorrow.
The problem of housing and feeding
the destitute must be met at daylight
and will be serious one for the usual
places of refuge IN such disasters are
in ruins and there is hardly an eating
house, bakery or other store where
food can be secured. Already offers
Of help have been received by Mayor
Mullen but the proffered aid cannot
be expected to arrive in time to pre-
vent suffering.
The fire is considered by insurance
men the worst Maine has known since
the Portland fire in 1866 when large
part of the business section was de-
stroyed with loss of $10.000,00O.
Bangor has population of nearly
10000 by the 1910 census and the
latest figures show real estate valu-
alton of $1G,S9S,967.
Mayor Mullen has called out the
company Of the National Guard ana
placed the city under martial rule.
Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, oid
Town, Brewer and other cities ana
towns within reach were asked for
help and sent 1t.
At II o'clock score of buildings
had been blown up in an effort 10
check the flames and dynamite was
stll being literally used.
f... a4..l IL, A., How chp1 Of
j. Frank Green on Broad street ana
in a short time was sweeping through
the city in a northwesterly direction.
Before midnight both sides OF Ex-
change street from York to state,
both sides Of State street from Ken
duskeag stream to Broadway, con-
siderable part OF Central and Franklin
streets, nearly ell of Park street and
Marlow street were in ruins and the
flafnes had made inroads of nearly a
mile into the best residential section
IN Broadway Center ard French
streets.
half an hour after the first alarm
nearly dozen buildings were IN
flames and the fire was eating its
uuskeag stream. In its path were
banks, office buildings. the public Ii
nrary and other. structures. all of
which We're consumed
The city was soon shut off from
telephone communication by the
nurnins of the central office and calls
Tor aid from Portland. Lewiston and
augusta were sent out by the wire
ehief OF the company. who climbed a
poie and cut in en- trunk line. The
",esraph companys offices were
'eesraph company's offices were both
uon' but later established temporary
o'ilees outside the fire zone and COM
"uhieation was restored.
several alarms were sounded almost
ss,''"uiianeously. In addition to the
','e al the corner of Broad and Ex-
\, nahse streets the firemen found a
, "''ze IN bicycle repair shop in the
'''' of the telephone office. Both