The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-11
S5,OOO,OOO FIRE
AT BANGOR, MAINE
City Is Practically without Food
or Places of Shelter-Rain Pre-
vented Complete Destruction
by Fire That Ragged From
Daylight to Midnight.

BANGOR, ME-. Special.-Sayed from
complete destruction by a heavy rain
faho SHIFT OF wind that turned aside
names which had been raging uncoD-
trolled for many hours. Rangor ~
|. queen City Of the East" as II 10
known throughout New England me-
Sented today the most terrible scene of
devastation i'm this State since the
great Portland fire of 1866.
More than One-third Of the city, ia In
RUNS as a result of the cOnfiaRra-
tlon which started on Broad Street at
. O'Clock yesterday afternoon and was
not under control until after mid
night The greater part of the bust
ness district was swept away. 200
residences, among them many of the
nnest IN the city, are In ruins and .
600 persons are homeless.
Three Men Perish
Ahree men are known to have per-
lshed IN the flames while most esti-
mates placed the money loss at at
least S0,OOO,OOO. Martial law has been
declared, and what is left of the
stricken city is being guarded by the
soIulers from the Maine National
Guard. Company q Of the Second
Regiment. with loaded rifles. Is on
guard over the safety deposit vaults OF
the various banks burned in the con-
migration. Aiding the National Guard
Is the cadet battalion from the Uni
Versity Of Maine, under the command
OF Lieutenant Colonel Varnam. Sixth !
United States Cavalry.
While the damage done by the
names has not yet been definitely de-
,ermlned' plans are already under way
10 restore the burned section.
In response to n prefer of aid from
Mayor Fitzgerald, Of Boston, he was
telegraphed that the fire was under
control.
Cities Send Help.
Despite help sent on special trains
from Augusta
Bucksport and Old Town, the firernen
would have been pOwerless to check
the flames. even with the aid of their
dynamite, had 1t not been for the rain.
water pressure began TO fail. but
this condition did not become serious
until control had been gained over the
cOntlagration.
Militianen and university cadets are
patrolling the streets beyond thu fire
zone and guarding the women and
children in the small parks of the citv
while the troops Of Boy Scouts con
nected with the churches. who volun-
teered their services to the Mayor
nave been assigned 20 look out for the
nousehold goods and other property
/ that Is piled up I'm the streets
The only lights in the CITY hefor.
dawn We're those Of the blazing ON
oerS. as the electric light plant went
out OF comm iSSiOn last night The de-
| sruction OF several Of the churches
1
| IL impossible 20 shelter any OF the Deo-
pie who were driven from their homes
When the fire was at its height, and SO
the women and children, thoroughly
exhausted, used improvised beds in the
streets and parks.
Helping the Homeless.
The great problem that today con
fronts the OFFICIALS is that Of feeding
ana providing shelter for the home
less. The rain is adding to the dis
] d d I'm Of
| urlNen To the streets. But il was the
rain ana shift of the wind from
the east that saved the city from de-
struction.
In spite of the crowds packed in
the few churches still standing-in
spite of those who have been taken
! into private houses-there are still
I thousands OF people shivering i'm the
streets. At the edge Of the fire zone
are groups huddled about little piles
! OF household goods snatched from thu
flames and stacked in the streets.
Dead ANA Injured.
me destruction Of the Morse Oliver
building. at Exchange and state
Streets caused the death OF Fred
Scrlbner He was caught by a fall
ing wall and crushed 10 death in sigh,
! or hundreds Of persons.
George Abbott, aged forty-one. OF
BreWer, was killed by falling beam
/ The third victim. whose name is nm
] burning building.
The Eastern Maine General Hos
pital is filled TO OVERLOOKING with in
lured persons. and many have been
taken To the Russell Hospital ia
Brewer
Appeal for Relief
me following appeal for relief was
today issued by Mayor Mullen ar
Bangor:
The situation is worse than any
body can realize. More than POO
dwellings, have been destroyed ara tne (
occupants rendered homeless ALL
though most Of these are Deonle of /
means. their present need is great. At
the same time many are absolutely
destitute as result of the fire. 4 |
tour OF the city shows that there is
hardIy grocery or bakery or restau-
rant left standing The food probIeD,
is very serious one"