The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-05-05
oNE-THiRD or LITTLE MAINE
CITY IN Observation-Disclosures
ARE HOMELESS.
SWEEPS PAfH iR6MTts
Churches, Business Blocks and Public
Buildings eurned.-use Of Oyna-
mite Unavailing to Stop
Flames.

Bangor, Maine. - One-thfri Of
the city OF Bangor Is in ruins, thou
sands of persons are homeless and a
property loss estimated at $4,000, 900
was sustained as the result of a night
conflagration which ragged for hours.
Starting In hay shed on Broad street,
the fire swept along Broad and Elk.
change streets through the heart Of
the city, leaving residences. churches,
schools. business blocks and all the
public buildings with the exception Of
the city hall, mass Of smoking ashes.
For many hours the firemen of Ban
gor, assisted by men and apparatus
from other Maine cities, battled
against the blaze before they con-
quered it. Dynamite proved of little
avail. Buildings were blown up, but
the flames easily leaped the chasms
thus made and it was not until the
wind, which had been blowing 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 fighting
forces were concentrated nearly two
miles from the start of the blaze and
there the spread of flames was check
ed at midnight.
But while the rain and the shifting
Of the wind to the east saved the rest
Of the city from destruction, it only
added to the discontinue of thousands
who had seen their homes go up in
flames and who were huddled together
in the streets.
Three Lives Lost.
Three lives are known to have been
lost although the names of none of
the victims are known. A fireman
was injured by falling wall and died
on the way to the hospital. an un-
known young man was crushed to
death when one of the churches col
lapsed, and an elderly man from
Brewer who had crossed the river to
watch the fire was also buried beneath
falling debris.
The problem of housing and feeding
the destitute will be serious one, for
churches and public buildings, the usu-
al 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, left stand:
ing. Already offers of help have been
received by Mayor Mullen, but the
proffered aid cannot be expected to
arrive in time to prevent suffering.
The burned area follows the Ken
duskeag stream for nearly two miles
north of the starting point and spreads
out to a width varying from one
eighth to quarter of mile, a differ.
emit points.
Worst Since 1856.
The fire is considered by insurance.
people the worst that Maine has
known. since the Portland fire in, 1886
when large part of the business sec.
ton of that city was destroyed with
a loss of s1O,OOO,OOO Bangor has a
population Of nearly $4,000 by the, 1910
census and the latest figures show
real estate valuation of $16,S9s,967. ~
Most Of the best residential section
of the city was swept away when the
fire left the business section. 1t
spread cut like huge fan with it's
widest part among the homes of the
people. Just outside the fire zone the
furniture is stacked along the curb
and guarded by the stricken house.
holders.
The telegraph companies Offices
were both burned early in the confla-
grafton but later were established out
side the zone and communication was
resumed in the temporary Offices.
Telephone and telegraph operators
stuck to their posts and sent out in
formation and calls for help. The
Associated Press operator, in the
Postal Telegraph Office, sat at his key
sending and receiving messages while
the fire ragged hardly SO feet away
from him in the postoffice building.