Year: 1866

if not the most beautiful Of our smaller Atlantic
cities, now lies IN ruins. Portland which,
since the completion of the Grand Trunk Bail
road, and the selection of its noble harbor as
the winter terminus of the Canadian line of
steamers to Europe, had made such rapid
strides in prosperity as to promise at no distant
day serious rivalry with Boston for the pr-
macy OF commercial Importance in New Eng
land, has been visited, in a season of profound
peace, and on the anniversary of our national
independence, with conhagration 80 sweep
ing and tremendous that it can be likened only
to the desOation by fire OF some OF our Southern
capitals in the very crisis AMI fury OF the late
war. How the fire was communicated to the
small wooden building in which it seems first
to have broken out, has hardly yet become
subject of conjecture.


Some months ago mysterious individual was
arrested here shortly after fire had taken place
in Free street, who finally confessed that he had
come to Portland for the express purpose of
burning the city, and that he was the author of
the conlagration which last year laid waste the
capital Of the State Augusta-a confagration
which, until this days sad work was done,
ranked first In the annals of our misfortunes OF
this kind. 1t is possible that this last catas-
trophe may have been the work of some such
incendary madness; but more probable, per-
haps, that it is to be carried to the account of
the carnival of fire and gunpowder with which
1t is considered proper 10 celebrate the birthday
of the nation. Whatever its origin its extent
of which, unfortunately, we cannot yet speak
with precision, since the brave iremen are still
battling with the enemy, and have not yet
secured their victory-is simply appalling. In
. less then twelve hours onc-thrd of the property
of this busy and fourishing city has been rolled
up in scroll of fire and blown away in clouds
of smoke.


Portland is divided into an upper and lower
town. On the high land to the south and west
stand the handsomest private residences and
the most picturesque streets of the city. Con-
spicuous among these is the stately mansion of
Mr.. John Brown, the architectural pride of
Portland, house literally set upon hill, and
the tower of which is the first object deserted
by the traveller coming in from Boston on the
railway. From this mansion proceeding east
ward as far as State street and Park street, the
former of which, with its noble rows of fine
forest trees, is one of the most charming streets
in America, extends the richest "home quarter"
OF Portland, and this region happily has been
spared.


The fire began, as we have stated, below the
high lands TO the eastward of the two large sta
tons of the Boston ard Maine and Eastern Rail
road, which, together with the Grand Trunk
depots, and the most part of the warehouses on
Commercial street, have escaped the flames
From the little boat-builder's shop in which it
originated Just before sunset it was communi.
Gated to the splendid sugar-houses of Mr.. Brown
of whose residence we have already spoken as
the finest in the city. They constituted the most
extensive sugar works in New England, boiling
over forty thousand casks of molasses annually.
Solid and substantial as they were, they had
disappeared totally before 10 O'clock at night;
and the wind, blowing almost a gale from the
southwest, swept the mighty mass OF flame away
from Commercial street, and up towards the
heart of the lower town.


Exchange street. in which were situated the
handsomest jewellers shops of the city, the
newspaper buildings-four in number-the Mer-
chants Newsroom, and many offices, public and
private, including the law office of Senator Fes-
sender, and the British Consups office Middle
street, from lust below the United States Hotel,
down to Exchange street, with all the banks in
the clty-seVen in number-the best retail shops,
and q number o offices occupied by the leading
members OF the Portland bar; the handsome
new Custom House, which contained the Post
Ofhce alsoi the telegraph offices, situated at the
corner OF Exchange and Middle streets, directly
opposite the Custom House-all were wrapped
in flames as the fiery surges swept steadily on.
ward to the east and north.


The flames passed across, in the rear of the
United States Hotel, into Congress street. de-
stroying the buildings of the Portland Natural
History Society, and with them its valuable
collections, and, sorest loss of ALL perhaps Ia
the architecture of the 'Forest City" the new
f edce Of S SeWn stone and BRICK Of WhcS the
people of Portland we're Justly proud, claiming
that it ranked next after the new City Hall o
Boston among buildings OF the kind in New
England. This fine structure was completed
only two or three years ago, and was believed
to be so nearly 6re-proof that many persons haC
sent their furniture and other goods into it a
the conhagration went on, hoping thus to save
them. But all went together IN the common
ruin.


During the brief darkness ofthe summer nigh
the spectacle presented by the confagratiOn, u
from the upper part Of the city, was indescrba
bly, grand; hut 1t is not easy to indulge one
love of the picturesque in the presence of thes
smoking ruins, which alone now represent wha
yesterday stood forth as the accumulated result
of human energy and enterprise, to the esti
mated value of some ten millions of dollars
Nearly two thousand families, and it is CON
puted, from seven to eight thousand individual
IN all, are to-day destitute and homeless, who il
the morning OF yesterday constituted nearl
Onethird of the population of one of the mos
orderly, prosperous, aud industrious cities il
America. Eight churches seven hotels, ever
printing office capable OF Issuing newspaper
have vanished.