The Indianapolis Journal

FOUR LIVES LOST BY FIRE.

Destructive Fire at Belfast, Me., Accompanied by the Loss of Two Lives.

Two Firemen Killed and Two More Badly Injured at Albany—Big Four Depot Building Burned at Greensburg.

BELFAST, Me., July 12.—The greatest conflagration since 1873, when one-fourth of the city was laid in ashes, visited this place this morning, resulting in the death of two persons and damage to property estimated at $50,000. The fire broke out shortly after 10 o'clock, in the stables of the Belfast Livery Company, on High street, and before assistance could arrive twenty horses in the building were literally roasted alive in their stalls. The flames communicated with Howe's block, at the corner of Main and High streets, known as the Telegraph building, which was entirely destroyed. The basement was occupied by Field & Carter's fish market and F. M. Carter's meat market. The first floor was occupied by William Priest, tailor; Fred H. Francis, boot and shoe dealer, and L. D. Fogg, confectioner. The second floor was occupied by Nathaniel Delano, barber; Moses Rich, cobbler; F. A. Cade, tax collector, and W. C. Tuttle dealer in organs. M. Tuttle, photographer, occupied the third floor. The building was insured, but the tenants are heavy losers, except Priest, who was fully covered.

The American House, owned by W. N. Lancaster, and occupied by William Weeks, the leading hotel in the city, next succumbed to the devouring element. The guests all escaped with their baggage.

The carriage-house belonging to the livery company was totally destroyed. The company saved their carriages. The flames crossed High street, igniting the roof of Whitmore's store, and threatening the New England House and the Masonic Temple, but, fortunately, the fire was checked in this direction.

Two men perished in the stable of the livery company. Their names were Wesley Twombly and John Casey. Twombly's charred body was found on the sidewalk, as though he had fallen from the building. He was employed as a hack driver by the New England house. Casey's body was found in a stall beside the remains of a horse. Twombly and Casey, and a companion named James McCabe drove to Northport on Saturday evening, returning about midnight. They were intoxicated. Shortly after they entered the stable the fire was discovered, and, without doubt, they were the cause. McCabe escaped from the building, but with hands and face badly burned. Among the losses are H. N. Lancaster, $20,000; Belfast Livery Company, $10,000; Jones & Lewis, $3,000; F. D. Fogg, $1,000; Mansfield, $2,000, while many others lose in sums varying from $100 to $1,000.