The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-07 00:00:00

THE BOSTON FIRE.

The loss of property occasioned by the great fire at
Boston has been ascertained with something like accu-
racy. It will not exceed, but it will not fall far short
of one hundred millions of dollars. It would have been
much greater hut for the fact that the stocks on hand
in the warehouses were comparatively light in the in-
terval between the early autumn and the early spring
business seaxons. The number of buildings burnt was
758. In the matter of insurance the New York coin-
panieswere the lara‘ iest lo,ers, but while the capital of
many of them has been merlon-1y impaired, only three
have been compelled to wind up their affairs in con-
sequence. The effect upon financial circles has been,
happily, less disastrous than had been feared, and not
a single bank or banking house in this city has yielded
to the strain. The losses of the English insurance com-
panies amounted to about £4,400,000 ; whilst the losses
by New York and other foreign companies amounted
to about £17,000,000.
The individual losers in Boston are the most intelli-
gent and enterprising of its men of business, whose
names are known throughout the country for thrift,
talent, and integrity. Harvard linivenity is set
down for a loss of two hundred thousand dollars, and
many admirers of the fair prima donna,. Madame
Itruzaud, will learn with regret that property
belonging to her of the value of 51,01.0 dollars was
, involved in the ruin. _ . . .

In the contemplation of this Iraq sacrifice it is con-
solatory to think that very little has been lost which
time and energy may not restore. Boston contains
some of the most venerable and interesting edifices in
America, but all these were spared. The flames at one
time threatened to reach Faneuil Hall, and they swept
perilously near to the Old South Church, which must
nave gone but for the fortunate change in the direction
of the wind. Boston has also many noble repositories
of literature and art, the destruction of which would
have been an irreparable misfortune. Its Public
Library, established in great part by the exertions of
Edward Everett, and enriched by the donations of
George Ticknor, is justly the pride of its citizens. Its
Athenimarn, as a collection Of art treasures, is of greater :
value perhaps, than any similar institution in the
United States. The collections of the Massachusetts.
Historical Society, which are kept in a building in the
very heart of the city, are rich in the records of the
past, and could not possialy be replaced. All these
have happily escaped intact. Again, Boston is the seat
of the pub!ishing business of New England, and many
large book-making houses ovary on their operations in
the densest part of the town. P. is hardly too much
to say that the suspensim of these publishing houses
all at the same time would almost paralyse the educa-
tional interests of New England. A sentimental regret
of a strong kind would he awakened by the ruin
of the publishers of Hawthorne and Longfellow.
But none of these great literary purveyors were
iujnred by the fire, and among the earliest of their
new venture, will probably be a corrected account
of the calamity, and the incidents attending it.
Another source of gratificati in is found in the ready
symphy that has been awakened for Boston every.
when throughout the country in the hour of her dis-
tress. Offers of material aid have come from every
quarter, but this aid will be little needed, for the pluck
and &termination of her own people seem quite equal
to repair speedily the ravagrs ot the flames.