The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-01
Destructive Fire In Boston.
Running OF rRn6oNT TBMPLB-e2O0 600 W0RrH or
THOFHRII DBoTNVHBU
IEronn tho BOaf0n Cnllriar Msrol, n


Destructive Fire In Boston.
Running OF rRnow rBMPLB-e20o, 900 WORTH or
PROPERTY DESTR0YED.
lFrsm the Boston Courier, March 81
At o'clock this morning alarm fire was sound
ed by the Old South bell and ascertaned that
the fremont Temple was burning On Fastening to the
buckets of water endcavoring extinsush slight fame
which appeared to be issuing from said to be un-
occupied in the northwest corner of the upper story
They worked Justify but few people had collected
the fire seemed to gain upon them Soon after a fire
company arrived but by fatality they found them
selves wanting in sufciency Of hose ready for
During the tmo lost in dctachng this hose from its ma
chnery and enghenng II for service the fire had gain
ed a rapid Roadway which enabled 1t to battle the most
digen abors of all who were assembled to cheek ts ca
Frsm the room in which 1t first broke out the fire
now extended through the ceiling in southery direc
ton. to the rooms Of Benjamin Champney landscape
painter; wellman Morrison. portrait painter; John g.
King, sculptor David Kimbal crnyon master and MIR.
Dana teacher drawing These the third
story and their entire contents DESTROYED including
| Mr. Kings admirable bust of Webster.
The fire having attained such resistess Roadway
il ragged with tremendous fury Many desperate attempts
to the valuable property contained the
building but the adventurous individuals who these
efforts repealed by the dense and suocatng smoke
which issued in heavy volumes from each Of the
fire. Up twenty minutes of two o'clock it tho
fdent belief of the rcmen that they could the
flames the third story but these hopes
lied the flames had now extended to the roof burned
the raers and so weakened the centre of tho dome that
it gave way and fell inside Many persons this
moment within the building and great risk of their
lives and the ceiling down first IN solid sheet
| and thus miraculously escapcd One of the fire.
men named Turner of the Hydrant, knocked from
capped with slight injury The falling in OF the roof
unexpected as il was territccaused ndescribabc con-
sternation among thore persons who had fled for tenn
poay shelter into the doors of the second landing The
this moment OF indescrbabc terrier to
those within, who had means of prompt escape. and
for a time imagined themselves doomed to instant de-
struction The great hall being in flames rolled
mighty of fire before them while torrents of water,
burning rafters bricks descended from above
10
seemed inevitable; but at length way forced
the burning ruins that had fallen from above and stair
gained which led to the lower hall through
which escape made to the sheds adjoining, and
thence through house in Montgomery place into the
street.
The entire contents of the Temple with the exception
of few triang articles were consumed The great
organ the property Of tho fremont street Baptist Soci
ETY. which worshipped in the hall was involved in the
common fate. The sheds in the Of houses Mont
gomcry place were on fire several times but were uti
mately saved through great exertion The boarding
house north Of the Temple, on fire several times but
did not suffer serious injury In the the extend
ed to sheds of houses Chapman place and Chapman
hall was almost entirely destroyed The Trimount
Lodge Of Odd Fellows had rooms in this building and
their effects were all consumed. They have insur-
ance of $500 Mr. Amos Bakers private school was kept
in this building also and school furniture ruined. 1t
is impossible at this late hour to ascertain the names of
the of the property destroyed 1t is impossible
to make ineligible estimate of the entire property
lost but il will not fall far short of two hunded thou
dollars In the fall of the front wall Of tho Temple
the Of the masonry thrown completely
the street The cap stone Of the pedment huge
IN
the sidewalk Of the fremont House, crushag in the iron
railing of the area.
II was now evident that the Temple could be saved
the fire had descended to the second story In less
than minutes afterwards the entire suite of rooms
this story in blaze. Here large collection Of
valuable paintings and pieces Of sculpture owned by
Thomas Thompson Esq. were consumed This was
moving sight and especially 10 the Of the property
who sat at his window in the fremont House and wit
messed the choice specimens of art and
genius they yielded in groups after to the
flames We gazed for many moments, at splendid bust
nf Sir Malt Scot yhia
in the middle of of the if in defiance of the
hostile element The pedestal was soon burned away;
but the bust it fell maintained its upright position.
and sunk majcstcally without 'nodding to its fall
Mr. Thompsons coll. c.ion Of paintings and sculpture
valued ut over S45 600 He Is partly insured
The front wall remained standing during the greater
part Of the conagrstion though the granite blocks
crumbled and flew in shreds from time to time under
the intense heat AT half past two the massy pediment
to toter and III few seconds the whole wall
gave way and fell with terrific crash into fremont
street Most fortunately the crowd which had collected
under the of the fremont House directly opposite
had been cleared away by the police not many minutes
previous otherwise great destruction of life might
have been caused The fall of this portion Of the edce
relieved the fremont House of much of the danger to
which il was exposed during the height of the fire The
flames were lowered and the roof of the latter building
in quence exposed At little before three
the southern wall, likewise fell crushing to the ground the
| mass of wooden buildings on that side. .
The Temple had lofty granite front the other walls
being Of brick The from, originally the best piece OF
architecture in Boston. though its chaste proportions
greatly married when the building given "a
| theatre and atcrG TO convert il into shops sc.
degree that il spread further. Considering the
great size Of the Temple and the immense mass OF fame
in which the whole structure was enveoped for at least
hour together with the close contguity OF the adJon
ing edces it must be regarded a piece of extreme
good that the fire did not spread to wide extent
The fremont House seems have escaped by miracle.
We learn that the in which the fire originated was
occupied by Mr. Champney the landscape painter, and
that the bursting of camphene iaisp was the origin Of
this great calamity negro named George Medley, had
escape from the fire. lie was sleeping IN the
attic the Temple and driven by the flames up to
haa
knows how.
Several serious accidents occurred at the fire, though
have not been able to ascertain the names OF all the
persons hurt. George Esey foreman of Hose Company
No of Charestown who standing upon the roof OF
the building when the south wall Of the Temple fell was
buried beneath the ruins lie taken into the Tre-
House and ascertaned that his back and one
his legs broken lie subsequently conveyed
| to the hospital lie cannot survive his injuries
The fremont Temple owned by a society and was
insured for $4,000 mostly at Firemens Office.
Hay-past oclock-The front wall of Chaplain Hall has
fallen in. and the building Is complete ruin IL was
owned by Mr. Amos Baker and was insured
Mr. Thomas Thompsons loss is much greater than our
first estimate ndicates lie had but recently removed his
pictures Sc. into the Temple lie had no insurance
whatever.
We understand that five persons hurt by the fall
ing Of the front wall of the Temple among whom were
Frederic Coburn Assistant Engineer who bruised
badly but had no bones broken; James W Leatherbee
a,othccary Hydrant No A. who had his right ancle
svraincd and David Hanson of IIydrant unknown who
sustained internal injury.
The scene Of the disaster now presents melancholy
sight The shattered remains of the walls smoking
snid heaps of cinders the sorrowfu relics Of Of
art and taste forever lost The whole breadth OF the
street in front Of the Temple IL srown with broken pias
capitals cornces blocks Of granite, and her ruins
Of architecture Every spectator will long remember
II he Destruction Of the Temple
TELEGRAPHIC.
DEAD BODY RECovERED--MoRE SUPPOSED TO BE BU-
RIED IN THE RUINS.
Bosroy, March 81 1852.
The dead body of John Hall. residing in Providence
street has been taken from the ruins Of fremont Tenn
pie. Several other persons missing, and the fremen
and Others are at work oyerhauing the ruins.
Naval Intelligence.