Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-11-24
Destructive Fire. and Loss of Life.
CHICKERING'S PIANO FORTE MANUFAC-
TORY IN RUINSl-LOSS $3.50 900.


A very destructive fire occurred in this city last
NIGHT and was attended with the loss of one more
lives. Soon after II O'Clock, fire broke out in the
vanishing room in the rear part of the third story
of the extensive brick editice Washington street,
known as Chickering's panoiorIe mandatory,
owned and chiefly occupied by Jonas Chlckering.-
The alarm promptly given, but the flames had
already got well started, and such was the combus-
tibIe nature ola large amount Of The stock and ma
terial in the apartment, that the fire spead with al
most unparalleled rapidly, and had lis own way,
Notwithstanding The efforts OF the iremcn to check It,
The building was five stories in height and ex~
tended from No, $50 to $40 on Washington street,
covering the LOT between Norfolk Place and Sweet
ser's Court, and being quite deep. Such was the
progress of the flames, that the main building was
euveloped in an aInost incredible short space Of
ime and soon after il evident that it could moi
be saved. The high walls soon became heated, and
cracking, fell with heavy crash, carrying destruc.
ton with them. Nearly all the stock and tools be-
longing to the establishment and TO the men EN-.
bIoyed therein, were destroyed. Several finished
pianos were saved, but large number Of others, IN
different stages oil construction, we're destroyed.
The stores three in NUMBER on the first floor of
the building, were occupied by Messrs Thomas &
Merriam, grocers; Edward Butman, crockery ware
dealer; and Amos Cummings, grocer; each oil
whom are heavy losers, but very little Of their
spectve stocks saved.
The first part Of the walls which fell, was on the
Sweetser Court side, and did no material damage.
This was toowed by part Of the end wall the
Norfolk Place side, falling heavily upon the roof Of
the opposite building, crushing ii in, and setting il
on fire. This building was five stories in height,
owned by Deming Jarves, and occupied on the lower
floor by Patrick r. Morley, plumber, and up stairs
by Mr. Ladd, manufacturer Of KEYS for piano lortes.
The building consumed, and the occupants saved
but lille Of their property. The wal also fell upon
an old brick building adjoining, crushing il TO the
foundation. This was IA part occupied by Mrs l..
A. Wynau, dealer in boys clothing. The upper
part OF the building occupied dwelling, and
it is feared that there might have been persons in
the time Of the crash, though it is generally
thought that every person had previously left the
building.
The large building on the corner Of Sweetser
Court, occupied in the upper part by MIR. New
hall, piano forte mandatory, was consIde-
rably damaged in the FEAR part ofthe upper sto-
res A portion of the high wall Of Chckering' s
building, at length fell into Washington street,
with tremendous crash, causing fresh out
break Of the flames and heat, and at one time
threatening the Adams House with great danger.
The roof Of this house was several times on fire,
aud the glass in the upper windows was badly
cracked by the heat, Nothing but the active ef-
forts of The firenen, in connection with The in
mates of the house, saved it from great damage,
| il not from destruction.
Several old buildings on Norfolk place, and
Sweetser Court, were considerably damaged
! But the worst part of the calamity remains 10 be
told. At the lime Of the falling Of the wall on
Norfolk Place, two watchmen, named Benz min
| +. Foster, and Alfred Turner, were buried be-
meath The ruins, and Mr., Foster was probably in
stanty killed. Turner was caught by his arms
nefd l0f a long lime 1nI1 he ,tas a. Iona,h
cueo' badly bruised. aud severely burnt on his
lace and arms. He was sensible all the while he
was being exricated, and his cries for help. and
EXCAVATIONS OF 'save NEEDN'T let me be killed
save me, for the sake of my wife and two chill
dren'-were most hear-rending. At lenplh ba
was taken from his perilous situation, and convey.
ed into the Adams House, where he still remains
At noon today he was quietly sleeping His
! physician states that he believes no homes arc
broken, but ne may have sustained internal IN.
! jury IN addition to his external burns and brnisos
man named George w. Perkins, was badly
bruised by the falling Of the same wall. man
named Pratt or Clappw was quite badly bruised by
falling wall.
Mr. Chickering's loss is estimated at $50 600.
which is partly covered by insurance. The loss.
es OF other sufferers, have not been ascertained
WIN suiilfIent correctness to be relied upon.
Further Paticulns.-In addition TO the above.
! we learn that Mr. Cbickerng was insured for S32
| OoO on the building, and $4,000 ON the stock
making total of S67 600 -
=, The brick building owned by the heirs of James
Blake was insured for $4,000 The stocks OF
Messrs Thomas & Merriam, and of MIR CUMMINGS
were insured Tor $4,000 each; aud the building
owned by Mr. Jarves, was insured for S30O0 .
Boston Journal Dec 2.
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