The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-17

-r0UR ACHES BURNED 0vER--sEvERAL PERSONS
NJUKxD-Lossus, INSURANCE, ETC.
The city Of Worcester was the scene Of the most
destructive conaAgration yesterday afternoon that
ever visited that city. The location Of the fire Was
In the valley between Main and Summer streets, Just
north Of the Boston and Worcester Railroad, and
extending north and east. This valley Was q per-
fect hive Of industry, being filed with machine
shops, in which from one thousand to twelve hug.
dred Of the hardy and enterprising .nsynAuics of
Worcester were employed. Our special correspon.
dent at Worcsssssr immediately autographed to US
6rief Account Of the confagration, which was pub
lished In our paper last evening. We Immediately
sent reporter to Worcester, and he has furnished
the following account Of this sad calamity to our
sister city
oclock-just after the hands in most Of the shops
had gone to dinner-in the southeast corner Of the
extensive block of brick buildings owned BY VIM,
T. Merri6eld, Esq, and occupying three sides of
the entire square, bounded on the east by Union
street. on the north by Exchange street. and on the
west BY Cypress street. These buildings were Of
brick four stories high, and If placed in continu-
GUS line would measure some nine hundred feet
The fire was first discovered in the room occupied
by Messrs. Hood, Battelle E. Co., manufacturers of
sewing machines 1t spread with great rapidity,
and in less thantsn minutes the whole of the upper
story Of that wing was In flames. The firemen were
promptly on the ground, and though water was
abundant, the great height Of the building, and the
cOmbustble nature of the interior Of the buildings
and their contents added to their tafred roofs rem
dered all their efforts to stop the flames Intellectual
the area between the two wings Of Mr.: Merri-
fields building was filled with old wooden buildings
occupied for the storing Of lumber, &C., and they
furnished ready fuel for the extension of the flames
From the east wing Of Merrifeds building the fire
crossed Union street and communicated to the large
meRt by Thayer, Houghton 4 Co., and in the other
stories by the extensive pistol factory of Allen
Thurber; thence the flames extended eastward to
several other small buildings in the rear Ened and
~ " hvywG <r <l~
room and lumber yard OF John Gates, whose large
stock OF lumber was consumed From the west
wing Of Merrifeld's building the flames crossed
Cypress street. and the two story wooden houses on
the opposite side, occupied by some seven or eight
Irish families, were entirely consumed with most Of
the furniture in them. The stable of the American
House was several times on fire the roof, but was
extingushed. The depot and several other build
ings adjacent were also on fire the roof but they
were extinguished without much damage.
After completing the destruction of Merrifeld's
building, the fire, progressing northward, crossed
Exchange street. and burned the stable occupied by
N. I. Bemis, the wheelwright shop of Aaron Samp-
son (who saved most of his stock); the chapel occu
pied by the lions (African) Church. the basement
Of which was occupied by Mr.. Warner as a restaura-
teur; the grst mill Of Howard Holden, which was
pied part Of this building, portion Of his stock
was saved. building occupied by Merrifeld as
counting room and several machine shops was next
swept away, and then the flames crossed Union
the corner Of Exchange and Union streets-this
building was burned, as was also the large furni-
ture factory Of Faber b Chollar, who had on hand
large stock OF Of which was destroy
ed. On the opposite side Of Exchange street, two
large buildings were also burned. They were oc
cupied by Messrs. G. Whtc0mb l. Co., manu-
facturers Of machinists. tools, whose stock was
large and whose loss was heavy; and by Aessrs.
Hovey d Lazel, straw. cutter manufacturers, who
had large stock Of cutters hand and whose loss
Is very heavy. Merrifeld's saw mill and quantity
OF valuable lumber was next burned. The mill
brook and the high bank Of the Nashua Railroad
direction. On the top Of the embankment was
large wood shed, which was torn down TO prevent
the spread Of the flames. @
On the westerly side Of Cypress street the large
bowling alley, was partly burned. A small dwell
ing adjoining was pulled down. and the progress of
the flames stopped there. On the opposite side Of
Exchange street and west Of Bemis's stable (before
mentioned) the dwelling house owned by widow
Magoun was badly damaged. Some carpenters
shops in the rear were also badly damaged. At
this point the progress of the fire north stayed
The fire was got under control about o'clock
Milbury, and one from Leicester and rendered val
liable assistance. Later in the day an engine COM
pany arrived from Clinton. The out of town com
authorities
No. engine company was in Worcester, and
playing on the fire, in eighteen minutes after the
alarm was given in Millhnry. II was taken to Wor-
The motive power N these various mechani-
engine of $50 horse power, which was located in
that part of Merrifeld's buildings which fronted
on Exchange street. This splendid engine is
total loss.
Great sympathy is felt for Mr.. MerriHeld, whose
public spirit and real Yankee enterprise has done
much towards building up the mechanical business
Of Worcester. He bore his loss with the GOODNESS
and composure Of philosopher: While the flames
were at their height, stripping him Of his property
standing by him, and said "Col. D., have q
note of $4,000 which is due this afternoon; can
not attend to it myself please take this (handng
him his pocketbook) and pay it." His friend did So
and paid the note, and Mr.. NJ went on giving direc
tions about the fire.
The number of men thrown outof employment Is
estimated at from one thousand to two thousand
Probably fifteen hundred would not be far from the
The citizens of Worcester turned out in good num-
bers and rendered efficient aid to the firemen The
sun was very hot and the remen suffered intensely
Twenty or thirty were badly heated, and had to be
physicians.
His Excellency Gov. Washburn was on the
ground, and when the fremen became exhausted
took hold Of the brakes and helped work the ma.
gymen rendered valuable aid. Rev. Messrs. Hill
and Hale carried water to the heated and painting
fremen, and Rev. Mr.. James mounted the roof of
building and did valiant service In battling the
flames.
Great fears were at one time entertained that the
flames would sweep up Exchange street to Maine
street, but fortunately the wind changed, and the
danger was averted.
There were rumors during the afternoon that
four or five men were killed, but at IL o'clock last
night when our reporter left, no one was known to
have been killed, and it was believed that no lives
had been lost.
Quite number Of persons were very badly in
tured. Among them were Edward Mahony-had
both wrists dislocated, was badly burned on the
back, had cut on the forehead. His brother Nor
ris was also burned badly. Both these persons
jumped from the third story window of one of the
burning buildings.
Joel H. Dewing-very badly injured in the back
from jumping from the fourth story Of Allen &
Thurbur's pistol factory.
Charles Reed-badly hurt
VIM. Carey-badly hurt and burned.
Charles Huber, German, had his arm broken.
Geo. E. Wyman and Lilley Raymond, assistant en-
gineers, E. s. Hill, Daniel Mcfarland Mr.. Ide, and
Aaron Sherman, were all more or less hurt.
meeting of the citizens of Worcester is to be
hold this NJ 0,clnck IN foka 20