Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-31
Worcester, July, 1856.

FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE IN BosToN.--A de
structiye fire occurred in North street, Boston
Tuesday afternoon, destroying Jefferson olocl
and several tenementss.n the rear and at the cor
ner OF North and Clark streets also, stabl
owned by Joh Sea- er. Cornelius Doherty ownot
Jefferson block, which was occupied as a grocery
clothing store, and by several families Tn,
buildings destroyed were mostly occupied by Irisl
families and as sailor boarding houses. We gath
er the following particulars from the Bostol
Journal -
1.-The most painful duty we have to perform
in connection with giving the particulars
this fire, is recording tbesoss of life and acct
dents to limbs, which, so far as we are able to
ascertain, are as follows:-
Mr.. Charles A. Warren, member of Frank
lin Hook and Ladder Co., No. 3, while at his
post in Everett alley, was struck by falling
chimney, and Frustrated under mass OF
bricks and rubbish. He was taken out in an
insensible state, few moments after the oc-
currence, and Immediately conveyed to the
apothecary store of DR.. Warren Ludwig, cor
ner of North and Fleet streets, where every
attention was paid HIM by DR.. L., assisted by
DR.. Buck, but their efforts to restore him to
consciousness were unavalling, aud he ex pired
in few minutes after reaching the store.
Mrs. Mary Collins, in her fright, leaped
from third story window, and was instantly
killed.
The bodies Of six Others were recovered from
the ruins and taken to the lst Station House.
Three Of the number have been identified as
the bodies of Ellen Kalen, 45 years of age,
Mary Kalen, aged q years, and Catherine
Kalen, 10 years of age-mother and two
daughters. The others were so badly disfg-
ured and charred by burns that at the present
time of writing they have not been identified
A woman named Margaret Donovan was
last seen at an upper window, with three chill.
dren clinging to her, and it is supposed that
they all persisted in The flames.
James Wright, wife and child, are reported
as missing, and are also supposed to have per-
ished.
Hugh Traverse, s0n-in-law of Mrs. Collins,
while endeavoring to save some OF her effects,
met with fall, by which one of his legs and
two or three of his ribs were broken. He was
conveyed to his home in Prince street.
Mrs. Margaret Sweeney leaped from the
roof of Jefferson Block, fracturiDg one of her
legs and one of her elbows. DIR. Aver attend
ed her, and after temporarily administering to
her necessities, had her conveyed TO the Mas
sachusetts General Hospital, where she died.
Newell Harding, Jr., member of Barni-
coat No, IL, was struck down by falling
bricks, in Everett alley, and sustained slight
fracture Of the shoulder blade, besides receiv-
ing severe bruises OH his back. He was con.
veyed to his home, and his physician is Of
the opinion that he will be about again in the
course Of three OF four weeks.
Philip Hackett. member OF No. L, was
slightly bruised by falling bricks,
j W. Regau, also mem Der OF No. IL, had
one of his ieet jammed from a similar cause.
At half.past three o'clock, half an hour af-
ter the fire alarm was first gwen, the alarm
was sounded for the steam fire engine to has
ten to the scene, but it was not until after
five o clock that she arrived and was stationed
ON Union Wharf. This delay we are assured
was solely owing 10 the want of horses, none
being provided by the Committee on the Fire
Department to draw the machine TO ti,es,
notwithstanding the engineers have urged the
necessity of having huIses IN constant readi
ness. In seven minutes after the "Miles
Greenwood" reached The wharf, she was at
work "playing away" greatly to the relief Of
the french, who had borne the heat of the
day.
Some Of the scenes and incidents Of this
catastrophe of yesterday were Of the most
remains of the victims, as they were taken
one by one from the ruins, were so efectual-
ly charred, black ened and mutilated, as to lose
almost all semblance Of humanity and to de.
fly the agcnizing scrutiny of relatives and
friends who were in search of their missing
ones. The piercing shrieks Of mothers fol
their lost children, were indeed heartrendinR,
and all human efforts to pacity them were Of
no avail.
Among the charred remains ct the station
house were those of a woman clasping an in
FAINT in her arms. All, what an embrace was
that which relaxed not during all the fearful
anguish of that dreadful death by sufocation
and burning
Another body, badly burned and charred,
and supposed TO be that Of a female, was found
IN the ruins Of Jerome Block, this morning,
ana conveyed to the house Of reception H. No.
prove street. A stocking found on the body
pore The initials q. G. W.. and from that fact
supposed to be that OF Ms. Wright, men-
TONED as missing.
One Of the bodies found yesterday, has