Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-17

4tEnlAtCIlNE 4 iAa IN L AoNlDENCE.-A IRE
broke out at about o'clock last evening, in
Howard Block 1t originated in the base
ment, on Exchange Place, in the North end
of the building, in the extensive cabinet
warerooms of Anthony, Denison, & Co. It's
said the fire was caused by pot of glue or
varnish. 1t rose rapidly through the well
that was used for hosting furniture, and burst
out of the filth story windows, at which hight
it was quite out OF the reach of the most
powerful engines in the FIRE department.
The fifth story was full of combustibie mate
rals-furniture in different stages of compile
ton, upholstery goods, vanished and painted
wood, and chips. The engines could only
play upon the fourth and the lower stories,
aud upon the adjoining buildings. The fire
made rapid progress. aud the entire block
was soon in q sheet of flame rising to a great
hight, aud Illuminating the whole city. The
cracking of the fire was heard all over the
city, and the walls fell with tremendous
crash.
About the same time-half past l0-the
fire communicated to the Museum, which
stood on the East of Howard Block, which
was soon hopelessly on fire. the flames rising
high above the roof, and bursting hercely
from the windows. The fremeu were much
exhausted, but they stood bravely to their
work. The walls of the Museum fell shortly
before l o'clock. The East wall fell upon the
low wooden building belonging to Walter r.
Danforth. The building was crushed by the
falling rubbish. Three firemen, who were
standing on the roof were injured Philip
Williams and William SPooner slightly, and
Jacob Myers more seriously.
The fire no brought up against the brick
house belonging to the heirs of Elisha Dyer,
and occupied by Samuel E. Waite as a board.
ing house, and the lower story by Charles A.
Pierce as G shoe store. Here, as in 1858, it
was arrested.
Anthony, Denison, & Co. occupied the
great hall in the second story, and the larger
part Of the building over Howard Hail, as an
extensive furniture wareroom, and for the
manufacture Of furniture. Their stock was
valued at about $50 600, on which they had
insurance for $4,000 or $4,000 1t was
mostly in Providence offices at the Mer-
chants $4,000 at the Roger Williams $4,000,
at the Washington $4,000 They had just
completed the furniture for the new rooms OF
Franklin Lyoeum, and were to have deliver.
ed it today. 1t was worth $4,000.
The other occupants of Ho ward Block were,
in the second story, A B. Peck & Co., piano.
forte ware room in front, on the lower story,
William H. Hudson & Son, ladies trimming;
u. & G. Z. Hutchns, croekery; w. H. & F.
G. Adams, stationery and book binderv. One
store was unoccuped. Messrs. Hutchins also
occupied two stories in the rear on Dorrance
street. George l.. Carr, gas filter, occupied
a store on Dorrance street.
The lower story of the Museum building
was occupied by Louis Strauss & Co, dry
goods; Henry Whiteman & Co., ready made
cothng p. Tabor & Co., music and musical
instruments. The basement on Exchange
Place was occupied by Franklin & Peck, pork
packers and produce dealers.
Mr.. Danforth's building was occupied by
Charles Snow, boot and shoe store; Richard
Davis, dr. goods; Wright & Perry, millinery
and millinery goods,
The terrible magnificent spectacle drew
large numbers Of people of both sexes to wit
ness it. The steps Of the Arcade and the
sidewalks Of Westminster street were crowd.
ed with people, and on the other side, under
the porticoes of the railroad depot, in the
triangular park, and the open space of Elk.
change Place, were great numbers of specta-
tors. The night was clear, aud in the latter
part OF it, cold, The moon shone brightly,
except when it was obscured by the columns
OF smoke that arose from the fire.
No estimate approaching to accuracy can
be made Of the loss. The buildings destroyed
were probably worth 500, 900, and we judge
that the property destroyed in them must
swell the aggre ate to $3.50, 900.
The following Offices had risks on Howard
Block: Co nmercial, Providence, $4,000
Firemen's Mutual, $4,000; Franklin Mutual,
$4,000; Massasoit, Springfield, $4,000, Gaspee,
$500, and $4,000 on stock Louis Strauss s
Co, were insured $4,000 at the Gaspee G. &
c. 2. Hutchins $4,000 Henry Whitman's
stock was valued at $40, 900, and was insured
at the North American, Hartford Hamp-
den, Springfield Conway, Conway; and
Slater, Providence, $4,000 each" There was
also $4,000 insurance at the Eliot Company,
AID $4,000 at the City Insurance Company of
Boston, on the property destroyed. -Proot-
dsace Journal, 18Th.