Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-07
Fire Record.

AT CHARLEsTOwN, MAss.-LOss $1,000 00-oNE
LADY BURNED TO DEATH.
BOsToN, Oct. GA few minutes past eleven
O'Clock this forenoon a fire broke out in the
westerly end of the extensive wooden freight de-
pot buildings of the Fitchburg railroad COM
panv, situated on the corner of Warren avenue
and Front street in Charlestown. The buildings
were partially built upon piles and occupied a
water front on Charles river of several hundred
feet The depot was flied with an immense
quantity OF freight awaiting delivery to consIgn-
ecs in Boston and in transit to the north and
west. A number of cars were standing on the
tracks in the dcpots, being loaded and unoaded.
The fire was communicated to the long, low
range of buildings standing over the waters
edge by spark from Il small hosting Cnnine
employed in diSCharging coal vessels and long
before the cahOOSe which sheltered the machine
was burned, the flames had reached the head
house, which was cnYeloped in mass of flames
in less than half an hour after the fire caught.
SO rapidly did the fire spread that no opportuni-
ty was afforded the employees to remove the cars
or any of tue freight, all OF which fell prey to
the deYouring element. The offices of the freight
department of the corporation were located in
the front aud southeast corner of the building.
ing was given to escape after the alarm was
sounded, it is rumOred that the male clerks were
compelled to leap from the windows.
The heat from the burning building was i'm
tense and set fire to a long range of wooden
StOrchOuSes on the east side of Warren avenue.
which, however, the efforts OF the iremeu prom
ised TO save. A schooner lying in the dock
alongside the StorChOuse was in danger Of de-
struction, aud messengers were at once dis
patched for steam tug to take her into the
stream. The wind blew briskly from the south
west, driving the flames over in the direction of
the Wavcrley house, for the safety of which the
most serious fears were entertained. The fire
departments Of Boston and Chareslown came
promptly to the scene, but their efforts TO save
the freight buildings were futile, as they were a
mass of ruins in less than an hour after tue fire
broke out.
AT one time the Waverey house was in great
danger, the heat from such an immense burning
mass scorchlng all the woodwork on the rear of
the hotel, and also cracking the wall in some
places. The roof was also set fire to i'm several
places by large burning cinders, which filled the
air, and which in some instances were carried
quarter of mile. Happily but little damage
was done to the building, us a stream of water
was kept upon the walls, and the employees of
the holel attended To the roof. The grain store
of Nathlu Tufts, Jr, and the coal wharf of FitZ
Todd, both opposite the freight depot, were
damaged by fire, which was set by the extreme
heat The rapidity with which the fire spread
is accounted for from the fact that barrels of oil
exploded as the fire reached them. As the fire
ragged with undated fury, the painful rumor
went around that one of the young lady clerks
employed in the freight office over the large arch
way of the main building had been unable TO
get out, owing to the immense volumes of smoke
that filled the building. In the excitement at
tendant upon such an extensive fire, but little
could be learned as to the truth or iaSity of the
report.
The report, however, proved true. Miss Ada
b. Anderson, principal cUpyiSt in the freight de
partment, was surrounded by the sudden burst
inc of the flames from the kerosene and other
inhammable freight, and burned to death. Her
parents reside in Oswego, N. Y. Others in the
building narrowly escaped. The fire caught
from sparks from an engine, and spread with
fearful rapiditY, the flames being fed by eX-
ploding oil casks and kerosene. There were
three buildings burned in all, occupied respect
lively by the Cheshire inward and outward, YER
mont and Massachusetts, and the FitchbuTg
Within an hour after the alarm, the high walls
of the main building fell aud the entire eastcrly
half OF the main line of freight houses, extend
ing about two thousand feet, were level with the
ground.
The buildings were old, probably not worth
over $4,000, for which they were insured in
Boston offices. The total loss, it is believed,
will exceed 100000, but it is impossible to give
correct estimate, as the contents OF the cars in
the building are unknown. All the books and
papers in the office were destroyed. The follow
ing insurance is given:
Geo. w. Walker & Co., $1,000 worth of stoves
on storage $1,000 each In the Shoe and Leather and
Firemen's offices.
j. F. Edmunds & Co., flour; $1,000 in the Phoenix
of New YORK; the Peoples of Worcester, $4,000 on
freight.
h. Murdoch, quantity of wood carving, &c.
stored in the lofts destroyed; insurance $4,000 in
New England Offices.
The Fitchburg corporation have large and
commodious freight houses on Front street
which remain untouched, and their business
will be continued without serious interruption.
AT SAN FRANCIsco-Loss $4,000
SAN Francisco, Oct 6.-Ihe Occidental
skating rink was burned last night. Loss, S10-
900.
PRAIRIE FIRE-LCss IMMENSE.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Oct. o. The great prairie fire
is still raging with unabated Jury, although the
slight rain of yesterday arrested its progress for
a little time. It's course is southeast, aud at last
accounts it had reached nearly as far south as
Minnesota river which it is hoped will stay its
progress The high wind yesterday drove the
fire forward with lightning rapldity, and it was
burning fiercely in the bic woods around Glen
coe, Lesein, Mankato and New Ulm. Reports OF
the ravages of the tire tiend are coming in con-
stantly, though evidently exaggerated. The
losses SO far, positively known, are confirmed
houses, barns, fences, hay, wheat and live stock
Only two lives are known to be ost-a Swede
named Conneaut, of Handiyoct county, and a
man, name unknown, who started from the
same county with a drove of cattle for Fort
Geary and overtaken by fire. There is no means
Of ascertaining the amount of damage done,
owing to the large tract of country over which
the fire swept, and its inaccessible nature, but it
must be very heavy. Many small towns are
completely destroyed, and the solitary farm
houses in the track of the fire, almost invariably
burned. The suffering must necessarily be great,