Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-11-11
THE BOSTON COMPLICATION.

The story OF the burning OF the principal
portion OF Boston, so graphically told In our
columns this morning, will be read with sor-
row by our readers. The calamity Is In every
sense national one, and will be felt In q
hundred ways in every portion OF the Union.
Following so fast upon the awful destruction
Of Chicago little more than year ago,
and involving the loss Of hundreds Of mil
lions of dollars, 1t cannot but have a serlou s
influence upon tue business and monetary
Interests of the country.
As near as We eau form an estimate, based
on tho dispatches Of the Associated Press,
and from the kilograms Of the New York
papers, an area extending over two hundred
acres has been totally destroyed. Within
this circumference were the leading houses
Of B1ston-tho large dry goods stores aud
factories Of almost every description. the
banks, newspaper offices, and many of the
churches. The LIST Of losses Is simply terrific.
ThU destruction Of property Is larger than
that of Chicago, but 1t will fall principally
on the richer classes. The Insurance compa-
mics will no doubt suffer severely, and 1t Is
not ut all improbable that a large number Of
them will be utterly ruined. The English
companies will no doubt be enormous losers
The Are, It sccms, broke out about nine
o'clock at the corner Of Summer and Kings.
ton streets. Anorthwcster was blowing at the
time, aud In less than three hours notwith-
standing the efforts that were made to ar
rest the flames, 1t had eaten Its way through
nearly half milo of solid buildings. The
Catholic Cathedral was one Of the first Of the
more important structures to yield to the
devOuring elements. The Hartford and Erie
railroad Office went next, followed by the
granite warehouses on Franklin and Win
throp squares. Pearl stncet, thu centre Of
the shoe and leather trade, was 10 flames In a
IsW minutes uneTward and soon In ruIus.
Serious fears were entertained at one time
that Faneull hall and the old historic South
church would be swept away, bat the direc-
tiou Of tho fire changed, and according TO our
adyiccs they are now beyond the reach OF
destruction. Toward one o'clock on Sunday
morning the progress Of the flames was
partially checked, but they speedily
broke out In other directions, par.
tirularly toward the south, burning the
Worcester railroad depot and several streets
in that vicinity. The new post Office has
been destroyed, involving tho loss OF several
million dollars to the Government.
RThe authorities seem to have done all that
mon could do to stay the progress of the FIRE,
Her citizens ut the very height OF the dlsAs-
ter gave another evidence Of the superb Or
gauizatlon that has always distinguished New
England. Coming together In tho Old-fAsh-
lOned town meeting, the situation waS
promptly discussed, and committees Of cltl-
zens appointed to watch the progress Of the
burning and take such measures as 20 them
seemed best to arrest the cOn1agTatiOn. To
that end buildings were blown up with gun
powder, and equally efficient means taken to
save property. According to our reports,
there has been no loss of life, which is cause
for cOngratulation. As we said the event
cannot but have depressing influence gene
rally all over the country. The action OF
Secretary Boutwell, in offering all the assist
uncc in his power to the banks cannot, how
ever, but have 2alutary effect, and will be
commended by the entire country.