, 1872-11-18

choking the flames and iueB OF each other. At |
last we're the outlines Of cellars gaping open,
once and emitting gases. and, III these cellars,
the gas-pipes, twisted off, burned like the taper
bearers OF the Nemesis who had done and was
enjoying this thing.
BEHIND Us. THE GREAT POST OFFICE,
the finest building in New England, and never
yet occupied, stood empty, through all its open
windowe taking illumination to Light its iron skel-
etUn, which stood straight and unwarped, while
the Mansard ribs above the cornice stood also
revealed against the frightened air. But at one
corner, near the head Of Federal street, column
in the second order was split down the whole
face Of the shaft, and the capital was spoiled
beyond recognition; and, as the eye wandered
still higher up the building, it was plain that
much OF all the granite under that corner payil-
ion had split like the quarries Of Quincy under
the quarrymen's wedges.
'.There," said fireman standing near, who
had been silent as ourselves in the first awe OF
his arrival al,-there is the wall which saved the
Post Office. But for that brick wall next door,
down would be Mr.. Post Office at this minute!
Yes. Like great wing reached up to cover
it from danger, an enormous surface brick wall,
belonging to private storehouse, which had all
perished except this wall, stood parallel With the
Post Office, covering the back of it, and only anar-
roT alley between. The fire, burning down a
flashed up in the granite face Of the Post Office,
and passed by to attack it in the rear, where the
storehouses nearly touched it. The storehouses
fell, and the united columns OF the , fire
fought around this piece OF Of Standing a9 "a, aad
peeled tie granite corner Of the Post Office.
But tho brick curtain stood like q fertilization
the fire swept round farther, and retreated along
Lindall and Centre streets, nearly to the custom
House; and there stood, all blackened, but
faithful still, the brick wall OF the private cltl-
zen guarding the Government architecture.
The route OF former streets Was more or less
plain to be seen, and We began to pick our way
through .
THE AXIS OF THE BURNT DISTRICT
granite blocks, now chilly cold, although the
debris Of the fire burned SO near. In this region
it was very quiet, except that ne met half q dog
an or dozen women walking through the pud-
dies with their police OF soldier beaux.
At the corner Of High and Summer s4reets.
one narrow building Of Concord granite stood
almost complete,
A LANDMARK AMIDST THE WASTE,
and it's stony face #as white as marble IN the
flashes of the fire. This was statloners eBtab-
flames, IN their fury, would not tnrry for go thin
an object. but we're divided by it and rushed On
to find a broader resistance. The splendid series
of stores which used to bear the name, as they
occupied the site, Of - Daniel Websters Home,
were Ill gone and the WoudrouR monuments IN
granite to the modern boot, in Pearl street, were
likewise extinguished-
Of the boot and shoe dealers, 903 firms had
been burnt out and 200 manufacturers we're dis
commoded of desk-room.
Equally prostrated were the great dry goods
and clothing blocks Of Deyonshire street, and
the wool-houses Of Congress and Federal: The
fastidious Church Of Holy Trinity blinked, as it
with useless eyeglasses, out Of its many win
dows; and there, said one beside me:
TIE BEST CLAY OF BOSTON HEsTs.'
though that great CGsars clay, at this IN
slant, would be poor substitute for buudlns
materials
At the spot where the fire broke out to take its
travels, there stood many empty walls to the
west Of Summer street, nearly perfect, but un-
dermined, and probably doomed to come down.
Over the tops and through the breaches OF these,
people could be seen in the windows OF many
tenement houses, peeping down at the burnt dis
trict apprehenaively. Surely so great ire was
life
+ From the formerly noble Winthrop square,. 3
fine view opened out on three sides, and the
gable OF farley, Amsden & Co. stands erect and
nearly unsupported to it's perfect height. In
Winthrop square, there stood a wooden door
swinging on it's hinges, preserved despite the
fire and, in the rear OF the same block, another
beautiful chimney, calm and white In the night,
as if it we're vestals monument.
Thence we passed along Washington street to
Milk, surfeited with ruins, aud unable, between
the duties of telegraphing and writing, to pay
particular attention to details.
DESCRIPTION or THIS FIRE,
if should attempt to be precise about it, would
| take two weeks Of inquiry, and then would be
| inexact Many owners and custodians Of great
warehouses we're not present to see the progress
of the devastation Of their premises for it wah
| Saturday, and hundreds had gone to thecountry,
| while even the newspaper people were holding
fste somewhere. and all the Boston press has
not furnished m adequate account. Besides, a
| fire like this moves upon no strategic lne obeyE
| no laW Of advance, but, like the wind, bloweth
| where it 1steth. In some caseB, heroic personal
| efforts stopped the fame by tho resources Q,
draft-holes, and keeping walls and blankets de-
luged with water before the fire should come
In this way, the Washington building, opposltt
Franklin street. was made to turn the nresontt
column Of the FIRE, and one Alderman (Jenks
closed the path of the devourer on Devonsh!r' r.
street. Powder stopped the advance Of the mr. !
i upon State street, and the 6remen fouSnt
| after midnight on Sunday morning, Will II
much valor as could have been 93pecseo'
oua wEtasEss
in American cities Lies - caring nGtMng ioI nr' II,
have frenen at all, and give our Fire Depart
i ments over to deprecated classes, until TIL
1 r,ichtv scourge makes night attack upon us
i and We End that fire is the omnlpresent enemy
and Te are without an army. Well may th'
u T.onaon journals scan and criticise Boston, de
! yoared by flame, though at the edge Of the sea
i al old and established city taken unaware.
i THE GENERAL HISTORY
Il of this fire is that it broke out near the southern
1 margin Of the rich and dense business district
! on yeat corner Of Summer street. ltgot all it,
/ headway before public attention was directed II
/ it. and in q twinklng had Jumped t.
| Winthrop square end carried the bet
4 ter part Of the dry goods dis
1 trict The best feed for it, starting of, wa
\ the old Mercantile Hall building, garnet o
i Offices, on Summer street, between Arch ant
4 Hawley. It had speedily swept part Of Frank
. lin and Deyonshire streets, the vaunted granite
!. fastnesses Of Boston; and, from the place o
beginning, radiating like q fan, it swept in
partially northwest, east, and north, until it hat
burned to the waters edge BY midnight; ant
then, carrying off all the new business houses o.
High street. al the fimsy housee Oh Broad All
Purchase streets, and setting the wharf com
! bustibles On fire, it made
| THREE COLUMNS OF FLAME,
| whose general direction was northward, an
| which forced out OF their paths OF advance b
| resistance, explosion, or change of air-current
made an attempt to carry State and Washing
| ton streets, and we're stopped in the attempt be
| fore noon on Sunday. Sunday night, the re
| treating fire ret 8 corner afame which it has
| spared before, and ceased.
! / climbed up ladder and ont upon the roof O
the tall Office of the Boston Post, on Wednesda,
| morning. Mr. Nathaniel Green, the editor, fol
| lowed me up, and explained