Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-11
was distinctly seen from points fifty miles away
THE REMOVAL OF coODS


moved. Men with ledgers and account books of
every description rushed into the stores on
Washington street, asking permission to deposit
the books, which contained the only record Of
immense business transactions, for safe keeping.
Carriages were flying in every direction, loaded
with ledgers and papers, which the owners were
anxious to preserve and carry as fan ont Of the
reach of the fire as possible.
PLACES USED FOR STORING GOODS.
Theyard of the English high school is stacked
with boxes and packages of merchandise The
lower part of Essex street was filled with men,
women and children, carrying trunks, pieces Of
furniture and clothing, while large number Of
wagons passed up the street carrying loads Of
household goods the property of people living
on Kingston and the adjoining streets. BY one
O'Clock the streets were alive with job teams
and all SORTS of wheeled cOnyeyances loaded
down with valuable goods being removed to
places of safety. The common was used as a
repository by those who could find no covered
shelter for their goods, and all along the IRE
mont street mall from Park to Boylston street
goods in bales and boxes, packages, large and
small, dry goods, leather goods, bed ticks and
household furniture, were heaped in large
stacks, aud determined men with short sticks
guarded them from the incursions of number
less thieves, who, like birds of prey, lowered
about at every turn.
TWO O'CLOCK SUNDAY MORNING.
AT two o'clock Sunday morning the fire was
still raging with unabated fury. The tottering
walls of stone, brick and mortar, the volumes
of fame constantly shooting up, casting a lurid
glare upon the sky and church spires, thestreets
filled with shouting men and dashing horses,
while upon every ones face careworn and tired
look told with what anxiety the progress Of the
flames was being watched, formeda scene which
once witnessed will never be forgotten. In the
distance could be seen the domcs of the state
house and city hall, towering loftly above every
thing, and almost delying 1.-THE flames. The
church spires seemed 10 hold aloft as the Sab.
bath opened finger Of fate, warning of the i'm
pending danger. Among the numerous others,
the spire of the Old South held its position all
through the sad night, hundreds anXiously
watching the flames and fearing that, as slowly
the faithful old time piece that adorns the base,
tolled forth the hour, it was the last time that
its familiar notes were to he heard But it was
not to be, and when finally the hremen tri-
umphcd over the flames in this section Of the
city, there stood the old spire, clock and all, TO
the joy of the entire population. In the streets
were seen men who, when the sun went down
Saturday night, counted their wealth by thon-
sands, now reduced to poverty, business gone,
and even the location of their e'princely mcr-
camille houses matter of doubt.
tsCENEs AND INCIDENTS.
Among the sad sights witnessed were those
of young, plainly clad girls, standing upon the
streets adjacent to the burning acres, with pite-
Gus eXclamotons and bitter tears at seeing the
places where few hours before they were earn
ing by hard work their daily bread, RACED to the
ground. 1t is estimated that nearly 10000 of
these unfortunate girls are thus thrown out Of
employment Where they will 20 or what they
will do no one cab now tell, but il is hoped that
the hearts Of those who are more fortunate will
be moved to aid them. Miss Jennie Collins, who
has charge of Botiln's Bower, SIS Washington
street, places it ut the disposal of all it will &C.
commodate, and announces that so far as she
can she will furnish the means for their support
when necessary.
The Emigrant savings bank succeeded in
removing their yaluabes to a place of safety,
and are already out with a card announcing
their part.
So great was considered the danger among the
citizens that goods were removed from places
quite distant from the fire, while every business
house at the north and east portions of the city
packed their goods for a start The Western
Union Telegraph company made preparations to
move before midnight.
Aheavy granite boulder from the front of the
building next to the corner of Franklin street
was thrown up Bromfeld street distance of 100
feet by the fall of the wall.
THE USE OF GUNPowDER.
AT two O'Clock in the morning, it having be-
come evident that water could never conquer
the flames alone, gunpowder was resorted to,
and several buildings were blown up. The
charge Of this department was given to the
marines from the navy yard, who had come
over in full force, and the frequency with which
these reports occurred told how faithfully they
were doing their duty.
DAYLIGHT WELCOMED.
The disappearance of the stars, whose bril-
liancy was sadly diminished by the power of
the light from the flames below, told
that daylight, which had long been looked for.
was fast approaching. Why its appearance
was welcomed is hard to state, unless the light
of the disastrous condagration that was fast
reducing the business portion of Boston to ruins
would be partially concealed, and its effect be
made less terrible. The sun arose in all its
splendor, but soon passed behind the dense vol
ume of smoke, not to he again seen in all its
glory until late in the afternoon.
TEN O'CLOCK SUNDAY MoRNIHG.
At this hour the flames were Fastening on
ward towards State street with undated fury.
The rear of the new post office building is al
ready in flames, although the engines from
Worcester are stationed here, and doing all
in their power to prevent the destruction of
this handsome building. With the help of gun
powder they conquered and the building is only
slightly damaged. A large number of buildings
between Congress and Broad streets have al.
ready been blown up, and many more are
mined with match in readiness 10 rend them in
pieces, if the occasion demands.
ONE HOUR LATER.
At eleven O'Clock Chief Damrell was asked the
question, what is the prospect? The reply was,
Bad, bad, bad; God help burning Boston. At
this time the flames were working rapidly to.
windward and back into Congress street, where,
should it again break out in the tops of the
lofty buildings, it will be impossible to stay its
advance
TWO IN THE AFTERNOON.
AT this hour the fremen appear to be gaining
a mastery of tine fire, and the line of fame is
lessening. From this time until four
O'Clock the flames succumbed to the efforts of
the fire department, after having burned sixteen
consecutive hours
HOW HovEY's BUILDING WAS SAVED.
Well known to every Que who has ever visited
Boston is Hovey's, on Summer street; and here
the building was saved by spreading blankets
over the roof and keeping them constantly sat.
uraed with water. The walls of the structure
being Of granite, the roof was the only assaila-
Bile point. With this protected in the above
manner, the building was not only saved, but
the lire department was assisted in overcoming
the flames
LOSS TO HARVARD COLLEGE.