, 1872-11-19
enthusiastic, then adjourned. Otis Norcross,
Treasurer ct the Relief Fund, has received
additional contributions, making the amount
3o1 933 g5,


321, ,939 -95.
/ Statement OF the CHIEF Engineer.
Mr.. Danrcll, Chief of the Boston Fire Depart
ment, mado statement. Nov. Is, relative to
! Yithiu short time after the fire broke out,
| he saws he was confident that it was beyond th3
bounds of possibility for the Department of
this city to arrest its progress, and within
! twenty-five minutes after the alarm was sound
ed he te1egrapled to the several towns and cities
| within fifty miles Of Boston for lelp, and in
| cases where telegraphic communication was
without avail he had special trains sent out on
| the several railroads to bring the desired aid.
the fds h reean2
| and we're unfit for use, yet steamers NOS. and
| 7, and several hose-carriages and other appa-
ratus we're promptly on the ground, and upon
the arrival Of hosemen we're mneoaeely see 10
| work.
1t may not be generally known that the hose.
| men do not constitute the permanently pald
members of the Department, and that almost al
ways upon an alarm Of fire the engines WILL ar
rive upon the scene ready for action before the
hosemen who are summoned from their homes
can reach the spot. No unnecessary delay, how
ever, was occasioned Saturday night, and the
men used all their energies to check the volume
OF flame which enveloped the burning building,
tire force of the city, these alarms being given
in rapid succession. The Chief early compre-
hended the situation, and knowing we'll the
character Of the buildings, their great height,
many OF them being suTmounted with Mansard
roofs, and filed with goods, together with the
narroWnesB Of the streets he became satisfied
that large portion of the business section Was
doomed.
territory was made, and tho Board Of Under
writer's we're then informed that, should fire
break out under adverse circumstances, they
might expect very serious counagration. No
sooner had the fire attained headway, than the
Chief at once conferred with his assistants, who
we're assigned to different points, with directions
to check the flames at their respective stations il
it was within the bounds of possibility to do so.
These orders were obeyed to the letter, until the
immense volume Of flame forced the tremeu to
retreat to other quarters. When it became eyi-
dent that Franklin street was devastated, the
Chief had q consultation with the Mayor at q
store on Pearl street, and subsequently with
members Of the City Government, who approved
his course, which also met the views Of the
Board Of Engineers.
AS the conhagration swept onward, crossing
street after street in it's march, it YVES decided to
blow up all the buildings on Milk street on the
south side, from DeVonshire street to and
through Morton place, as many Of the buildings
in this locality were Of very combustible ma
turo. and would endanger tho entire northern
section Of the city. This was between II and
o'clock on Sunday morning. buta sufficient guam
tity Of powder could not ba obtained in this city
at that time, and Alderman jerks despatched
police officer to the Navy Yard with q request to
Commodore Parrott to furnish quantity Of that
article. With com1nendab1e promptness the
Commodore ordered five 100-pound kegs OF
powder to be placed in 8 hack, and the officer
soon reported back, when the blowing up Of
buildings on Washington, Doyonshfre. and
Water streets vas commenced, To make
the corner OF Milk and Washington streets
the objective point in tie rayages Of the ire
southwark, every effort was made, and fortu-
nately proved successful. Then, to stop its
Of The city living beyond that point. number Of
buildincs were mined on tho souh sidg Of that
street.. and On Dayonshire street.. between Water
and State streets. but. before these extreme
measures were REQUIRED. the dreadful element
was under control. and ali fnrther dancer
ayoided "4e0A
Al an aar1v ata,a of t1,a c,1aroitv ch;af Tam.
rail- dcsnafcIad - MESSENGER w;th ;natrnc1;n13a
for the Waterfront stationed in The harbor to
steam un tn the LARGE wharves north of tha coa1
whnryes. vhich lad then succnmbed to the
flames. and thia va1uable nnn1anco rendered. |
nnost ef6cient services in i7roncfIn~ tha Tharvas
md preventing lie ire from raging in that direc