Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-12


a column of citizens uuder the leading Of Mayor
Castor and Gen. VIM. l.. Burt, with Alderman
jerks and Col shepard as subalterns. And
now they took charge of all the streets leading
TO Milk, and about3 O'Clock the engineers d.
partment, under Damrill, aided by the marines,
laid charges of powder in t1e cellars of the south
SIDE of that street. In few minutes the roar Of
numerous explosions was heard, and, though
women grew pale and children began TO cry at
the terrific sounds, yet they were nevertheless
dearly welcome, for they indicated that the po-
siJion fully reali zed, and that the cona graz
ton was being fairly choked. Three more eN-
plosions were heard, and Immediately a large
block in Devonshire street was blown partially
into the air. Then came the turn of Federal
street, and quickly great gap was made in that
fine street.
THR POLICE AND THE THIEVES.
Despite the terror that prevailed there were
present in the crowd many thieves, who began
their nefaTiOus operations. ThefN were nu-
mefous and were committed with perfect i'm
puEity tor a time, as IL was absolutely imqoesi-
BILE for the police to distinguish owners from
thieves, all being loaded alike with portable
property. Now and then a we'll known face
would be recognized by the detectives, and the
ever, and the value of the plumber secured by
this depredatory class must have been enur-
nous. 1t Is understood that a thorough and
strict search will hereafter be instituted in order
that some portions Of the plunder may be re-
covered.
The ladies, in many cases, were bewildered
/ by the noise and hustle around them, rather
than by cowardly fear, or even by natural
umidity, and did some things that provoked
laughter in spite of the awful character of the
situation. One went about with package of
lace in one hand and a Isle thread stocking in
the other, entreating the workers 10 help her
save her property, which she WAS powerless to
designate. Another threw out large superb
mirrors from the third story. and carefully low
cred china jug by rope. Some shiYered in
silence on the stone steps, hugging their babes
to their breasts, and one answered TO a gentle
man who wanted to save her property: " Let il
burn, sir. I've saved my baby, and nv husband
is all right in New York"
AREA OF THE FIRE.
At O'Clock in the morning the area of the
fire was something pitiable. 1t extern led from
Washington street on the west TO the wharves
on the east, and Milk street on the north to the
Hartford and Erie bridge on the south. 1t had
destroyed the following street,: Sumner. Frank
lin, OTIS, Devonshire, from Milk street 10 Win
throp square, the south side of MIX street
Pearl, High, parts of Broad, Oliver, Bedford,
Chancey, Hawley, Arch, Federal, Purchase,
Avon, Kingston, Columbia and Congress streets.
BOSTON SUNDAY MIGHT
presented a Sc ne of desOlatiOn not unlike that
of a captured city in the possession OF hostile
army. The beat of the drum il heard in the
streets, and a soldier, with gun in hand, keeps
guard by the ropes which surround the scene of
devastation. Women and children thrOng the
streets. On the sidewalks, in yards, in the cor
ridors of the hotels, in the police stations, and
even In grave yards, are piles on piles OF yalua-
Bile merchandise, snatched from the burning
buildings. Boston never saw a brighter, fsirer
and a more sorrowful Sabbath than that on
which the sun has just set.
THE BURNED DISTRICT AND THE Loss.
The region covered by the fire was entirely
within wards five and four. including about
one-half of the territory of the former, and two
or three acres OF the latter, space in all very
nearly the same as that occupied by ward three.
1.-The area of the burnt district will he found
when carefully estimated" says the Daily Ad-
vertiser, "slighty to exceed siXtyfOur acres, or
21S7 $40 square feet. Deducting the space
covered by streets, the area occupied by build
IDgs is little less than two million square feet.
space; but assuming that they did, and they
were worth $40 per square foot the entire loss in
buildings will amount TO 10000 ,OO7, an esti-
mate TO the correctness of which, we have the
testimony OF many sagacious holders OF real e.
tate. The total number OF buildings consumed.
may roughly be stated at about 700. The loss
in merchandise is set by the most compel ent
experts at not over three times the amount OF
the loss of buildings, ii being borne in mind
used principally for offices, and contained moth
ing very valuable, and that in many ware
houses the stocks Of merchandise were low
some of the dry goods commission houses, for
example, having hardly any goods Ia store.
EFFECTS ON THE BUSINESS oP BOSTON.
Our estimate, therefore, sets the entire loss at
$50 COO co., prodigious destruction in itself
but by no means one to infiict a crushing blow
upon the property of Boston. All the old boot
and shoe and commission firms are solvent and
even strong as before the fire, and by their
sOlyency Will preserve to Boston, unmpaired,
their valuable line of business. Very maHy OF
the jobbing firms also in the same line, came out
OF the fire with large losses, it i true, but able
TO meet all their engagements, and to continue
terms OF the large manufacturers and dealers in
clothing.