Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-11-13
The Boston Fire.

continues its devastation and is now
working its way through the large block
between Devonshire and Congress
streets, north of Wales street.
The fire broke out in the rear end of
FIVE story granite building, Nos. 81,
80 and 81 Summer street, directly on
the corner of Kingston street. This
building was surmounted with high
Mansard roof, overlapping all other
buildings in that immediate vicinity.
Directly as the flames began to spread
through the story beneath this roof,
and before an engine or hose carriage
was on the ground, great volumes of
fame suddenly burst out from the rear
of the lower stories of the building, and
in less than 20 minutes the whole broad
faca lie extending fully one hundred
feet along Livingston street was one
sheet of fame, as was also at the same
time the Summer street front, the heat
being so intense as to force the fire.
men away from that immediate vicini-
ty. $50. ia.
By this time a strong wind had
sprung up, and the flames began to
sweep over Summer and Kingston
streets, and, despite all the exertions of
the fremen 10 every branch of the de
partment, the fire was communicated to
buildings on the opposite corner of
Kingston and Summer streets, as we'll
as to the great block on the corner Of
Summer and Otis streets, and in less
than half al hour the flames were burst
ing out of the roofs and all up and down
the broad sides of the immense struc-
lures. By this time the wind had in
creased to nearly gale, and the flames
having entire mastery of everything,
swept from story to story, from roof to
roof, from block to block, and from
corner to corner, driving the fremen
from every vantage ground they could
secure, and rendering all their exertions
useless.
Among the prominent build ngs al
ready destroyed are the Cathedral
Block, Daniel Webster Block, Boston
Pilot building, and the rear of the
Boston Transcript buildings. Orders
have been given to blow up both corners
at the junction of Devonshire and Milk
streets. The fire is spreading towards
South Boston, and also progressing
toward State street from Franklin
street. The immense block opposite
the Pilot Office, chiefly occupied by
wholesale wooden dealers, is now on fire
Attempts are now being made to blow
up two corners on Franklin street to
prevent the confagration from extend
ing further towards State street. I'm
mense crowds of people fill the streets,
and every effort is being made by them
to save property, which is being trans
ferred to various parts of the city The
utmostlgood order prevails, and moth
ing is done which at ordinary times
would be considered unseemly.
1t is evident that the business portion
of our city IS to be laid in ruins.
Boston, Mass, Ais a. m.-The con-
hagration continues with fearful effect.
Building after building is blown up
with the only apparent effect of increas-
ing the terrible volume of flame. The
newspaper Offices, which are on the
line of the fire, have made all prepar-
ations for the removal OF books, papers,
etc., with no hope of saving any materi-
al. The transcript office is already in
flames, and the "Old South Church., ,
dear to all Bostonians, is at last to fall
victim to the fire. The Journal
office will next have to succumb, and
the Post, Globe and Trauezer will soon
follow.
The business or central district of the
city may be said to be bounded by State,
Court, fremont, Boylston and Essex
streets. This region is filled with
massive buildings and business houses
OF the first class. State street is the
headquarters of the bankers, and brok-
ers, the money center ofthe city Pearl
street is perhaps the greatest boot and
shoe market in the world, with scarcely
firm on the street following any other
line OF business. On Franklin.
Chauncey, Summer, and other streets
in the neighborhood, are the great dry
goods establishments and the wool
houses In this section are also whole
sale dealers in iron, groceries. clothing
wines and liquors. The retail trade,
and lawyers Offices, newspaper offices.
the public buildings, the hotels, the
old State House, the City Hall, the
Custom House, the new Post-office. are
all found within the area bounded by
the streets allowed mentioned. And
here it is that the fire ragged. Step by
step the fiery element devoured the
great wealth there accumulated and
compacted in all the available space.
The damage is incalculable.
The fire caught in the engine room
OF the large four story granite store on
the corner of Summer and Kingston
streets, and, leaping north and east,
swept before it buildings of iron and
granite as though they were kidding
wood.
The report of buildings blown up,
indicating that gunpowder was being
used to stop the fire, was heard at 3 :O5
O'Clock, and was a most welcome sound.
for 1t betokened a fearless honest. radi-
al effort to save Boston from Chicaeo's
fate. Three discharges were made in
block on Devonshire street, and these
threw the building partially down, but
without apparent benefit, for the flames
jumped over the gap almost instantly
The building was close to the fire, and
unless blocks more distant are speedily
Frustrated the effect will, of course, be
simply nothing. The wharf of the
Hartford 4 Erie Railroad was burned
and the passenger station of the cor
poration on Broad street, at the foot of
summer street, was destroyed.
The banks destroyed are the National
Bank OF North America, No. rs Frank