The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-11-16
BOSTON IN, FLAMES,

Will IT,
h., BOSTON IN FLAMES. -. ~
A Repetition Of the Chicago, Calamity
Seventy Acres Of Buildings Destroyed
--Estimated Loss 100000 900. q.'e .,
Last Saturday evening, about z
o'clock, fire broke out in a large FIVE
story granite building on Summer
street, in the business heart of the
beautiful city Of, Boston, and before
the fire department. could be notified
and assembled in sufficient force to
arrest the progress Of the fire, it had
spread to adjoining buildings and be-
come an unmanageable confagration.
The devouring element continued its
work of destruction for fifteen hours
before it was got under control, by
which time, driven by a fresh wind,
it had spread over all area Of seventy
acres and destroyed about fotry blocks
of the most superb mercantile build
ings OH the face Of the earth. Not a
wholesale; boot and shoe or leather
establishment was left in the great
city, and the wool trade suffered al
most as heavily. Numerous banks,
Wholesale and retail dry goods houses,
newspaper Offices, and magnificent
large warehouses became q prey to
the flames. The solid walls of gran
tie proved no obstacle to the fire, but
crumbled to dust before its fear
full onslaught. The handsome Man
sard roofs which surmounted SO many
of the buildings in the burned dis
trict, were very tinder- boxes aiding
the spread of the fire and intensifying
its heat and fury. 1..:4.tz l.sr-..
A detailed account of this great
calamity to the prosperous city which
has long borne the title of the I" Hub
Of the Universe" would require more
space than we can afford. Suffice it
to say that the disaster is of a magni-
tude that almost rivals that which
befel Chicago last year, but fortu-
nately the loss has fallen upon the
class best able to bear it, while in
Chicago rich and poor suffered alike,
and thousands upon thousands of peo-
pie were made destitute and home
less. This has not been the case in
Boston. A comparatively insignifi-
cant proportion Of the buildings
burned were occupied as dwelling
houses, and the few people thrown
upon the mercy Of the world by the
destruction of their homes were
promptly and well cared for by their
more fortunate fellow citizens whose
property was uninjured. .t
The total loss by the fire is esti-
mated to be not less than one hun
dred millions Of dollars. Local insur-
ance companies will suffer most heay-
lily, but few will be Frustrated. All
the leading companies having risks
in Boston will be able to weather the
storm. ..zt sh r. +-.. .n,,-s,
The flames have broken out afresh
once or twice since Sunday evening,
but We're promptly quenched.. Fire
engines were sent in great numbers
from neighboring cities and towns,
accompanied by men to work them,
md some of the leading citizens and
solid men of Boston" lent their aid
IS patrol or firemen as occasion
The streets bordering on
;he burned district were patrolled
continually during and after the fire,
md none but firemen and a few priv
legged characters. allowed to cross
hem. BY this wise precaution, the
,angs of burglars who thronged to
he. scene Of confagration from all I
PARTS Of the surrounding country
oming in great numbers from New
(ork city even--were effectually pre-
'ented from prosecuting their trade
f rapine and plumber. But few hui
nan lives were lost by the calamity,
nd few persons physically injured.
There is no dependency apparent
mong the heavy losers, but on the
ontrary, decided spirit of cheerful
ess and determination to recuperate
, visible, and this forms the most
leasing aspect Of the calamity-if,
,deed, it can have u pleasing aspect.