Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-12
Ilailv Nennebef 4ourml
TIE RoSr0N ERE.

The limit of destruction In Boston by
the great fire was not reached until yes
teraav. Human effort availed but little
against the fierce element driven to fury
BY the wind. In spite of all obstacles it
worked its way steadily into the heart OF
the city, destroying the solidest blocks and
invading the stronghold OF the money
power of Boston and New England The
havoc is fearful. The loss cannot ne COM
puted at this time.
In comparison with the Chicago fire as
to the space burned over, the Boston ire
j. small. In the former two thousand
acres were swept entirely clean OF all
buildings except one, while in Boston the
area of the destruction is less than a hun
bred acres. But in the loss OF property
we shall not be surprised to learn that
Boston suffers as much as Chicago did.
In Chicago more people were rendered
houseless than were in Boston, for in the
former the fire devoured a great part OF
the habitable portion of the city, while in
Boston the track of the fire is through the
business and commercial part of the city.
covered with stores, offices and ware
houses, forbidding the residence of many
persons in the locality. There will be less
individual suffering by the Boston calami-
ty, but its disastrous effects upon material
interests will be felt widely and deeply.
Let us hope that the work Of PREPARATION
will be as successful in Boston as it has
been in Chicago, where the devastation OF
year ago has given place TO nobler build
ings and better accommodations for the
business and commerce Of the city than
before the fire.
There is no doubt that the sickly condi
ton Of the horses belonging to the fire
department is in a considerable degree the
cause of this terrible destruction Engines
were slow to arrive upon the ground when
the alarm was given because the horses
were weak, thus losing time which the
gale improved to spread the flames beyond
the power of control. \ few minutes
before the fire had gotten under Roadway
would have been worth millions TO Bos
ton, but they were lost; not by any neg
lect upon the part of the department, but
for the reason which VIC have mentioned
In such gale the efforts OF men agains
an ocean of fire are insignificant. It's tht
first moments then which are precious
Once let the fire get abroad with the hurri
cane to fan it and it is uncomfortable. /
there were any part of Boston which
might have been considered SAT,
against fire by the construction of the
buildings, it was where the ruins are.
was covered almost entirely with bricl
and stone blocks, safe in any common
emergency. bnt in Il time like this a
Intellectual against the flames as building
Of pasteboard The flames surge,
through windows and doors with the spec
OF the wind, feeding upon The eombusti
bic materials inside, and exposing tn
weakness of structures built for security
Buildings may be and are constructed Sc
rs to afford a good degree of protection but
they are feeble shields when the deyoul.
ing element attacks them in its might.
Other cities will better understand theil
peril when they see the value of time ex.
emplified in the ruins of Boston. The city
might have suffered all the same had not
the horses been sick, but their sickness
made delay, and that delay afforded the
fire an opportunity to extend and strength
en- its hold SO that it could not be checked
Promptness at fires is indispensable 1t is
better than stone and brick and iron some
times. Especially now when the sound.
ness Of our insurance policies is in great
doubt, should we look to it that the fire
departments Of our cities are in the bes
order, ready for service at the first stroke
Of the alarm bell.
FOREIGN NEWS.