, 1872-11-11

tense as to force the fremen away from that I'M
mediate vicinity. By this time strong wind
had sprung up, and the flames began to sweep
over Summer and Kingston streets, and despite all
exertions Of the firemen in every branch Of the
department, the fire was Communicated to build
ings on the opposite corner Of Kingston and
Summer streets, as well as to the great block on
the corner of Summer and Otis streets, and, IN
less than half an hour thereafter, flames were
bursting out of the roofs, and all up and down
the broad sides Of the immense structures. By
this time the wind had increased to nearlya gale,
and the flames, having entire mastery of every
thing, swept from story to story, from,
roof % roof, from block to block, and from cor
ner to corner, driving the dremen from every
vantage ground they could secure, and render
ing all their exertions useless and futile.
Wherever the flames reached they rapidly con-
sumed everything Of combustible character.
The large block on the corner Of Summer and
Kingston streets, in which the fire first started,
WAS occupied on the first and upper floors By
Tebbitts, Baldwin Davis, dry goods jobbers.
A. X. Young l. Co. occupied the third
and fourth stories as q mandatory for skirts
and corsets, giving employment to about 200
men. The second floor Was occupied by Damon,
Temple i Co., furnishing goods, DC. Notwith-
standing this great building was in almost an in
credibly short space Of time completely 1e7elled
to the ground, its destruction had not pfogress-
ed far before the flames and sparks which arose
from it had lodged upon all buildings round
about. Thus the Ere spread almost instantly in
three directions; first, to the adjoining block on
Summer street; then, across Summer street to
the opposite block and then to Kingston street.
In the frst-named direction the adjoining
building was occupied by Leland l. Whee1ock,
gents furnishing goods; and Sawyer, Mans
field 4 Co., importers Of dry goods. The next,
Eager, Bartlett & Co., woolen goods Q. B.
North g. Son, caps and furs. Next, Farley,
Amsden d Co., dry goods jobbers; and Rhodes,
-.iplcy, Wholesale clothing. The,latter' firm
owned the building. x
The structure opposite the point Of start
ing was Of granite, four stories ;, and
. half high, occupied largely by May yain, N1ullin
& Elms, dealers in trimmings, who used the
entire lower floor. Harding Bros. l. Co., G. L.
Ide, Carter. l. Co., occupied the upper floor,
From this building across the square diagonalIy
was stone block, occupied by Smith, Rich !:
Corton, and Geo. II. Glazier, dealers il corsets,
akirts, and knit goods. -. V"
= On the corner Of Otis and Summer, streets
stood Everett Block, an imposing granite struc-
ture, owned by the Everett estate. It included
Nos. 50, %, 56, So, co. 62, and 81 Summer street,
and was occupied BY D. Lyons L. Co., Neil Broth;
ers, and Dreyfus, Philipps. d :shuman;r C. G.
King & Co., and Mari Brothers, dealers in cloth
ing, furnishing goods, fancy goods, trimmings,
etc. The upper floors were used mostly.as otli
ces, and occupied by various parties. ~!
Now the fire began to creep steadily up both
sides OF Summer street, crawling, along from
roof to roof. Opposite the Everett Block the
buildings, as they were engulfed in rapid sue
cession, were as follows: A brick swell, front,
occupied by A. Folsom l. Sons, floor cloth and
oil cloths; George. H.; Butler, hair goodsf and
Eugene Chaplin, commission. merchant.
A granite block, occupied hy Morse,
Hammond Co.; : hosiery and
gloves; Stiles, Beale l. Homer, Wholesale
clothing s.: Klous d: Co., hats, caps and; ;furs.
Strucker Brothers, hat and cap manufacturers
Wyman l. Arklay, imported goods and Inens;
Ewing, Wise & Fuller linens and white goods;
Rothwell, Luther, Potter & Co., clothing :,Mit-
chell, Green &.Stevens, clothing. -
-, At this time, about 10 o'clock the flames
burst from the top Of buildings on arch street,
q dozen doors removed from Summer
street, and almost: before the
existence, Of flames in this quarter was known
they had spread down through the building, and
were bursting in perfect torrent from all, the
windows in front OF the fancy goods store Of
Hawley, Folsom & Martin. The FIRE spread to
each side, enveloping the stores Of Thomas Kel-
II d Co.; D. II. Hogdon, clothing; March 3 ros.;,
Pierce s, Co., Miner, Beale g. Hackett, all Of
which we're quickly blazing. H.:
At 10 o'clock the whole roof of the Everett
Block was sheet Of flame, sending high into
the air column Of fire, smoke, and lurid
sparks. Having thus gained perfect control Of
the Everett Block, the fire stretched its
arms across narrow Arch street,
and moved rapidly up towards
Washington street, taking in the establishments
of George q. Lane; Brett Co., wholesale
clothing; Messenger & Co., dry goods Edger-
ton d Gilnan's dining rooms; Chaffee l. Whit
ney, sewing silk; Lee, Tweedy 4, Co., dry goods;
T. ~ via