The New York herald., 1872-11-11


buildings on the east and west sides OF fedeia
street, running from Summer midway 20 Pcari'
were enveloped in names. In this diStrict are m
cuded number OF tenement houses on potn sldes
M Federal st rcet. mostly occupied by poor fami-
,,es large number OF junk stores, and all the IA
WHARF PROPERTY AND VESSELS
wing .hereat, for which at this time no provisions
for their safety appear to have been made After
taking in the situation at this point attention was
next directed to the condition OF things on Pur-
chase street. The west side OF Purchase street
from Summer to High was perfect sheet OF flames,
as also was the east side OF the street for
OF the distance named. The occupants ofthc tene
ment houses on Gridley and Congress streets, and,
in fact those occupying tenements anywhere in the
ne,ghborhood, had removed their household goods
to what is known as The Damp" or that portion OF
Fort Hill left vacant by tho receut leveing. Trere
was presented a terrible scene.
AWFUL GRANDEUR OF THE FLAMES SEEN FROM OTHER
PLACES.
The lurd glare OF the flames lighted up the entire
city and newspapers could be plainly read for
distant, an alarm OF fire was caused by the Boston
connagration, somebody presuming that the lre
was in that city, The fire was also distinctly vlsi-
BILE in Stonngton, Northford, Charlestown, Ports
mouth and other places equally distant.
Up and down the streets hurried and tumbled
crowd OF utterly demoralized men and women.
There were among these also, at the tea table yes
terday. those who were worth millions OF dollars,
but who are beggars to-day.
MERCHANTS PRINCES AND LABoRERs ALIKE BEG
Merchant princes there were, whose word was as
good as their bond; men whose single name at the
bottom OF a note for hundreds Of thousands would
pass upon the street without an endorser; but to-
day they scarcely know where to lay their heads.
Then, too, there were thousands OF the hopeless
poor about the streets. The dwelling houses de-
stroycd were nearly all in a thickly settled Irish
colony at the South Cove, and the plaintive
means OF those who were thus rudely
turned out to battle with the world, destitute,
attracted universal sympathy. On every corner
there was little pile of household furniture. and
every street packed with teams That the
city was surely 10 be destroyed seemed altogether
beyond question, and the haggard look and wild,
beseeching eyes OF the crowds showed only too
plainly the effect which the assumption Of this
idea produced upon the little children who
were in the streets, half clad and pite-
ousy imploring the relief which the commu.
nifty was powerless to render them. Old men
tottering towards the grave watched with feverish
anxiety the progress OF the destroyer or their
accumulations of many years, and young men,
heartbroken, speculated mournfully in regard to
their future; but the dependency upon the
lookers-on was but temporary With willing hearts
and strong arms all lent themselves to the work OF
helping the unfortunate, and there was gladstone
exhibition OF the principles OF the golden rule. In
spite OF the terrible reverses there was general
expression OF opinion That Yankee pluck had
never better opportunity to show ITSELF
"BosToN SHALL BE REBUILT!i
was the common cry ana the men who uttered ii
meant just what they sad. Here is an instance.
In front of pile a. smouldering ruins in the cen.
tire OF what was yesterday one OF the handsomest
blocks OF buildings on Washington street, stands
the rough wooden sign, 'The firm OF Morse shep
ard Co. has removed to No. 20 Chauncy street.
This drm has lost 100000 by the fire, and there
are hundreds of others who, like them, are deter
mined to recOmmence business as soon as possible
BOSTON is NOT DEAD
yet or IL 1t is in state OF moribundity 1t presents
psJsstent and rapid progress of the awful con-
nagration it became apparent at about nine
O'Clock that the Boston fremen were unequal to
the task OF subduing or even checking its further
progress; in fact, the whole city seemed
doomed, and every citizen became sober
and serious. The authorities Immediately sent
to the neighboring clties-Charlestown Cambridge,
and Chelsea for assistance, and in the course OF an
nour the entire departments OF these several cities
were on the ground The fire fend still swept on,
and the hundreds OF streams which were poured
on the names were of no more consequence than
singe-scull wherry would have been to the pro-
gress Of a Cunard steamer.
e@ss- "wE MUST HAVE STILL MORE HELP,"
said the Chief Engineer, 'or Boston and all it's
suburbs will be In ruins before morning. Tele-
grams were then sent to more distant towns ard
cities, and special trains were chartered and the
right Of way given for their immediate transporta-
tion. Three steamers from Worcester and the men
belonging to them were in Boston and at work
within nfty-fve minutes after the call for help
reached them. They came down on a special train
over the Albany road, and made the
iorty-four miles in just forty-fve minutes.
Assistance was also promptly on hand from Lowell,
Lawrence, Portsmouth, Portland, Manchester,
Providence, Pawtucket, Stonngton and various
other Of the cities and larger towns In this section