The Portland daily press., 1873-01-28
MASSACHUSETTS,.
The Boston Fire.
Report OF am Investigation.

BosToN, JAM 26-The commission of five
citizens, appointed appointed under an order of
the city council to investigate the cause of the
great fire and its management have made
lengthy report, but giving few facts not pre-
viously published and commented upon. The
commission find that the uncontrolled spread
OF the conf1agration from the first building
through the great fire, swept by the flames, was
principally owing to the delay of the apparatus
in arriving, owing to the horse distemper, and
the general faulty construction of the build
ings, and especially to the exposure Of timber to
the flames at height which could not be reach
ed by water-an exposure which would deserve
condemnation even at lower level. The dam
gers arising from this mode of building were
greatly aggravated by the narrowness of streets
and by the great height of buildings. This dam
ger had been foreseen and our calamity fore
told both here and abroad.
There is sad interest in the statements of
our State insurance commissioner, who tells us
that just before the fire, English underwriters
spoke to him at Liverpool and London of the
probable fate of Franklin street, Winthrop
Square and their surroundings, and proposed to
cancel their policies and to cease insuring in our
city ~. o,eont. g 4,o .,.,,,,., ,.o .u..t,, -,
peded by want of water, especially on Summer
street. The insufficient supply of water was
felt at the outset and was without doubt one
cause of the confagration. The commission
find there was lack of proper fuel for the en-
SlueS anu GudG DTOk6n BOXES anu OlueT WOOu
had to be substituted for coal. The chief en-
gineer and entire fire department are warmly
praised for regard to the use of gun powder
The commission says:-There is a conflict of
testimony as to the balance of good or evil aris-
ing from the use of gun-powder on Nov 9th and
10th. 1t is necessary to strike that balance ac-
curately because all witnesses agree, and all
sane people will agree that explosives never
should be used again as they were at that time
and that if used at all, we should be prepared
fixed plan. The board Of engineers were OPP
posed to the use of powder and therefore no
provision had been made for such an emergen-
cy. When it was at last decided to use pow
der, it was done by the chief engineer giving
written authority to several public spirited gen
tlemen to remove goods and demolish build
ings. Each man was left to act as he pleased.
The chief engineer condemns his error in this
respect and we agree with him. The comse
actually pursued was Objectionable not because
it was Illegal but because it was dangerous and
inefficient.
Will of Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis.
The late Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis died pos
sessed of property in her own right estimated al
S25O,000; by the will of her brother, the late
VIM. III. Boardman, she inherited about $780,,
0OO In her will the deceased gives the Female
Orphan Asylum $780, also $2500 each to the
National Sailors Home of Quincy. Mass, and
| to the sailors Snug Harbor Provision is made
| for the payment of $4,000 for the benefit of sol
| diers who served in the late war whenever any
| institution is organized for their benefit. Al
annuity of 800 is given to each of her servants
The Beer Clause.
| Nine members of the legislative committee
on the liquor law have reported to the House 9
bill to repeal the beer clause. A minority re-
port against any change is signed by three
| members.
Fire.
WEsTFIELD, Jan. PA Manila paper mill
| two miles west, owned by the Pultz & Walk
ley Paper Bay Manufacturing Co. of Plants
! vile, Conn, was burned last evening. Loss
$4,000; insured for $4,000; stock partly saved