The Portland daily press., 1873-05-31

BOSTON, May 3O.-At twenty minutes past s
O'Clock this morning an alarm Of FIRE was rung
from Box So, which called portion of the de-
partment to the vicinity of AL Washington
street, where it was found that the rear build
Ings OF Haley, Morse & Co.'S furniture factory
were in flames These buildings are of the most
eombusticle character, and so rapidly did the
fire obtain control of them that within ten min
utes second alarm had to be sounded, and soon
after general alarm, which drew the whole
number of steamers, hose carriages and ladders
to the scene of the confagration.
An unusually large number of people were
gathered upon the streets at the time to witness
the setting off of the Grand Army Posts for the
cemeteries, and when the fearful news spread
that monster fire was in progress, the crowd
was augmented to many thousands within a
few minutes. The flames spread with wonder
full rapidity toward every direction, menacing
fremont and Boylston street on the one hand,
and coming out entirely on Washington street
on the other
The Spread of the Flames.
AT quarter before nine o'clock serious fears
were felt for the whole of that part of Boylstou
street between Washington street and the Com
mon, on the northerly side. The Boylston Bank
building, with the extensive establishment of
w. e. Reeves s. Co., dealers in gents furnish
ing goods, corner of Washington and Boylston,
and Emerson, Leland & Co., 10 and 81 Boyl-
ston street. were attacked in the rear fercely
and seemed destined to fall. It was said, how
ever, that twenty-inch party wall at this point
would save the corner, and on this hope the
anxious crowd waited. AT 9.15 the steeple of
the Beach street church caught fire at the top
and burned down gradually, The spread of
the fire at this point was anxiously watched by
residents on Harrison avenue.
At about this time, also, the roof of the Globe
Theatre caught fire, and the building next to it,
known as Arlington Hall, containing the eat
ing rooms of Craw ord & Co., was found burn
ing on the top. Streams were placed by ready
fremen on these buildings and the roofs well
wet down, but the persistent flames retained
their hold, especially of the Globe building.
The Eagle Clothing House, on the corner of
Washington and Essex, then began to move
their goods, and water was poured upon the
roofs in this vicinity like deluge
The Outline of the Fire.
At half-past eleven o'clock the cheering intel
lgence was sent along the lines that the course
of the fire was probably stayed. The last move
ment of the fire department was to concentrate
in one or two places on its margin and the eff
fort proved successful. Looking over the new
burnt and burning distract the area covered has
the following boundaries, and is about four
acres:
WASHINGTON STREET.
Commencing on the west side, just below
Haymarket place, the last number going south
is 1896, being the building. Occupied by William
P. Emerson, Boston Organ Company Ex-
IStending to the north and at right angles to
Washington street. the fire burned through to
lot of dwelling houses in the court of Hay
market place, abbutting the buildings destroy
ed on Washington street. Going east and
southeast it has made a sweep back TO Wash
ington street without going to Boylston street,
| falling short of the latter street at Mentgom-
| cry & Co.'S confectionery store, No. 423 Wash
ington street. The rear of the new fve-story
Pilot building, in process of completion, is now
within thirty feet of Dexter's old stable where
| the fire commenced, and was saved by dilige mt
work OF the firemen, carpenters and others en-
ployed upon it, who used every conceivable
| sort o. hand apparatus. This building is only
| scorched.
Extending to the east side of Washington
| street the last number left standing, going
| by Miller piano mandatory and Hubbard &
| Co. This gives the corner boundary on this
| side of Washington street at Hayward place.
| Down H award place The fire spread rapidly,
but being confined to the south side There
| was great danger that it would be driven by
| the gust of wind through to Chauncy street,
and it was only after severe struggle that il
was an assured thing that it would not touch
| the newly occupied warehouse on this impor-
| tant importing and jobbing street, The course
| IF tha fro off If cd oh; op
street, was southeast by south, aud taking the
| south side of Hayward place through to the ellis
of the Chauncy street buildings (Which were
| only scorched some) or the northern and west.
ern boundary it Fept along Washington street
| to and including the corner of Essex street, and
| from the foot of Hayward place took all be.
tween, going south till it reached Essex street
| at No. SO the building next below the Globe
| Theatre. The north side of Essex, between
the corner and this building last given, has
been covered by the fire.
| The Staying of the Fire.
On the north side of Essex street was one o.
the greatest achievements of the tiremen. They
seemed to have everything against them. Tht
| intense heat and flame of the theatre building
would sweep down with terrific fury, sending
| perfect storm of sparks and brands against tht
| opposite walls of this Fl fly foot street. At half
past eleven o'clock the whole facade was il
| flames, and the smoke that rolled into this
| thoronghfare waa almost smothering to the
| fremen. At one time it seemed as if the
| whole street must 60 and every instant 1T look
| ed that the firamen with their several lines OF
hose, would be thrown back upon Washington
street on the one side, and Harrison Avenue on
tn other. But they stood it heroically, doing
battle from the pavements, and the windows and
roots of the opposite buildings. So intense was
the heat, that some of the police having to &c
near the center, had to be played upon to save
their hair and clothing from searching. BY
| this bold stand and that in the rear of Wash
| ington street, between Essex and Hayward
| Place, great amount of property was saved.
The occupants on Chenery atreet, when they
| saw the determination of the tiremen felt so Sc
| cure that many would not allow their goods to
ho bon ont and thpv xvara within tJ,r w.,