The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-31
man had aiOg smashed At No. l41 wOrthingtc=
street.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

afternoon the most disastrous connagratlon that
has ever visited Springfield has found time for
It's terrible work The Dry condition OF the build
ings, conspring with BRISK northeast gale, were
the factors oil destruction.
ORIGIN OF THE DISASTER.
The fire boke out in the nest OF wooden build
ings On Taylor street, and the sparks and brands.
borne by the brisk gale almost simultaneously
started TWO other nres-one Wight avenue and
the other In Hurbups block, on Nam street
These two secondary fires equalled the first
ia magnitude and danger. ana the work OF fight
ing the names was at once trcbled, and, becoming
too much for any one nre department, it became
necessary TO call on Springneds sister cities and
towns Tor assistance, and they responded nobly.
COMING TO THE RESCUE
Three steamers arrived In time TO be OF tho
greatest service That the connagration ended
where 1t did instead or sweeping clear through
was owing 30 tho arrival OF these engines to-
getner with the simultaneous abatement OF wind.
The DREADFUL CRISIS ADArED.
BY halrpast nve the crisis over. rho Uaton
desires TO express It's appreciation or the heroic
endeavors OF the nremen which stayed the flames
at a moment when the destruction OF the Union
ONCE seemed imminent
SUSPICION OF IScENDIARIsM.
The surprising rapldity with which the fre
spread and the almost simultaneous outDurst or
flames at three different points, naturally gave
rise 10 suspicion OF incendlarlsm, which. for
4 OF
going TO press, however, they remain unsubstan-
tiated by reliable testimony, and It is to be hoped,
for the sake OF human nature. that they may
prove without foundation.
THE MORAL OF TIE FIRE
IL the old one or the peril OF allowing wooden
heart OF the city.
STILL CALCULATING THE LOSSES.
At this time It is impossible to make any relia-
bic estimate as TO the amount or details OF the
damage, but the opinions or those best qualified to
Judge range nom $500 900 to $4,000, oOo SO FAR as
we have been able co ascertain it seems probable
that according 10 the usual foresight OF Spring.
field business men the losses are well insured.
CONSOLATION.
Its worth remembering. by way OF consolation,
that considerable proportion OF the burned
buildings were wooden structures, whose removal
the future safety OF the city necessitated. Ths
city Is well rid OF them and the new
building ordinances will prevent the erection OF
others OF the same sort In their places.
the personal feeling upon the street is one OF
the utmost tnankiulness that the connagration,
which for three hours threatened to sweep the
business portion Of the city out OF existence, was
stayed where it was.
The loss Is lamentaoly large, especially in these
times OF general business cepression bur It is so
much smaller than was threatened that the pre-.
dominant feeling remains one OF tnankIulness.
| This ia the heaviest blow Springfield has ever
/ received, but she il bound to 'come up smiling.n
THE TOTAL Loss
I at this hour is yarIonsly estimated at from
100000 60 sl,Soo,ooo. on which there Is an in
surance OF ABOUT s25oOoo. the Springfield Fire and
Marine coming in Tor only $4,000
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The IRE originated at about half.past two
\ O'Clock, in nest OF wooden buildings which were
formerly occupied by the wason Car Manuactur-
ing Company, whose works are now at the village
or Brightwood, two miles from the city. IL is
thought that an incendlary did the job. as the
IRE started in pile OF shavngs- In the rear
Of the old paint shop OF the company which was
occupied by II. N. Conkey & Co. q planning mill
where there had been no IRE since Saturday
morning This was on the north side OF Taylor
street and a high wind which was prevailing
blowing in a soutnery direction carried the danes
into
NEST OF LITTLE BUILDINGS
on the opposite side OF the street. AL this occu-
pied but q moment ard before ths alarm was
sounded. calling out the nremen, the danes
had made such headway that iE was
almost Impossible to prevent their spread
ing. They got into the buildings In
tho square, bounded BY Taylor, Dwight and
Worthngton streets, wnlch were nlled with
small manufacturing nrms, a large coal yard and
several tenement houses, and for few moments
every one seemed to nave gone crazy. Tho par
ties living IN the tenements had barely time to
escape with their lives, and their household fur
niture, &c, had TO be abandoned 20 the mercy OF
the flames. Men, women and children rushed ter.
ror.strlcken from the blocks, thankful TO escape
with their lives rom what seemed 10 be almost
inevitable destruction. In this square we're located
The following
MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHANTS
i II. M. ConKey & Co.'s planning mill.
O. !. Leonard, furniture and spring beds.
+. }. vlner. cabinet maker all on the norin side
wrKinson's BLOCK. on the south SIDE succumoed
next, and on tnis side OF the street the following
\ were burned OUT
\ E. s.ebblns' manufacturing company, brass
4 workers.
/ Tho rnian Car cnrfn0 Company,