The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-31
FAMILIES HOUSELESS AND HOMELESS
Entire Business Portion of the City
Threatened with Destruction.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
Thirty-fVe Buildings Burned, with the Loss
Of Over Hall a Million.
DETAILS OF LOSS AND INSURANCE.

SPRINGFIELD. Mass, May SO, 1875.
Western MASSACHUSETTS is again afflicted and she
truly appears 10 verify the adage that misfortune
never comes sinRly. Holyoke is mourning over
the holocaust OF Friday; Worcester has just been
suffering from very disastrous and destructive
nre: only year ago this month the terrible foods
In Williamsburg rendered hundreds homeless, and
now Springfield is called upon to mourn the work
of the Fire Flendn who held supreme control here
all sunday afternoon and destroyed a large number
OF valuable blocks in the heart OF the city. licke
up many tenements whose occupants have not
tonight place wherein to lay their heads, ex-
cept such quarters as are furnished them by kind
hearted nelghbors and the city officials, VINO are
now doing all In their power TO alleviate the
Bunerlngs OF the houseless and homeless ones,
many OF whom have lost all they possessed in the
where their houses were located pemoanlng their
loss.
THE SCENE ON THE STREETS
Is one which beggars description They are
crowded not only with Springfield people, but
with those from other places, who came in on
special trains from all parts OF the state and
from Connecticut. As usual. there are those on
The streets who are looking Tor chances to steal
me goods taken from houses bordering on the
burned district and which ale piled in adjoining
ots and yards. The police and large number OF
deputy sheriGs and members or the city military
llu all ha
and avenues and doing everything possible to pre-
vent the hends from pursuing their avocaton. the
nremen OF this city and from Hartford, Hoyoke,
Chicopee Falls and westneld who are here,
have been working faithfully and are doing truly
noble work IN nghting the flames. Tho chief
Engineer OF the Springfield Department, Mr..
Leisure, has handled his men excellently through
out and is deserving OF much credit for his man.
agement in preventing the spreading OF the
flames, which at one time threatened 20 destroy
the whole Of the business portion or the city.
That it is saved is q miracle and a fortunate dis
pensation OF Providence for which tonight the
entire city is thanking merciful God.
THE FIRE.
Soon after two O'Clock this afternoon q are
broke out in II. NJ. ConEey's planning MILL in the
old wason Building. Taylor street. where It IS
SAID several men we're at work. he names spread
with lghtning-hke rapidity, and the first warning
the people IN the vicinity had OF the connagration
was the pouring out OF the names from every por-
lion Of the building. the wind was blowing gale
rom toe northeast and for i've minutes the Are
swept like tornado to the southwest. devouring
everything before IL. The IRE thus obtained fatal
headway before the alarm was struck, tne
upon saulg their property 10 pay any
attention TO any other duty. Every one rushed,
terror stricken, from the scene, with no thought
but for their own salvation. women with chill
dren 10 their arms barely saved their lives BY
rushing into the street.
THE FIRE ROLLED on
like great hood. ana by the time the Fire Depart
ment had arrived-and they were very prompt
Q dozen buildings were burning. When the nrs
reached worthlngton street stearns PARK orer.
Ing no material for II to feed upon. II seemed as
though, after burning the homes at the sop ia cor
ner or Warrington street and west OF the Park
the progress OF the fire might soon DO stopped
me waterspout steamer was called from
There we're quickly brought together several
aundred men, who went to WORK 70 save prop
srty. Chief Engineer Leshure was mounted ana
seemed 10 be everywhere present at once. BY
order OF the Mayor Lieutenant Colonel Gilmore
ordered out the CITY and Peabody Guard, the
former company responding with astonishing
llacrlty. Teegrams sent to various cities. and
towns for steamers and hose brought assistance
HoIyoEe and Cmcopes Falls sent speedy as
distance. Telegraphlc communication with
Hartford was interrupted, and Engineer
Babcock carried the news 10 Hartford
BY special engine. superintendent Davidson az
once lifted out . special train, which brought up
engines Nos and and about fifty nremen, max
Ing me run OF twenty-slx miles IN twsntyslght
minutes. Several
INSURANCE MES AND IMPORTERS
came up on this train. and representatives. OF
some OF the New York papers were early on hand.
The steamer from Chicopee was delayed in con-
sequence q repairs which we're progressing on
the down trace and &c was necessary TO ascertain
rom the city II the otner track could be used.
The following is list 81
rHE PROPERTY DESTROYED on TAYLOR STREET.
ooakey's planning mill.
viner Leonard's furniture shoa.
Hoods carriage shop.
/ 1. L. Fnts stair building snop.
Burnbams picture frame manuaCiory, with one
iArae lum Ger aned.