Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-24
HAVERHILH, MASS, IN RUINS.


THE BUSINESS PART OF THE CITY BURNED
OVER 81, 600, 600 OF PROPERTY DESTROYED
200 FIRMS BURNED oUT-250O PEOPLE OUT
OF EMPLOYMENT.
Just before midnight, last Friday night a
FIRE broke out in the business part of Haver-
hill, Mass, and, getting beyond the control
of the firemen, spread until almost the whole
business portion Of the city was destroyed.
The burned district includes more than FIVE
acres Of ground on which were situated some
rs good business blocks. In this district
were over 100 shoe manufacturing firms and
many other business concerns. Two nation
al banks and one savings bank were burned.
One fireman was killed by falling chimney.
The loss is estimated Mt 81, 225, 600, on which
the insurance is $2,0O0OOO. Between 1000
and $500 men are thrown out of employment.
HISTORY OF THE FIRE.
The FIRE broke out in f. p. Wentworth's
sole leather store in the building 40 and 81
Washington street, and is supposed to have
been started by the bursting of an over heated
stove. A little tongue of flame no larger than
q mans hand was seen in the store by po-
liceman not long before midnight He sound
ed the alarm at once, and the fire department
were soon on hand. But there was short de-
lay, owing to the bursting of hose, and be-
fore the steamers were at work sheet of
flame seemed to wrap the entire building.
The night was cold and clear, strong wind
came up from the north and the flames,
spreading with remarkable swiftne.s, leaprd
upon Endicott d Arnold's building adjoining
From this great sheet of fire soon shot up
ward The strong wind scattered sparks in
all directions, but for nearly an hour the fire
was confined to the wooden buildings on the
north side of Washington street. But pieces
of burning wood were blown across the street
and when at last Finney's brick block caught
fire the frightened citizens knew that the best
part of Haverhill was doomed From there
the flames spread rapidly, the fremen were
practically powerless, and help was telegraph
ed for from Lawrence and Lowell. Soon the
walls of the Quilted buildings began to fall in,
throwing clouds of red. hot cindtrs aud burn
ing bits of wood high in the air, and great
piles of goods taken from the manufactures
were left in the open street to burn. When
the flames had destroyed the entire length of
Washington street on both sides and the
buildings on the north side Of Wngate street,
they were powerless to do further harm. The
fire literally burned itself OUT and at day
light the citizens of Haverhill saw the best
part of the city in ruins. The flames reached
so high above the city that they were dis
tinctly seen from Boston, Somerville and
Charlestown. After the great fires in Port
land aud Boston this is the worst fire which
has ever taken place in New England. The
blow is a staggering one for the thriving lit
tie city of Hav, rhill but there is no panic aud
the leading firms will at once rebuild.
HAvERHILL AS IT WAS BEFORE THE FIRE
Haverhill is a city of Essex county, Mass
on the north bank of the Merrimack river,
and twenty miles north of Boston.
The city is about twelve miles in length along
the river and three miles in breadth. The
thickly settled part is built on gentle accliv-
ity. In the city are a soldiers monument, a
fine city hall, four public halls, five hotels
and six wharyes, seventeen churches four
banks, a tri-weekly, semi-weekly, and two
weekly newspapers. The city is noted as a
manufacturing place for boots and shoes. In
this industry it is only surpassed by Lynn in
this country. In 1882 the number of firms
engaged in this business was 2s. In 1874
there was 100. Two hundred thousand cases
of boots and shoes, valued at IS, OOO, 600,
were shipped in 1872 from Haverhill From
GO0O to 5000 workmen are employed in a to-
tai population Of about IS, 900.