Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-20
DISASTROUS FIRE.
The City Of Havsrhill, Mass, Al
most Destroyed.
Three Persons Known to Have Perished ia
the flames-0ver a Hundred Manu-
factories and Other Buildings
DESTROYED.
LOSS TWO AND A HALF MILLIONS.

HAvERHILL, Mass, February ls-The fire
is under control. But one block remains
on Wingate street and two at the upper
end of Washington street All else in the
square bounded by the Merrimac river on
the south. Washington square and Essex
street on the east, the north side OF King
Wingate street on the north and the rail-
road square on the west is burned to the
ground. This territory embraces the larg-
est part of the boot and shoe manufactures.
The loss can not be estimated at present.
James Prat, a fireman, was killed, and
George Whittier, fatally injured.
What, yesterday, was the finest street in
the city, and the principal business mart
is, to-day, q smouldering mass Of ruins.
Some eighty shoe firms are entirely burn
ed out, and others suffer more or less
damage. Two thousand people are thrown
out Of employment and several families
homeless. The loss is estimated at s., ,OOO,-
900. Engines are present from Newbury-
port. Lawrence and Lowell. Men are
already at work clearing away the debris.
Ober & Blakes, and the Gardner block,
on the north side of Wingate street, was
several times on fire, but saved. The wind
blew fresh from the northwest which, with
the scarcity of water and the freezing Of
hose, made it difficult to control the fire.
Several persons are reported missing, but
nothing definite is known yet
The following firms were burned out:
f. W. Allen, +. h. Bachelor. i. l.. Bly,,
Boynton Brothers. ID. b. Ciuh, J. NJ. Cur
rier, Davis Brothers Il Co., J. II. Durgin,
S. 4 G. Elliott T.. II. Emerson 4 Co., w.
A. Evans, John b. Farrarva, J. A. Earring
ton, l.. A. Finny, ID. Fits, Fl. II. Foster,
Gage q Johnson Gales Brothers, w. Good
rich. Goodrich & Porter, G. A. Green.
A. g
H. Hearing, C. y. Hoyt, F. NJ. Hoyt. Lin.
coin Hubbard. o. II. Hubbard, Huntington
Brothers, A. 2. Jacques, II. IL. Johnson,
A. l.. Kimball, Kimball Brothers, A. Nc
Duffie, G. NJ. Mitchell, S. X. Mitchell, j.
b. Nichols & Co., C. w. Orfutt, Ordway &
Clark, J. P. Easle, K. Peasle & Son, b. h.
Poore 4 Son, Sherburne & Blaisdell. Priest
& Chase, F. Sheridan, Sleeper Brothers, G.
l.. Sleeper, r. S. Chase & Sons,
ID. F. Sprague f. e. Stevens J. NJ. Slower,
Davis & Crafts, Z. G. Tilton, Nittum Bros,
J. F. West & Bros, c. f. Wiggin, j. II.
Winchett, all shoe manufacturers.
The Merrimack National Bank, First Ma.
tional Bank, City Five Cent Savings Bank,
Smiley Bros, shoe findings; l.. '. Spauid-
ing insurance agent; Endicott & Arnold,
Z. p. Wentworth b. Foote, S. l.. Jewett,
Howe & Day, Patch 4 Hays, Stockbridge;
and Bartlett and Moses Howe, leather deal
ers.
Kempton Bros, eating house; L. Frost,
A. J. Pettingill. q. W. Cook, shoe contrac-
tors; the Butler tack man ufactory, c. Wad-
leigh, last factory; T.. W. Kelly last fac
tory: G. F. Eaton, machine shop; +. Wes-
son, machine shop; ID. Nichols, machine
shop; Eureka shop pattern company, and
several small stores and shops, together
with II. Miller and Ii. J. Gales stitching
rooms. on Wingate street, Carleton Il
Noyes block, the Pilling block and seve-
eral large buildings used for manutactur-
ing were burned.
Also about l2 dwelling houses. On this
street the following shoe manufacturers
were burned out: s. f. WoodmaR, Fetts
Bros. J. +. Lynch. Miller Bros, F. Good
rich, Jr. John Pilling, J. G. Little, George
& J. c. Collins, stitching room.
BosToy, February l9.-The Journal esti-
mates the loss at the Haverhill at two and
a half millions, and says the most dreadful
feature of the calamity is the loss OF life,
and the awful uncertainty caused many
anxious hearts. 1t is feared the bodies OF
a score or more prominent business men
are buried in the ruins. The city marshal
states three men are missing and the
spread of the flames were SO rapid they
were unable to escape.
Inc ioSS WIN NC iuii! UP '" t"S "S
estimate. with insurance aggregating one
million, widely distributed in eastern and
foreign companies.
One hundred and two shoe manufactur-
ers were burned out, and over 200 other
firms. Three lives were lost certainly and
perhaps more.
HAvERHILL MASS, February l9.-The
city is full of strangers viewing the ruins
caused by the fire, and several safes being
opened the contents were found to be
mainly unharmed. Many, however, were
broken by falling from the upper stories,
and in them shOne melted gold and silver.
A severe beating of one thief by citizens
and police, restrained others, and no rob-
berry is reported
While ruins in many places still blaze,
and smoke and steam envelop all, every
one is hopeful.