Morning journal and courier., 1882-02-20
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
THB HAVBRHILL FIRB.
A HEAVY BLOW TO THE
SHOE BUSINESS.
The Whole Town Wiped Out.
A New City Going Up on
the Ruins.
Accidents at a Western Fire.
A Number of FireHnen Seri-
Oasly Injured.
FIRE RECORD.
ARie Blaze at HaverhilI

s.
fire that has almost blotted out this entire
town was not got under control until noon
yesterday. Over eighty shoe firms, three
banks and large number of other business
houses in the lower part of Washington
street were in ashes, and the principal bust
ness thoroughfare is blocked throughout it's
entire length by heaps of smoking debris
Twelve handsome residences shared the fate
of the large business houses of the town.
The limits of the fire are as follows Bound
ed on the north by Wingate street. on the
south by the Merrimac river, on the east by
Essex street and on the west by the Boston
and Maine railroad. There was sharp
wind blowing from the northwest while the
fire was raging, which, with the scarcity of
water and the freezing of the hose, proved
insuperable obstacles to the efforts of the
firemen. They fought gallantly, however,
and faced the whirlwind of flame with won
derful obstinacy. Messrs. Ober & Blake's
establishment and the Gardner block, on the
north side of Wingate street, were several
times on fire, but were finally saved by the
exertions of the fremen. The main tele-
graph Office was destroyed. All business has
been brought to a standstill to-day in the
portion of the town that escaped, for all the
inhabitants, men, women and children, are
at the scene of the fire. The entire loss is
estimated to be over $2,OOO,0O on which
there is over 81 900, 900 insurance. Joseph
Pratt, fireman, was killed in the fire, and
several others were injured
To-day the city is full of strangers viewing
the ruins. A train of ten cars came from
Lowell and Lawrence and as many more peo-
pie from surrounding towns in barges and
carriages. Several safes have been opened to-
day, in most of which the contents were all
right That of the Sleeper Brothers,
however, was badly used up. A special meet
ing of the city counsel was held late last
night at the Mayors room, at which resolu-
tions of thanks were rendered the fire depart
ment and other officials, the cities of Dover,
N. H., Exeter, N. H., Newburyport Lowell
and Lawrence for their timely aid and assis
lance as rendered on Saturday morning and
subsequent offers and sympathy. Several
clergymen at their respective churches made
the matter of the fire the principal topic of
discourse at the morning services.
The funeral of Mr.. Germaine, the fireman
killed, took place this afternoon at the
Winter street church, where the deceased
was tenor singer. The services were con-
l7ucted by Rev. ohm Malvern, pastor. Eagle
Rook and Ladder company, of which Mr..
| Gernaine was a member was present in
| mourning Other delegations of the fire de-
partment, with Chief Engineer West,
| we're present.. The city was very
/ quiet and orderly on Saturday and
| to-day, and not theft has been reported
| to the city marshal, neither are any citizens
| reported missing Most of the manufact r.
ers will fill their orders, and have made ar
| rangements to start business tomorrow
morning. There will be no stampede of
| workmen to any outside city or
| town, but they will continue with their
| employers. The burnt district will be
built in the immediate future more substan-
| TALLY and better than before, and although
| the chief industry has received severe check
| Haverville is not ruined Many of her bust
| ness men earned their first dollar in the pine
| woods of Maine or among the rocks of New
Hampshire and two million fire does not
brighten them. In looking over the mercan-
tile directory for burnt out Haverhill firms,
| 1t is noted that the shoe manufacturing bust
ness was very much divided there, not as
in many places, monopolized by two Or three
great concerns. The average Haverhill man
ufacturer appears to have been capitalist
only to the moderate extent of $4,000 to
| $15, 200, there being very few firms with
| $50, 900 invested, and still less that were in
| terested to the extent of 100000. The
credit of the firms in the mercantile lists is
stated to be for the most part excellent.
Comparatively few have record of failure
in the past. The majority were doing q
prosperous though not extensive business
and it is considered likely though many will
naturally be crippled by the fire, that the
> greater proportion of their liabilities will bt
t promptly met.
Following are the principal risks as far a!
ascertained: Hartford. $4,000; North
British and Mercantile, 5000; Germanit
of New York, $40, 500; Providence, So, 600
Shoe and Leather, $4,000; WILLIAMSBURG
City, $4,000; La Confance, $6,ooo; FRS
National of Worcester, $4,000; Scottisl
Union and National, So, 300; Etna, 5000
Queen, $4,000; Imperial and Northern
900; Home of New York, 100000
Phoenix of Hartford, $76, ZOO; Liverpool anC
London and Globe, $48, 900; Royal, $50,
600; Union of Philadelphia, $4,000; Ameri
can $17 900; Norwich Union, $19 200; Penn
sylvania, of Philadelphia, $13, OOO.; Manhat
e tan, of New York, So, 800; London and Ian
cashire, $20,OOO; Phoenix, of New York
n $500; Hamburg Bremen, $1,000; Met
| ropole, $4,000; New Hampshire So,
800; Commercial Union, $4,000; West
chester, $4,000; Guardian, of London, $28,
900; National of Hartford, $4,000
Lancanshire, SAT, 400; Phoenix Assurance
of London, $55, 900; Citizens, of Ne1
York, $4,000, Western, $50, 900; Merchants
Of London, Sis. $3.50; Equitable Fire an
Marine, of Providence, 1880; Fireman
Fund, $11 900; Union, 1923, O0O Orient, $20,
4 600; Merchants, of New Jersey, 1874 ,00C
Peoples, of New York, $751; 900; Manufac
Y turers and Builders, $14,5o0, and Mort
German, $17, 800.