Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-27
TERRIBLE FIRE.
TIE TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD VISITED
BY THE FLAMgs.
The Entire Busiuess Portion OF the Place
Dettroyed-Wsrkmen Thrown Out
OF Employment
rBy telegraph to tho Disp.tch.l

M%ARBLruYAD, MAss., December 2G.-This
town was visited BY a conflagrstion last
nigh, that deyoured the entire business p0r'
ton OF the town, OF about twelve acres.
The fire was irst discovered 10 the house
furnishing store OF ID. 3. III. Powers, on
Pleasant street, at about 10 O'Clock. Inc
direct cause Of the fire Is not known. Ihe
FIRST warning was announced By a loud eX-
piosion Of nsphtha In the store. An alafm
Was quickly rung ia and Immediately
followed by q second and third. when
the fremen reached the burning build
ing II fell with a mighty crasb' IL
was a wooden structure and was rapluiy
consumed. The fremen did their pest
to bold the flames in check, but their EFFORTS
amounted to nothing. The buildings sur
rounding the structure were nothing bat
mere shells, and 1t seemed as II everywherea
spark fell Gre started. In fifteen minutes
from the time the first alarm was rung the
entire business portion was q sea OF tlmes'
The fire ragged fiercely, and the two comps
MES were wholly OF no avail TO ill the task
they were called upon TO perform. ASSIST
snce was summoned from Lynn, Salem, and
gwampscott. and these towns quickly re-
sponded. 1t is estimated that the loss Is De-
tween $500 600 and 5000, 600. The entire
shoe manufacturing district, the prlhcl-
pal business Of the town, was burned
10 the ground. Fully sixty build
ings were Consumed. The people were
frantic and rushed to and fro az though
crazed. The flames spread with snch rapldtty
that scarcely anything was saved. Inc
tenants residing in the dweiiing-houses were
completely cleaned out. and as they stood
watching their homes consumed they pre-
sented q pitiable sight. The fire, after de-
molishing the building in which II started
swept directly across to Rechabite Hall. when
IL totally burned. From there IL swept over
toward w. b. Browns house, when marked
the limit OF the fire on the western side. Tue
wind was most fortunately light, but TIE
roaring mass OF flame swept over 10
+. w. and J.. w. MonToe's shoe refractory,
on the oppOsite side OF Pleasant street. Inc
building was a wooden structure, four $40
ries high, and was soon burned 70 tie
gIound. The shoe.factOry OF Charles Reed,
TO the west, caught and Wa burned 10 the
ground. The progrcs OF the IRE was
checked upon this side AZ that point'
but it swept uncontrolled to the east
ward, and the flames soon reduced
Paine's expTcss.ofiice TO a mass OF
ruins. Thus it continued. Sheds, fruit
stands, and small tenement-houscs were
consumed with rapiditY. II seemed rs
n the entire town was doomed. By
this lime help from salem, Lynchburg,
and Swampscott arrived. aud this re-
sponse put new LIE into The cheer
less workers. The city was flooded with
strangers from all the surrounding towns.
On Pleasant street the dwelling-hOuses OF
Nathan Pitman, Asa Blaner. the Boston and
NAMED depot, Cole HrOtbers' shoe factory,
the h0rse-car station, Siacy's drugstore.
Jonathan BOdine's wOollen-iactory-a large
structure four stories high. and numerous
small buildings were reduced 10 ashes.
On the opposite side, Joseph LeiayOre's
clearinghouse. II. o. Symonds hardware,
Grand Army Hall, and Gre department
headquarters. a magnificent brick build
ing, Rialto Block, G.. Gregory's drugstore,
Boston branch grocery store, and the dry
goods store 0t George Graves were de-
stroyed. On Essex street the flames de-
strOyed Allerton Hall and the immense
wooden factory Of l.. H. Woodbury., shOe
manufacturer. Allerton Hall i occupIed as
q sboc.factorv BY Jonathan Orne. The fac
tory Of jacob II. CrOplcy a Brother, on Essex
street; Prache's sbOe-tsctOry, and the houses
~ Dennis aud Jacob Pere were reduced TO
SmOuldering ruins. O nSDrlng street tue nre
swept on, destroying the residence aud iac-
tory Of william &. Lei4yrc. It's progress w,s
checked at the Seweil GrSmmlr-SchO0l
building. Sweeping across Spring street
the flames consumed the handsome dwelling
OF DR.. Whitemore. Here the flames changed
their course. and sweeping into Sewell street
completely destroyed everything IN the rear
Of Pleasant street, taking everything clean
M on both sides OF the railroad track. The
residences OF Mr.. Chamberlin and the late
Thomas T. CrOssman, Pline's livery-staDles,
Thomas RiX's fruit.stand, and numerous
small buildings were burned To the ground.
At 3 O'Clock the tire was under control,
though yet burning i%srcely.
This stolid old burgh, IN june, 1877, was
visited by a fire which swept over nearly the
same district. During the progress OF the
present fire several explosions were hesrd.
Fully 1000 workmen are thrown out Of em-
plo,ment. The number Of buildings con-
sumed IS estimated at between fifty and
sixty. The loss is estimated at 100000 to
100000.
THE LOSS.
MARBLEHFAD, MASS, December 2G.-The
loss by last nights fine is now estimated at
$500. 600. Thrty.seven buildings were de-
stroyed and oven 1000 persons thrown ont
Of employment. None OF The manufacturers
think it possible TO rebuild tbs winter, and
there is a general feeling OF depression in
the town. Among the principal losers are
e. +. Cole a Co... 100000; Insurance,
$4,000. j. NJ. CrOpleV, $4,000; Insurance.
$4,000. +. W. & j. ". Monroe, $4,000;
well insured. The charter Of The Phiian-
thropic Lodge Of Masons, next to the oldest
in the state, was burned.
TIE BARH FAILURE