Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-26
SIXTY BUILDINGS BURNED.
The Business Portion Of Marblehead I'm
Ruins-A Loss Of $500, 900.


MARBLEHEAD, MASS, Dec. 26.-This town was
visited by a confagration last night that burned
over the entire business portion. about twelve
acres The fire was first discovered in the
house-furnishing store of b. H. Powers. on
Pleasant street, at about 10 o'clock. The first
warning was a loud explosion of naphtha.
When the fremen reached the burning build
ing it fell with a crash. 1t was a wooden
structure, and was rapidly consumed The
firemen did their best to hold the flames in
check, but their efforts amounted to nothing.
The buildings surrounding the structure were
mere shells, and ii seemed as if everywhere
spark fell fire started. In fifteen minutes
from the time the first alarm was rung the
entire business portion was
A SEA OF FLAME.
The fire ragged fiercely and the two companies
were of no avail to fill the task they were called
upon to perform. Assistance was summoned
towns quickly responded. 1t is estimated that
the loss is between $500. 900 and 100000. The
entire shoe manufacturing district, the princi-
pal business of the town, was burned to the
ground; fully sixty buildings were consumed.
The people were frantic and rushed to and fro
as though crazed. The flames spread with
such rapidity that scarcely anything was saved.
The tenants residing in the dwelling
houses were cleaned out, and they
stood watching their homes consume they
PRESENTED PTTIABLE SIGHT.
The fire after demolishing the building in
which it started swept directly. across to Recha-
bite hail. which is burned. From there it
swept over toward W. B. Browns house, which
marked the limit of the fire on the western
side. The wind was fortunately light. BY this
time help from Salem, Lynn and Swampscott
arrived and this reponse put new life into the
cherries workers. The city was flooded with
strangers from the surrounding towns. On
Pleasant street the dwelling houses of Nathan
Pitman and Asa Blaney, the Boston and Maine
depot, Cole Bros shoe factory, the horse-car
station, Stacey's drug store, Jonathan Bourne s
woolen factory, a large structure four stories
high, and numerous small buildings were re-
duced to ashes. On the opposite side Joseph
Lefavres dive ling house, III. o. Symond's
hardware store, the Grand Army hall and the
fire department headquarters. a magnificent
brick building; the Rialto block, c. Gregory
drug store, the Boston branch grocery store,
and dry goods store of Geo. Graves were de-
stroyed. On Essex street the flames destroyed
Allerton hall and the immense wooden struc-
ture of Z. H. Woodbury., shoe manufacturer.
Alerton hall is occupied as a shoe factory by
Jonathan Orme. The factory of Jacob II.
Cropley Bro, on Essex street. Peaches shoe
factory and the houses OF Dennis and Jacob
Pine were reduced to ruins. On Spring street
the fire swept on, destroying the residence and
factory of VIM. c. Lefavre. Its progress was
checked at the Sewell grammar school
building. Sweeping across Spring street,
the flames consumed the handsome
dwelling of DIR. Whitmore. Here the flames
changed their course and, sweeping on to
Sewell street. completely destroyed everything
in rear of Pleasant st., making everything clean
upon both sides Of the railroad track. The
residences of Mr.. Chamberlin and the late
Thomas f. Crossman, Paine's livery stables,
Thomas Rix's fruit stand, and numerous small
buildings were burned to the ground. At 3
O'Clock the fire was under control. though vet
burning fiercely. This stolid old burg in June.
1871 was visited by fire which swept over
nearly the same district During the progress
Of the present fire several explosions were
heard. Fully 1000 workmen are thrown out of
employment