Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-06
NEWS SUMMARY.
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.
Boston Suffers Loss by Fire of
From So, OOO.O 900 to SiO,OOO,OOO

Over Two Acres Of Territory Burned.
BosToN, Nov. 2S.- The most disastrous
fire from which Boston has suffered since
1872, and one which in property loss more
than rivals the great contiagration at
Lynn on Tuesday, broke out at about s 30
a, m. to-day in the six story granite build
ing owned by Jordan, Marsh * Co., and
occupied by Brown, Durrell * Co, deal
ers in dry goods, of Bedford street, corner
OF Kingston. The great fire OF 1872 broke
out at the corner oil Kingston and Summer
streets, and the alarm OF TO days fire was
rung in from the same box which did
similar duty at :l5 p. IN on the evening
Of November 9, 1872, when the fire fiend
broke loose, and before being subdued con
sumed nearly 500, OOO, 900 OF property. The
first alarm rung in today was Immediately
followed by the first general alarm in
Boston since 1877, To-days coniiagration
ragged for six hours, burned over two
acres of territory covered by magnificent
structures, and entaled a loss now es-
timated at sl0,0OO,OO0.
The fire was discovered by letter car
rer, who noticed flames bursting from the
top of the Brown building over the elevator
shalt, in which it evidently originated.
This letter carrier notified the nearest
police officer, who sounded the first alarm.
AS soon as Chief Weber Of the protective
department arrived il became apparent
that
LONG, HARD FIGHT
With the fiery element was before the de
partment, and general alarm was sent
out and this was soon followed by call upon
all nelghboring cities and towns for assis-
lance. The II mes were soon pouring from
all the windows and the roof of the Brown
Durrell building. AT : 40 they had spread
10 the Shoe * Leather Exchange building.
another large granite building adjoining
Brown, Durrell * Co., on Bedford street
49,. Ia.I hill a
great masses across Bedford street 70 the
opposite corner, thence across Kingston
street, along Bedford TO Chauncey street
where IL was stopped in the store of Far
ley, Harvey x Co, the upper stories of
which were burned. Three stores along
Chauncey street toward Summer were
burned. On the south side of Bedford
street the flames jumped across Kingston
street from the hot blaze from Brown,
Durreu X Co, 10 "a big sandstone
building owned by +. l.. Ames, and
occupied by Taylor Bros, and this was
consumed. The great granite building
known as Neyins block, at the corner Of
Chauncey street, was the next victim for
the flames, and the entire block, clear
around Rowe Place TO Kingston street, was
consumed. Crossing Chauncey street, the
fire soon had good head on all the streets
which are inc.osed In Exeter Place, a
small street running from Harrison ave
got control AT Rowe Place the fire was
partially checked from going toward Es-
sex street, but quickly moved the opposite
side TO the immense Allen 4 Larrabee
buildings occupying the square between
Bedford street and Harrison avenue ex-
tension and Exeter Place, at which point
its further progress was checked.
There are about 200 firms burned out
and 100 agents Of New York and western
firms have had their headquarters destroy
ed. The seventy nine insurance companies
known TO be interested carry an aggregate
insurance OF 81, 500, 900 on burned property.
GEOGRAPHY OF THE BURNED DISTRICT
The burned district begins at Columbia
street on the Q 81 aud extends two blocks
westward, along Bedford street 10 ChaUn-
cey street on the west: on the south side
OF Bedford street the fire consumed the
entire block bounded by Bedford, Kingston
Essex and Columbia streets. westward Of
this the entire block bounded by Bedford.
Kingston, Chauncey streets and Rowe
Place, and westward Of this the building
on Chauncey street from Bedford to Exc
ter Place II also badly damaged the
building on the southeast corner of Bedford
and Columbia streets. North of Bedford
street it consumed the buildings on both
the northeast and northwest corners of
aged the block at the corner or Bedford
and Chauncey.
LATEST ESTIMATE.
The total loss according TO the latest
conservative estimates, will reach 8, 900
900: the most conservative estimate of the
loss Is 3, 0oO,OOO.