The Iola register., 1889-12-06
DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES.

lynn. Mass, Visited BY q Fearful Fire
Whole Blocks Of Business houses Wiped
Out-Losses Estimated at Fully &c.
| 100000.
LYNN, Mass, Nov. FLYNN, the
city of shoes, was visited yesterday
afternoon by the greatest fire in its
history, and, with two exceptions, the
cOnfagratiOn is the most disastrous
that has ever visited New England.
The exceptions are the great Boston
| fire, which destroyed 100000 :
600 worth of property, and the Port
land fire, which caused loss Of
between SIC, 600, 600 and s12, 100000.
The fire started at 11:55 a. m, ragged
over eight hours, devastated a square
mile of the business section Of the city
and caused loss estimated at about
$40, 100000. In fact the greater part
of the Fourth ward is wiped out. as re-
CARDS the important shoe manufacture
ing blocks and prominent places of
business.
The fire started in Mowers wooden
building on Almont street, over the
boiler, and spread with such rapidity
that the fire department of the city
was powerless TO cope with it. This
large wooden building was soon doomed,
and the flames leaped across narrow
passageway and communicated with
the six story brick block, known as
Mowers block. When the fire in these
two buildings got we'll under way it was
evident a terrible confagration would
result. Almost simultaneously the
four story wooden building Of Bennett
& Barnard, on Central avenue, and the
two story wooden building on Almont
street caught fire and, after a time, a
hurricane of fire was in progress, which
blanched the cheeks of all the specta-
tors. For eight hours the flames had
full sway, the efforts of firemen and
citizens seemingly being of no avail,
though of course they did valuable
work.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem,
Marble Head and surrounding towns,
but the united efforts seemed to have
little effect OH the hurricane Of flame.
Scenes of the great Boston and Chicago
fires were repeated in all their horrors.
Mothers fleeing with babes in their
arms, express wagons loading at busi-
ness and dwelling houses and transfer
ring goods to place of safety, in many
places second removal being neces-
sary.
Four daily newspapers are burned
out-the Item, the Bee, the Press and
the News. Three National banks, the
Central, Security and First National,
together with the Lynn Institution for
Savings, located in the First National
block, are all wiped out. Twelve of
the finest shoe blocks in the city are in
ruins, and about twenty-five stores.
1t is impossible to state how many
dwelling houses are burned. They
were mostly occupied by the poor class
in the vicinity Of Beach street and the
wharves. 1t is impossible to give any
estimate of the insurance. but con-
servative estimates place the loss on
property at slO,OOO,OOO.
The Central Congregational Church
burned to the ground between six and
seven O'Clock. The handsome First
National Bank building cost $65, ,0OO to
build it. 1t is we'll insured. Located
on the two top stories was the Oxford
Club which had the handsOmest club
rooms in Essex County. Their loss is
about S., 900 with a good insurance.
S. N. Breed & Co., the largest lumber
dealers in Essex County, lost every
thing, including their handsome brick
structure on the corner of Beach and
Broad streets. They estimate their
loss at s2OO,OOO; insurance, about Sl25,-
600.
Mount Vernon street was wiped out
entirely. On this street was located
the large brick factories occupied by
Francis M. Breed, Healy Bros. and
William Porter & Son. Goodwin's last
factory on this street was also burned.
Dynamite an! powder were used at
frequent intervals to blow up wooden
buildings, but with little effect. The
fire virtually burned itself out, and at
7:3O was considered under control.
Over 5000 persons are deprived of
employment; 200 families are homeless,
and the mayor has issued call for aid.
Clothing is wanted most, and quickly,
too. Two militia companies will be
sent from Boston before daybreak to
police the town.