The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-04
TEN MILLIONS IN ASHES
AND HUNDREDS RENDERED HOMELESS
The shoe Manufacturing Portion of Lynn,
Mass, Practically Wiped Out by Fire
Aid Badly Needed-Leechburg, Pa,
Loses Its Business Houses.

the confagration is the most disastrous that
has ever visited New England. The exceptions
are the great Boston FIRE Of 1872. and the Port
land fire of 1866. To-day's fire started at II 90
a. M, ragged over eight hours, devastated q
square mile of the business section of the city,
AMI caused a loss estimated ut about ten
million dollars. in fact, the greater part Of
ward four is wiped out, as regards the impor-
tant shoe manufacturing blocks and prominent
places of business.
The ire started in Mowers wooden building
on Amontst., 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 building
known as Movers block. When the fires in
these two buildings got well under way it was
evident terrible cOnfagratiOn would result
Almost simultaneously the four story wooden
shoe factory of Bennett & Barnard, on Central
ave-, and the four story wooden building on
Almont-st., caught Gre, and after a time hur.
ricane OF flame was in progress which blanched
the cheeks of all the spectators. For eight
hours the flames had full sway the efforts of
fremen and citizens seemingly being of no
avail, although, OF course, they did valuable
work.
The burned territory includes and is bounded
by the following streets: Almont. Centrai-ave.,
at its junction with Willow; Union, from It's
junction with Broad to the BOyden block on
both sides; Mt. Vernon-st, entire; Beach, on
both sides TAR down Lees lumber yard;
Washington, from Monroe through to Union;
Railroad-ave., all of Exchange-st; Broad, from
the engine house on both sides up tar as the
corner of Exchange; Spring-st., entire, besides
dwelling houses too numerous TO mention on
Suffolk. Amity, Sycamore and Beach-sts.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem Marblehead
and surrounding towns, but their united Efforts
seemed TO have but little effect on the hurri-
cane OF flame Scenes OF the great Boston and
Chicago fires were repeated in all their horrors.
Mothers fleeing with babes in their arms, ex-
press wagons loading at business and dwelling
houses and transferring goods to place OF
safety, IN many cases a second removal being
necessary. After the fire had been IN progress
two hours everybody declared il would not stop
until it reached the ocean. SO 1t looked and so
1t proved.
Four daily newspapers are burned out-the
Item. Bee, Press and Ae1rs-three of which are
issued in the afternoon and one in the morning
Three national banks, the Central Security
and First, together with the Lynn institute Tor
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. At this writing 1t Is impos-
sible to state how many dwelling houses were
burned. They were mostly occupied by the
poorer class in the vicinity OF Beach-st. and the
wbarves. IL is impossible TO give any estimate
of the insurance, but conservative estimates
place the loss on property at Sl0,0000O0.
There were many narrow escapes from acct
dents, but no fatalities are reported. The high
brick hre-wal on the B. +. Spinney block
served as a barrier 10 the further progress OF
the flames up UliOn-st. after the handsome
structure was gutted.
The Central congregational church burned
10 the ground between and O'clock. The
handsome First national bank block cost
$4,000 to build. II is well insured. Located
on the two top stories was the O'Ford club.
which had the handsomest club rooms in Essex
county. Their loss is about s., 900. with good
insurance. The First methodist and First
universalist churches and several school
houses have been thrown open to accommodate
burned out families. Mayor Newhall has
called a special meeting OF the aldermen to
take action and appoint relief committees.
s. ,. Breed CO., the largest lumber dealers
in Essex county lose everything, including
their handsome brick structure on the corner
of Beach and BrOad-sts. They estimate their
loss at 500. 900; insurance about SIPS 900. They
will open for business in the morning at the
Office OF I. A. Newhall coal company.
Mt. VernOn-st. was wiped out entire. On this
street we're located the large brick factories oc-
cupied By Francis W. Breed, Healey Bros, and
William Porter & Son. Goodwin's last factory
on this street was also burned
Dynamite and powder were used Mt frequent
intervals TO blow up wooden buildings, but
with little effect. The FIRE virtually burned
itself out. and at $50 was considered under
control Both companies OF the Massachusetts,
militia located in Lynn were called out and
put on patrol duty. Several OF the shoe manu-
factureTs burned ont have country factories
and will transfer their business there for the
present.
The Currier block on Union-st. was FIVE
story brick structure, and had been occupied
on the lower floor only by W. \. Currier & Co.
as a clothing store for two weeks.
3. F. Spinney's brick block on Uniou-st was
erected in 1850. Ii will cost $4,000 to replace
II, he says. IL was insured for about two
thirds OF its value. Faunee & Spinney and A.
P. LegrO & Co., shoe manufacturers, we're To-
Gated in this block. ]. y. Smiths wooden
block On Union-st. cost $4,000, and additions
20 it 5000. The building was insured for
$500, aud Mr. Smith says most of his stock
was removed.
A narrow escape from death was that of
Ernest Williamson. Who IN the early stage of
the FIRE, volunteered TO take line Of hose up
q ladder in front of the Dagy building on
Willow-st. 10 play from the top upon the west
wall OF the Mower brick block also on Willow
st. He was followed by several other venture
some men, some of whom fremeu. but
almost as soon as they reached the roof the
intense heat compelled them 10 beat hasty
retreat and the hose fell TO the sidewalk.
Williamson was the last man to descend and
nearly su1ccated before he could get
footing the ladder, owing to its being
"dogged." He finally scrambled down in an
exhausted condition, to the intense relief of
hundreds who expected 10 see him perish.
Thieves came in from Boston and elsewhere
in large numbers and the amount OF stealing
was large.
A house blown up with powder at Broad and
Exchange-sts shattered windows in all direc-
tons, but the measure was effectual in stopping
the flames in that direction.
William T. Ash, a slipper manufacturer in
S. y. Breeds block, is insured for $4,000,
which will pretty nearly cover his loss. He
says the streets were covered with a network of
fallen wires, which somewhat impeded the
progress OF the hremen. The central station
of the Boston & Maine railroad was burned
fat, and the flames then leaped across Mt. Yer
non-st- At this junctnre Lawyer William
III. Miles, Francis W. Breed and others
asked Mayor Newhall to have some Of the
brick blocks in Mt. Nernon-st. and the Central
church blown up with dynamite in order 10
stop the spreading Of the flames. The mayor
thought that such a course would imperil lives
and be a hindrance 70 the fremeu, who were
directing streams Of water al that point. Sew
eral small buildings were however, blown up on
Exehange-st., but the effect was very slight, so
fierce was the current Of the flames.
A. B. Martin 4 Co.'S big brick block on Mar
ketst. was covered from top 10 bottom with
carpeting and kept wet. The Daily Item pro-
prietOrs estimate their loss at $4,000; insur-
ance about $4,000. They will rebuild at once
A fire boat could have done immense service in
saving wharf property, but none was at hand, the
two from Boston having got stuck on the flats.
One small schooner was burned at ;. III.
Breeds wharf. From the corner Of SprinR-st.
on the south side OF Exehange-st. 10 BrOad-st.