The Portland daily press., 1889-11-29
HUB OF FLAME,
With Blazing spokes Whirling in the
Streets Of Boston.
The Most Disastrous Fire Since the
Great ConfIagratiOn.
Chauney, Kingston and Bedford Streets
Become a Furnace.
Big Buildings Filled With Valuable
Merchandise Destroyed.
The Loss Placed First at $4,000, 900,
Finally at A;OOO,OOO.
The Flames Subdued Only After a
Struggle Of Six Hours.
LsDg List Of Persons to Whom the Fire
Caused Injuries.
Accident to Trains ON the Boston and
Maine Road.
The Flames Subdued Only After a
Struggle Of Six Hours.
LsDg List Of Persons to Whom the Fire
Caused Injuries.
Accident to Trains on the Boston and
Maine Road.
L. ?. Hawkins & Co., Of Portland
Among the Losers.

BOSTON, November 28.-The most destruc-
tive fire from which Boston has suffered since
1872, and one which in the property loss more
than rivals the great confagration at Lynn
on Tuesday, broke out at $50 a. m. today in
the six story granite building owned by Jor-
dan, Marsh & Co., and occupied by Brown
Durreil & Co., dealers in fancy goods, Bed
ford street, at the corner of Kingston street
The great fire of 1872 broke out at the corner
of Kingston and Summer streets, and con-
sumed nearly $780, 100000 worth Of property.
The first alarm rung in today was instantly
followed by the first general alarm in Boston
since 1872. TOday's fire ragged for six hours,
burned over two acres of territory, covered
by magnificent structures and entailed loss
how estimated at ten millions. As soon as
Chief Webber of the fire department arrived
it became apparent that long, hard fight
with tho flames was before the firemen and
the general alarm was sent out This was
soon followed by calls upon all the neighbor-
ing cities and towns for assistance, to which
request prompt response was made.
The flames were soon pouring from all the
windows and the roof Of the Brown, Durrell
building and at S45 had spread to the Shoe
aud Leather Exchange building, another
large granite structure adjoining Brown,
Durrell g. Co.'s ionlBedford street. From
both buildings the flames swept in great
masses across Bedford street to the opposite
corner, and thence west across Kingston
street, along Bedford to Chauncy street,
where they were stopped in the store of
Farley, Harvey & Co., the upper stories Of
which were burned. Three stores
along Chauncy street toward Sumner street
were burned. On the south side of
Bedford street, the flames jumped across
Kingston street to the big sandstone build
ing, owned by f. L. Ames and occupied by
Taylor Brothers, completely obliterating it.
Then the fire took hold of the granite build
ing at the corner of Chauncy street, and
burned out the whole block clear away
round Rowe place to Kingston street. Cross
ing Chauncy street, and still working west,
the flames soon had hold of all the stores
enclosed in Exeter place, small stree! run
ming from Harrison avenue to Bedford
street. Here, at last, the fremen got con-
troll, and at noon the fire ceased to spread.
Brown, Durrell &c Co., carried stock of
goods of upwards of $SOO,OOO, which is a
total loss. The insurance on this stock is
$6S6,0O0. S. B. Taylor, importer, loses $10.-
900; no insurance. Taylor Bros, hats and
caps, lose 100000; insurance $4,000. The
shoe and leather firm OF L. P. Hawkins, Port
land, Me-, at SO Bedford street, was burned
out There are about 200 firms burned out,
and 100 agents of New York and Boston firms
had their headquarters destroyed. The 70
insurance companies known to be interested
carry an aggregate insurance of 50, ,6O0, 900 on
the burned property.
The street playing the most important
part In the fire was Bedford and the most
prominent firms affected on this street are
Wilson, Larrabee &c Co., dry goods, damage
by water, insurance, $25o,OOO; Farley, Har-
vey & Co., damage by water; Nos. 81, SO and
81, owned by Fred L. and Helen A. Ames,
all destroyed; George 7. Quinn 6 Co.. over
alls, loss $4,000; Nos. 60 to 81, New Eng,
land Shoe and Leather Association building,
owned by Eben d. Jordan and the Charles
Marsh heirs, totally destroyed; Woonsocket
Rubber Co., loss 100000; Walker, Stetson
d Sawyer, collars and cuffs, stock valued at
$4,000. insured for 100000; WIN. H. Hunt
ington, shoe tips, loss $4,000; A. r. Salo-
man d Co., fancy leather, loss S120,0O0.
Later.-The total loss, according to the
latest conservative estimates is about four
millions.