Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-28
TEN MILLIONS IN SMOKE.

of Shoes, WAS yesterday afternoon visited
by the greatest fire in its history, and
with two exceptions, the most disastrous
which has ever visited New England
causing loss estimated at $40, coo, 0O0
A square mile OF the business portion o.
the city was destroyed, and hundreds OIL
people are homeless. No lives were los
The fire started in Movers wooder
building, on Almont strest. over the
boiler, and spread with such rapiiity
that the excellent fire department Of the
city was powerless to cope with it. This
large wooden building was soon doomed
anu the flames leaped across narrow
pEsaageway sad communicated with the
Six story brick block known rs Movers
block. Almost simultaneously the four.
story wooden shoe factory OF Bennett 4
Barnard, on Central avenue, and the
four story wooden building on Almon;
street, caught fire. Then the hamet
obtained full sway in closely built dis
trict, sweeping across streets and leyelinR
big buildings as though they were but
straws.
The burned territory is bounded by
the following named streets: Almont,
Central avenue, at its junction with vii.
liam street Union street, from its Juno.
ton with Broad to the BRyden block on
both sides Mt. Vernon street entire ;
Central square entire; Bench street on
both sides as far down as Lees lumber
yard; Washington street, from Monroe
through to Union; Railroad avenue; all
of Exchange street; Broad street, from
the engine house, on both sides mp as far
as the corner Of Exchange; Spring street
entiiei besides dwelling houses too
numerous 10 mention on Suffolk, Amity,
sagamore and Beach streets.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem,
MsEblehead and surrounding towns, but
the united efforts of the iremen had little
eject on the hurricane of flame. The
scenes OF the great Boston and Chicago
fires we're repeated-mothers faeing with
their babes, wagons transferring goods,
and above all, the cracking flames and
dull, red glow OF the conflagration. After
the fire bad been burning two hours it
was argued it would not stop until il
reached the ocean, nor did II.
Twelve OF the finest blocks in the city
are in ruins. Four daily newspapers,
three national banks and savings ins,i-
tuition are wiped out. II is impossible at
this writing O tell how many buildings
have been burned.
It is impossible yet to estimate the loss,
but conservative business men place it al
ten millions, There were many narrow
escapes, but no casualties are reported.
Dynamite and powder were used at
frequent intervals to blow up wooden
buildings, bnt with little effect. The fire
virtually burned itself out, and nj z 30
O'clock was considered under control.
Both companies OF the Massachusetts
militia located in Lynn were called out
and put on patrol duty.
Tho First Methodist and First Uniyer-
sslist churches and several school houses
have been thrown open to accommodate
burned out families. Mayor Newhall has
called special meeting OF the aldermen
TO take action and choose relief com.
mittees.
A marrow escape from death was that
81 Erna7t Williamson, who, in the early
stage OF tbs fire, volunteered 10 take a
lire OF hose up ladder in front OF
DaRyr'a Building, on Willow street. to
play from the top upon the west wall OF
the Mower brick block.
Owing to its not being udogped, he
finally climbed down in an exhausted
condition, 70 the intense relief OF hun.
dreds who expected TO see him perish. A
few minutes later the upper west vail OF
the Mower block fell through the Dagyr
Building with terrific crash The left
side OF Williapson's face was b!istersd
before he started downward on the do.
scent for bis life.
Thieves came in from BcRton and other
places in large numbers and the amount
OF stealing WIS large.
a house VS. blown M by powder al
the corner OF Broad and Exchange streets
at SAB, SCATTERING window glass in all
directions, but efectu0ly checking the
progress Of the flames in that direction.
h. Miles, Francis w. Breed and Others
asked Mayor NewhRll 70 have some OF
the brick blocks in Mt. Vernon street an
the Central Church blown up with
dynamite to stop the flames. The mayor
Thought sneh course would imperil
lives and ba hildrencg to the fireInen,
who were directing streams OF water al
that point.
Several small buildings were, however
blown down on Exchange street, but the
eIaot VAS very alight.
hopeful feeling prevails, and there
is no question that the public spirited
citizens AMI shoe manufacturers viii soor
rally from the terrible catastrophe.
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Associated Press pIephieh by spocial Wires.
BosroN, Nov. 27.--John o. Paige has
caused careful personai examination Of
the burned district in Lynn and finds
the lossss Of the companies Of which Dc
j. United States manager to be: Imperial
Fire Insurance Oampany of London.
$50, DCO to 1856 600; City Of London Fire
IrAnrance Company, SIS, 900 10 $40. 900.
Prominent manufacturers are now of the
uninion that the totsl Inss will roocb