Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-27
LYNN LAID IN ASHES.
The City Of Shoes Suffers a
Great COntiagratiOn.
A TEN MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
Six Thousand People Out Of En-
ployment Two Hundred
Families Homeless.

Associated Press Dispatches TO the HERALD
LYNN, Mass, November 26.-Lynn,
the city of shoes, was visited this after
noon by the greatest fire in its history,
and with two exceptions the confagra-
ton is the most disastrous that ever vis-
tied New England. The fire started
about noon and ragged over eight hours,
devastated square mile Of the business
section Of the city, and caused loss
estimated at $10,00O.000. In fact, the
greater part Of Ward is wiped out as
regards the important shoe manufsctur-
ing blocks and prominent places Of busi-
ness.
The fire started in Mowers wooden
building, on Almont street, and soon
communicated with the six-story brick
block known as Mowers block. Almost
simultaneously the four-story wooden
shoe factory of Bennett & Barnard, on
Central avenue, and four.story wooden
building on Almont street caught fire,
and ina short time q hurricane of flame
was in progress.
THE BURNED TERRITORY
Includes and is bounded by the follow.
ing streets: Almont, at Central avenue
and it's junction with Willow; Union,
from its junction with Broad to Dryden
block on both sides; Mt. Vernon street,
She entire beach, on both sides, as far
down as Lees lumber yard; Washing
ton, from Monroe through to Union !;
Railroad avenue; all of Exchange street |;
Broad, from the engine house, both
sides, as far as the corner of Exchange /;
Spring street, entire; besides dwelling
houses too numerous TO mention on sIf-
folk, Amity, Sycamore and Beach
streets.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem,
Marblehead and the surrounding towns.
After the fire had been in progress two
hours, everybody declared it would not
stop until it reached the ocean. This
proved to be the case.
THE PRINCIPAL LossRs.
Four daily newspapers are burned out
the Item, Bee, Press and Neays. There
we're many narrow escapes from acci-
dents, but no fatalities are reported.
The high brick fre-wall of B. F. Spin
ner's block served ss barrier to the
further progress of the flames up Union
street after that handsome structure was
gutted.
Three national banks-the Central,
Security aud First National--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.
At this writing it is impossible to state
how many dwellings are burned. They
we're mostly occupied by the poor class
in the vicinity of Beach street and the
wharves.
The Central Congregational church
was burned to the ground between and
7 O'Clock.
1t is impossible to give any estimate oi
the insurance, but conservative estimates
place the loss of property at SIC, 0,000, 900.
MEASURES FOB RELIEF.
The First Methodist aud First Univer.
salist churches and several school houses
have been thrown open to accommodate
the burned out families. The Mayor has
called a special meeting of the Board oil
Aldermen to take action and appoint re.
lief committees.
Dynamite and powder were used al
frequent intervals to blow up wooden
buildings, but with little effect. The fire
virtually burned itself out, and at go
was considered under control. Both
companies of the Massachusetts militia
located in Lynn were called out and put
or patrol duty.
8. M Breed & Co., the largest lumber
dealers in Essex county, lose everything,
and estimate their loss at $200,0OO in.
surance, $l25,00O.
A NARROW ESCAPE PROM DEATH
Was that of Earnest Williamson, who
volunteered to take line of hose Ut
ladder in front of the Dagyr building.
He was followed by several others, but
almost as soon as they reached the roof
the intense heat compelled them to beat
a hasty retreat. Williamson was the last
man to descend, and was nearly suffo-
Gated before he could get footing on the
ladder. His face is badly burned.
Thieves came in from Boston and else
where in large numbers, and the amount
of their stealiDgs was large. A house
was blown up at Broad and Exchange
streets, shettering windows in all direc.
tions, but the measure was efectual in
stopping the progress of the flames in
that direction.
OTHER INCIDENTS OF YHE FIRE.
The streets were covered with a net
work of falling wires, which somewhat
impeded the progress of the fremen.
The Central station of the Boston and
Maine road was burned fat, and the
flames then reached across Mt. Vernon
street. At this iuncture several citizens
asked the Mayor to have some brick
blocks In Mt. Vernon street and the
Central church blown up with dynamite,
in order to stop the flames. The Mayor
thought such q course would imperil
lives and be a hindrance to the firemen.
Several small buildings were, however,
blown up down on Exchange street, but
the effect was very slight.
A hopeful feeling prevails and there
is ho question that the public citizens
and ehoe manufacturers will soon rally
from the terrible catastrophe.
HOMELESS AND UNEMPLOYED.
Over 5000 persons are deprived of en-
ployment and 200 families are homeless.
The Mayor has issued call for aid.
ANOTRRn CONTEMPLATION.
Leechburgh, Pennsylvania, Devas-
tated by Fire.
y