The Portland daily press., 1889-11-30
RUINS WHERE THERE WERE FORTUNES.
Scenes in the Burnt District In
Boston Yesterday.
Two More Firemen Reported Among
the missing Men.
Lynn People Expect to Have a Better
City Than Ever.

BosToN. Mass, November 29.-The sun
shine flooded the burnt district In Boston
this morning, but its cheerful glow could not
lessen the gloom and desolation that marked
the spot where the fire iend had held wild
revel. The walls of the Leather Exchange
building where the fire originated had been
levelled to the street, and scarcely remnant
remained of walls that had formed marvels
of builders skill and masterpiece of archi-
tectural art. The murky smoke hung lower
ing over the pile of bricks, stone, timber and
the indescribable debris that marks the spot
of great fire. and the atmosphere was i'm
pregnated with strong and offensive odors.
The usual crowd of i1lefs pressed against
the ropes that guarded the avenues of ap-
proach to the ruins, ,and within the enclosure
were grouped small clusters of firemen, un-
derwriters, newspaper men, owners and &C.
cupants OF burnt buildings and number of
city officials. Three engines were still at
work, and a detail OF several fremen were on
duty from each company.
The water tower, the pride of the water
department, lay beaten to a shapeless mass
beneath the Bedford street wall OF the Shoe
and Leather Exchange. Among the ruins of
this building a crowd of gamins swarmed
like ants. A solitary worker worked with
pick at the calcined mass near the Kingston
street foundation. The streets were still
flooded in parts, and many cellars in adjoin-
ing structures were filled with water to the
sidewalks. Engines % and 26, left to their
fate when the wall fell at the juncture of
Kingston and Bedford streets, stood shatter-
ed and dismantled, like cannon abandoned
on battlefield amid heaps. of slain. En-
gine % was comparatively intact, consider
ing the fiery ordeai to which it was subject
ed, but the smokestack of 26 had been crush
ed like an eggshel, and the entire apparatus
bent and twisted like reed. The centre,
around which the fire ragged the fercest,
was at the corner Of Bedford and Kingston
streets.
One of the most remarkable features of the
fire was the completeness of combustion.
There was scarce trace or sign remaining
this morning of the character of the contents
of the burned buildings. 1t was impossible
leather, rubber, dry goods, furniture, cloth
ing or small wares OF any description. In
fact, in almost every instance, the contents
were bliterated-wiped completely out of
existence.
Enterprise is still among the leading traits
of Boston merchants This was exempliied
by the fact that before the embers had ceas
ed to glow several signs had been attached to
the shattered walls telling where their form
er occupants could be found. a.s
Mayor Hart ordered detail of so men
from the street department to report to the
fire commissioners at the corner of Bedford
and Chauncy streets, and they were soon en-
gagged in searching for the remains Of the
missing fremen.
Everywhere words of praise are spoken in
praise of the intrepidity and skill of BOston's
firemen. Never was a harder task set before
fire department. and victory more grand
ly won.
The list of the missing and injured con-
tinues to grow apace.
Officer Michael Atkinson of the Boston
farna ic cuffarinu from q tnrrihla 70 oh N fha
head. received by a falling block of granite
on Kingston street.
Warren Dow of steamer 2, Cambridge, was
rendered insensible by falling brick on
Kingston street.
a severe injury to the knee, and Capt Delano
of Charlestown is suffering from badly
bruised legs.
Hoseman Woodward of engine % received
a severe cut on the right hand by falling
glass
Fireman GCwing of engine was cut on
the right wrist by a brick and badly hurt
A sprained ankle reminds Hoseman Carley
of engine % of the fire.
Hoseman j. J. Mcnamara of engine 8 was
badly burned about the face and hands while
on the aerial ladder at the corner of Kingston
and Bedford streets.
Fireman Dacey of engine 8 had a leg
broken.
Edward Frohan of ladder s may have to
suffer the amputation of his left hand on ac-
count of a terrible cut ON the wrist.
FiremanJ. Dacey of engine was caught
beneath a portion of the falling wall on
Chauncy street, and had leg crushed. He
was removed to the Massachusetts General
Hospital.
At the headquarters of the fire department
it is learned that nothing has been heard of
Firemen John j. Brooks and M. Mann, both
of hose Z, since early yesterday, and the sad
information is given out that these two
brave fire laddieS also probably perished in
the flames.
John G. Pages insurance agency now esti-
mates the total loss at $40, 100000. Other est-
mates are lower. The assessed value of de-
stroyed buildings is $796,6O0. The individ-
ual losers as rule are men abundantly able
to stand it,
Four big pieces of fire apparatus, valued
$4,000. are ruined. Chief Webber says there
is $1,000 worth of hose and other department
property in the ruins.