The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-27
A TEN MILLION DOLLAR FIRE.
The shoe District in Lynn. Masa.. Burned
Out Yesterday.

WV h'attihoAt
LINN, Mass, Nov. 96.-Lynn, the city Of
shoes, was visited this afternoon by the
greatest fire in its history, and with two ex-
eeptions the connagration is the most dis
astrous that ever visited New England. II
started about noon, ragged over eight hours,
devasted n square mile of the business sec-
tion OF the city and caused loss estimated
at $l0,0OO,oO0. In fact, the greater part of
ward four is wiped out, as regards the im-
portant shoe manufacturing blocks and
prominent places of business. The fire
started in Mowers wooden building on
Almont street, and soon communicated
block Almost simultaneously the four
story wooden shoe factory Of Bennett a
Barnard ON Central avenue, and the four
story wooden building ON Almont street,
caught fire and in a little while hurricane
a flame was i'll progress. The burned
territory includes and is bounded by the
following streets; Almont, Central avenue,
and its junction with Willow, Union, from
its junction with Broad 10 Brighton. both
sides OF Mt. Vernon street, Beach, on both
y
Washington, from Monroe through 10
Union Railroad avenue. all Of Exchange
street. Broad, from the engine house on
both sides up as far as the corner Of E1-
change, Spring street entire, besides dwell
| ing houses too numerous 10 mention on
| Sufiolf, Amity, SagaD g and Bach streets.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem, Marble
head and surrounding towns. After the
fire had been IN progress two hours every.
body declared il would not stop until II
reached the ocean. So it proved 10 be.
| The fonr daily newspapers are burned out,
| the Item, Bee. Press and News. There
were many narrow escapes from accidents,
| but no fatalities are reported. The high
brick fire wall of the II. Il. Spinney block
served ~ barrier 10 the further progress
| of the flames on Union street, after that
handsome structure was gutted. Three
national banks. the Central, Security and
First National, together with the Lynn
Savings bank. 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 il il impossible 10 say how
many dwelling houses are burned. They
were mostly occupied by the poor class in
| the vicinity Of Beach street aud the wharves.
| The central Congregational church wac
burned to the ground. ID IN impossible u
give any estimate of the insurance. but con.
servative estimates place the loss on prop
erty at $l0,00O.0OO. The First Methodist
and First Universalist churches and several
houses have been thrown open 10 accom-
modate the burned out families. The mayol
has called u special meeting of the alder
men to take action and appoint relief com
mitttees. Dynamite and powder was usec
at frequent intervals 10 blow up woodei
buildings, but with little effect. The FIRE
virtually burned itself out and al 30 !
was under control.
Over 5000 persons are deprived OF EN-
ploymcnt and 200 families are homeless
The mayor has issued a call for aid.
| LrncunuRo, PA. Nov. 26.-Fire broke on
here NJ 9 O'Clock this evening and for thre
hours ragged fiercely, destroying large por
tion of the business houses aud residences o
the town. Among the buildings burne,
were the post office. Advance buildin
Leechburg bank, Cochrans block, Squire
block and twenty or twenty-five dwelling
and stores. Loss between SS0,OOO ana
100000; insurance light. The night il colt
and many people will suder severely frou
exposure.