Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-05
DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES.

DESTRUCTIVE FLAMES.
Lynn, Mass. Visited BY . Fearful Fire
Whole Blocks OF Business houses Wiped
Out-Losses Estimated 1T Fully 910,-
100000
LYNN, Mass, Nov. 27.-Lynn, the
city of shoes, was visited yesterday
afternoon by the greatest fire in its
history, and, with two exceptions, the
cOnfagration is the most disastrous
that has ever visited New England.
The exceptions are the great Boston
fire, which destroyed 500, OOO,-
600 worth of property, and the Port
land fire, which caused a loss of
between $40, OO0, 600 and s12, OOO, 900.
The fire started at 11:55 a. M, ragged
over eight hours, devastated a square
mile of the business section of the city
and caused loss estimated at about
SIC, 600, 600. In fact the greater part
of the Fourth ward is wiped out, as re-
CARDS the important shoe manufactur-
ing blocks and prominent places of
business.
The fire started in Mowers wooden
building on Almont street, over the
boiler. and spread with such rapidity
that the fire department of the city
was powerless to cope with it. This
large wooden building was soon doomed,
and the flames leaped across a narrow
passageway and communicated with
the six story brick block, known as
Mowers block. When the fire in these
two buildings got we'll under way it was
evident terrible confiagration would
result. Almost simultaneously the
four story wooden building of Bennett
& Barnard, on Central avenue, and the
two story wooden building on A1mont
street caught fire and, after a time, a
hurricane of fire was in progress, which
blanched the cheeks of all the specta-
tors For eight hours the flames had
full sway, the efforts of fremen and
citizens seemingly being of no avail,
though of course they did valuable
| work.
Aid arrived from Boston, Salem,
Marble Head and surrounding towns,
but the united efforts seemed to have
| little effect on the hurricane Of flame.
Scenes of the great Boston and Chicago
| fires were repeated in all their horrors.
Mothers fleeing with babes in their
arms, express wagons loading at bust
ness and dwelling houses and transfer
| ring goods to place of safety, inmany
places a second removal being neces-
Sary.
Four daily newspapers are burned
| out-the Item, the Bee, the Press and
the News. Three National banks, the
Central, Security and First National,
| together 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.
It is impossible to state how many
dwelling houses are burned. They
were mostly occupied by the poor class
| in the vicinity of Beach street and the
estimate of the insurance. but con-
| sentative estimates place the loss on
property at $40, OOO,O
The Central Congregational Church
| burned to the ground between six and
| seven O'Clock. The handsome First
National Bank building cost $65, 600 to
build it. 1t is we'll insured. Located
on the two top stories was the Oxford
| Club which had the handsomest club
rooms in Essex County. Their loss is
about SIS, 600 with good insurance.
S. N. Breed & Co., the largest lumber
| dealers in Essex County, lost every
thing, including their handsome brick
structure on the corner of Beach and
Broad streets. They estimate their
loss at $500, 900; insurance, about 1925,
600.
Mount Vernon street was wiped out
entirely. On this street was located
the large brick factories occupied by
Francis NJ. Breed, Healy Bros. and
William Porter & Son. Goodwin's last
factory on this street was also burned.
Dynamite ana powder were used at
frequent intervals to blow up wooden
buildings, but with little effect. The
fire virtually burned itself out, and at
7:3O was considered under control.
| Over 5000 persons are deprived of
employment; 200 families are homeless,
and the mayor has issued a call for aid
Clothing is wanted most, and quickly,
too. Two militia companies will be
| sent from Boston before daybreak to
| nOlica the town