Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-23
HISTORICAL BURNiNGS.

The first devastating fire in America was
probably the one occurring at Boston,
March 20, l7GO when 400 dwellings and
stores were burned, causing loss OF 800
0O0
The Chicago fire, Oct. Q, 1871, was one of
the largest in all history, devastating an
area Of 3Jf square miles and causing loss
of about sl0O,0OOOO0. Two hundred and
fifty lives were reported lost in this fire.
It is not generally remembered that
julius Caesar burned a library OF 1OO,Ooo
volumes at Alexandria, known as the Bru-
clan library, B. G. 4S, nearly 700 years be
fore the burning Of the Serapeum library
by Omar l.
The burning of the Sersp@um library
at Alexandria, in the year $40, by the
Caliph Omar l. Is most widely mourned,
as the destruction OF 10000 volumes cut
off much of the record Of human knowl
edge at that time.
In November, 1872, Boston was visited
by fire which extended over an area of
sixty-five acres, burning the best mercan-
tile buildings in the city, and causing a
damage of s75,0OO, 600, on which there was
an insurance to over &65, 100000.
Philadelphia was swept on July 9, 1850,
when a fire along the Delaware river front,
at Vine street, extending over eighteen
acres, caused loss of life estimated as high
as thirty-three, in addition to 100 wounded
and a pecuniary loss Of 81, 500, 900.
Jerusalem has been burned time and
again, the most noted instance being at
the siege by the Romans during the yeaI
20. when faction called the Sicarii set the
city on fire in many places, and ], 100 900 Of
the inhabitants persisted by fire and the
sword.
Constantinople has, like all oriental
cities, suffered severely from fires, iargt
part Of such losses being undoubtedly due
to the fatalism OF the Mohammedans, who
bow TO their kismet. Said a sultan, III 4
be the will of Allah that my favorite city
burn, il Is the will of Allah"
Two notable examples OF contasion
stopped by conhaRrations are the burning
Of Moscow by the besieging Tartars, II
July, 1870, when the plague was stopped
and secondly the fire in London, Sept
1866, which also stopped the plague, and
has been unknown there since.
One of the first of the more recent con
|, Haqrations was the burning of Portland
, Me, July 4, 1866. The fire was caused b
a boy throwing a frecracker into a cooper
shop for the avowed purpose OF soaring tn
workmen In this respect the act was a
unparalleled success, the damage bein
about 100000.
New York was visited by severe col
fagration in the southern part Of the cit
on Dec 10, 1885, which extended over a
area of forty acres, destroying 674 hous'
and causing loss which has been est
mated as high as $50, co., 900, on which theI
was only 5000, 0o0 insurance-an amour
which ruined several insurance compsnie
= The London fire Of Sept. 2, 1896, calle
the great fire Of modern history, becau'
= the reforms which were started In cons
4 quence OF it are living issues in the nun
!, cipal affairs Of today. The fire WAS caus'
J by an over heated bakers oven, and in Il
! course OF four days It swept over 436 acrs
burning Is, 800 houses, 80 churches and
!. Paul's Cathedral, causing a damage es'
y mated to be e5S, SOC. Oo. Scientific Anne
n can.