Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-03-11
FLAMES. CARNIVAL.
Destructive and Deadly Fire at
Massachusetts Metropolis.
A TERRIBLE LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.
The Number of Dead Estimated at
twenty-five and May Be
Much Greater

Whole Block of Buildings, Some of
"FireprooT' Construction, Swept Away,
Involving "a Loss of 81, 500, 600, with
81 100000 Insurance-Frishtful Panic
Among the Workers in the Doomed
Structxres-Trenzied Men and Women
Leap for Their Lives-A Long List of
IDjured-ThriIlineE Experience of "A Fire
Chief.
Boston, March 11-One of the most de-
structive fires in the history of Boston
next in magnitude to the famous one of
Thanksgiving Day, 1880, and in the same
distri ict-broke out shortly after I O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, and before it was
placed under control, three hours later, had
burned over more than square, had re
duced to ashes several of the magnificent
new buildings recently completed Oh the
territory burned over three and half
years ago, and had consumed property val
ued by a conservative estimate at a. 100000;
had been attended by scenes of panic and
distress never before cqualied in the mem
DRY of citizens living, and had de-
stroyeG several-perhaps many-human
lives, and mangled or manned at least
thirty persons, some of whom will die of
their injuries
breaking Ont of the Flames.
At 5:25 O'Clock the alarm was sent in
| from box 50. 1t was soon followed by
second and then a general alarm. the
| flames broke out in the toy department of
Horace Partridge & Co., who occupied the
| fifth and sixth floors of the seven-story
| building corner of Essex and Lincoln
| streets, owned by +. l.. Ames. The cause
| is at present unknown, but the start is de-
scribed by those nearest it resembling
| the bursting of firecracker. The flames
| spread with incredible rapidity and in
| very few moments the entire interior of
4 the building was burning. There were
| many employees of the Partridge company
| at work at the time and the other floors of
the building were sprinkied with human
| Shut i'm by the Destroyer.
| The usual avenues of escape were at once
cut off and then began a scramble for life
| which sickened beholders. The panic
| stricken inmates fled to windows and roof.
Some escaped by shining down telegraph
| poles, others by leaping into blankets and
| nets. Several jumped to the pavement,
| six or eight Stories and were terribly
| mangled and others, how many cannot
now be told, fell back into the cauldron of
flames or were overcome by the dense black
smo.se which suffocated all who did not
| speedily escape. The entire fire depart
ment Of the city was quickly on the scene;
| the departments of Solnerville, Cambridge,
| Newton, Quincy and Brockton arrived
later by train and aid was requested to be
| in readiness from more distant cities.
| The Governor at the Scene.
| Fortunately further help was not needed.
| Vast crowds of people began Mt once to
| flock to the scene and as a matter of pre-
| caution Governor Russell! ordered two
| companies of militia under arms and pro-
| ceeded to the fire in person, where he was
| soon Joined by Mayor Matthews The fire
spread rapidly from building to building,
and despite the heroic efforts Of the entire
| fire system of Suffolk county was not con-
| trolled until the whole square bounded by
Essex street on the north, Lincoln on the
| east, Tufts on the south and Kingston on
! west had been leveled; also one building
north of Essex street extending along Col
| umbia street, three more on the east side
| of Lincoln street and one corper of the
| United States hotel. south OF Tufts street,
| which corner contained ,Ae Emergency
hospital
| Buildings That We're Destroyed.
The principal buildings burned were as
| follows: Ames building, seven stories, cor
ner Essex and Lincoln streets, where the
! fire started; Lincoln building. five stories.
on opposite corner on site of old Crystal
palace, occupied by the Singer Manufac-
| turing company and large number of
other concerns; Ludlow building, six stor-
les, 135 Essex street; Brown-Durrell build
| ing, seven stories, corner of Essex and
Kingston streets, burned from roof to
fourth floor: the freproof walls of this
building stemmed the tide of flames to the
north; five-story brick building corner of
| Columbia and Essex streets, occupid by
| Wall & Barnes. paper-boN manufacturers,
and others; United States hotel, slightly
! damaged: three-story building betw eel the
Ames building and the United States hotel
occupied as dwelling in the upper story
| and by small traders below.
Fire Proofng Was All in Vain.
The three largest buildings burned-the
Ames. Lincoln, and Brown-Durrell-were
of modern construction and built in the
most non-combustible style possible for
mercantile use. The Brown-DurreIl had
| front walls of sandstone and rear walls of
| brick. The Ames and Lincoln were much
! like il.
| SKETCHES AT THE CONFEDERATION
| Frightful Incidents Related by Spectators
A FIJI