Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-03-17
LOSS $4,OOO,OOO.
One of the Most Destructive
Fires i'm the History of Boston.

A whole square Burned In the Section
Swept by the Great Fires Of 1880 and
ISS2---FIve Lives Lost and 40 People
Injured.
One of the most destructive fires in the
history of Boston, next in magnitude to
the famous one of Thanksgiving day, 1889,
and in the same district, broke out Satur-
day afternoon, and three hours later had
burned over more than a square, had re-
duced to ashes several of the magnificent
new buildings recently completed on the
territory burned over three and a half
years ago, had consumed property valued
by conservative estimate at $4,000,000,
and had destroyed several human lives and
MANNED at least 30 persons. The flames
broke out in the toy department of Horace
Partridge d Co., who occupied the fifth
and sixth floors of the seven-story build
ing, corner of Essex and Lincoln streets,
owned by f. l.. Ames. The cause is I'M
known, but the start is described by those
nearest 1t as resembling the bursting of
fire-cracker. The flames spread with in
credible rapidity, and in very few mo-
ments the entire interior of 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 sprinkled with human beings. The
usual avenues of escape were at once cut
off and then began scramble for life
The panic-stricken inmates fed to windows
and roof, Some escaped by climbing down
telegraph poles, others by leaping into
blankets and nets. Several jumped to the
pavement.
The entire fire department of the city
was speedily on the scene, the departments
of Somervile, Cambridge, Newton, Quin-
ey and Brockton arrived later by train and
aid was ordered to be In readiness from
more distant towns. Immense crowds
hocked to the scene, and two companies of
militia were ordered out to assist in keep
ing order
The fire spread rapidly from building TO
building, and despite the heroic efforts of
the entire fire systems of Suffolk county,
was not controlled until the whole square
bounded by Essex street on the north, Lin
coin on the east, Tufts on the south ana
Kingston on the west had been leveled,
also one building north of Essex street ex-
tending along Columbia, three more on the
east side of Lincoln street and one corner
of the United States hotel south Of Tufts
streets, which corner contained the emer-
/ gency hospital.
The scene near the fire was awful.
| While the Ames building was burning
| there were repeated explosions like fire.
works. mingled with the hoarse shouts of
| firemen, the changing and putting of en-
! gines, the crash of falling walls, the rum
bic from hurrying teams and the surging
| of the vast crowds which soon gathered
and rushed TO and fro in every body's way.
| The police service was admirable, the
streets were promptly roped off and in the
| right sections. The employees of many
large stores in the vicinity were on duty
until the fire was under control, ready to
move out goods If necessary. Jordan,
Marsh Il Co. kept 200 men for that pur-
pose. Many proprietors nearest the fire
moved their most valuable merchandise. II.
II. White Il Co. took $250,O00 worth of
silks to their main store. The three largest
buildings burned, the Ames, Lincoln and
the Brown-Durrell, were of modern con-
struction, and built in the most non-com-
bustible style possible for mercantile use.
At least five lives were lost-Louis Red
path, manufacturer; Fred Meadowcroft,
an employee in the Ames building; Charles
+. Odiorne, Vermont native, who was a
well-known travelling shoe salesman; and
Harry Turner, aged Is, and Lewis Cotton,
ageu ~, employees Oh a TuODeT company III
the Ames building.
1t is a curious coincidence that the three
greatest fires in BOston's histOry-those OF
1872, 1889 and lS93-were all rung from
the same box, No. 80. In the fire of 1886
s., 000, 600 worth of property we're destroy
ed and two lives lost, and in the great fire
of 1872 the loss was SOC, 100000 and x
persons persisted.
District Chief Eagan of the fire depart
ment was one of the men who had a won
derful escape. While he was on the roo
of the Brown-Durrell building all means o
escape were cut off. He boldly seized (
large electric cable and began to work hi
way across the street to the building OF
the other side. He became exhausted anC
with hands and feet around the wire hun!
from a height of 100 feet for some time
, until the wire was lowered.