The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-11
A BIG FIRE IN BOSTON.
The Losses Aggregate Four Millions
and Half and Several
Lives.
Thirty Porsons Mangled and
Manned By Jumping to
Avoid the Flames.
Scenes of Panic and Distress Never
Equaied in Boston-Corner of Ea-
sex and Lincoln Streets.

EquaIed in Boston-Cornsr of Es-
sex and Lincoln Streets.
| BOSTON, March i0.--One Of the most de-
structve fres in the history of Boston
broke out shortly after four o'clock this af-
ternoon, and before il WAS placed under
control. three hours later, had burned over
more than quarter of n square; reducing
to asbsn several magnificent new buildings
recently completed on the territory burned
over three and half years ago. 1t con-
sumed property valued, by conservative es-
innate, at "a. 800 600, and was attended by
scenes of panic and distreas mover before
| equaIed here; destroyed several, perhaps
many, human lives, and manRled or manned
at least thirty persons. some Of whom will
die OF their injuries.
The flames broke out in the toy depart
ment OF Horace Partridge d Co., who oc-
oupied the fifth and sixth [oors OF tho
seven story building on tho corner of Essex
end Lincoln streets. owned by f. L. Ames.
Tho CAUSE is at present unknown. but the
story OF those nearest aives it as resembling
the bursting OF a hug fire cracker. The
| flames spread with incredible rapidity and
in very few moments the entire interior
Of the building was burning.
| There were many employees at work at
the time, and the other floors of the build
ing were spriukled with human beings.
The usual avenues of escape were at once
cut off, and then began scramble for life
| which sickened beholders. Tho panic
stricken inms.es fed to windows and roofs,
some escaped by aiding down telegraph
poles, others by leaping into blsnksts.
Several jumped to the pavement six or
eight stories. and were terribly mxnRled,
fell back into the cauldron of flames or
we're overcome by the dense black smoke,
which sutfocated all who did not speedily
escape.
The entire fire department OF the city was
speedily on the scene. The departments OF
Summerville. Cambridge Newton and
Brockton arrived later by train. and aid
was requested to be in readiness from more
distant cities. Fortunately further help
was not needed. Vast crowds OF people be-
gan at once to flock to the scene and as a
matter of precaution Gov. Russell ordered
out two companies OF militia. Tho frs
spread rapidly and despite the efforts of
the entire fire system of Suffolk county il
was not controlled until the whole square
was levsled, and also five buildings on an
other street. The principal buildings
burned and the occupants thereof are a.
| follows:
The Ames building, occupied by the
Woonsocket Rubber company; Barbour
Brothers. thread; Amazume Machine COM
pany; Consolidated Glass company; Mer-
rick Thread company; A. Packard & Co;
r. w. Appleton; Hanover Shoe company;
| Lariat Manufacturing company; Clafin,
Larobe Co.; U. S. Rubber company;
Redpath Bros, boots and shoes; s. 3.
Thing Il Co.; JRcquith Rubber company;
Tspley MaShine company; Horace Part
ridge " Co.; Hathaway, Soule & Harrison;
Cape Cod Glass company: American Wire
company. anc many others. The Lincoln
building, five stories, opposite, occu-
pied by the Singer Manufacturing
company and many other concerns. Tho
Ludlow building. six stories. Essex street;
Brown Durell building. seven stories. Essex
and Kingston streets. All the concerns in
these two buildings were burned out. The
fve-story building. Columbia and Essex
streets. occupied by Walter =. Barles, paper
box manufacturer. and others. The United
States hotel, sligktly damaged. Tires
! small buildings. occupied as dwellings and
stores were also burned.
1t would be impossible to nsrrate all the
exciting scenes attending the confaRration
Hoseman O'Connor, in relating the story
| of the fire. said he went to the second
story of the Ames building and found a
struggling mass of men and women trying
to throw themselves out of the windows.
He beat them back and opening a window
took them one ct a time, dropping them
into a net below. He succeeded in drop
ping thirty. and says there were as many
more never came out Of the building alive.
The manager of the Lariat Manufacture
ing company saws six OF their employees ars
missing. The widest kind of stories are
in circulation regarding the loss OF life and
general extent Of the disaster. The great
est confusion and excitement prevails. how
ever. and it il impossible to get authentic
| details tonight.
| i,,ta al yski osAo La
the fire. The one which attracted the
most attention perhaps was that Of man
appearing in the eighth story Of the Dur
reli building when the fro was at its
height He seized a large insulat-
the opposite building. hand over hand.
amid intense and breathless suspense on
the part Of spectators. He soon weakened.
however, and threw both legs over the
cable and thus worked his way tediously.
while life-saving nets were hold under him
by police and tiremen, and the spectators
shouted to tho imperilled uan to drop. Ho
| reached midway between the two build
ines. and as the smoke cleared away hia
white face was recognized AZ that of Chief
John Pagan. out for the frat time since
suffering q fracture of his COLLAR bons.
A squad Of men quickly mounted the
building for which hs was heading and
loosening the cablo gradually lowered ID
till II hook and ladder company rescued ths
| man ana CArriel ulm 10 piACo OF bateSy.
| George McCallan told OF seeing four men
and women clinginG to the stone work six
stories up. 1t was impossible to reach
| them and one by one they dropped, strik-
ing with siokening thud on the frozen
ground.
The following victims were taken to tho
hospital dead: An unknown man aged
about 25. supposed to be Fred Meadow
craft; Robert j. Restaux. aged %; ladder
man too badly burned to be identified;
Leonidss II. Redpath. mer chant.
Injured: John j. sullivan. enginemau.
seriously: John Sheppard. Charles j. Well
ingworthJ L. Dennison, Michael Harms.
internal; Ada Perrin. seriously; Daniel Il.
Murray. Paul Murray. BENZ. Herd and
Rich. members Of steamer company No. /;
Michael Deylin, John +. Ryan. James
Ryan. A. w. Redpath. Mary Flynn. c. j.
WellinGworth. Geo. L. Rutfin, Charleu
Gaskina. Matilda richards, John J. Lyons;
Compton Twess. driver of She hose car
riaKe.
| Murdered an lnOffensiye Lad.