Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-03-16
FIRES FIERCE FURY.
A Large Business Block in Boston
Swept Away.
The Property Loss Estimated at $4,000
0OO-Two Persons known tO Have
Been Killed-A Large Number
of Others Were Injured.
A FEARFUL BLAZE.

one of Thanksgiving day, 1888. and in
the same district, broke out shortly
after o'clock Friday afternoon, and
before it was placed under control,
three hours later, had burned over more
than square, had reduced to ashes
several of the magnificent new build
ings recently completed on the terri
tory burned over three and a half
years ago. had consumed property val
ued by a conservative estimate at 81, 500. =
900, had been attended by scenes of panic
and distress never before equaled in
the memory OF citizens now living, and
had destroyed at least three, and per-
haps many, human lives, and mangled
or manned at least thirty persons,
some of whom will die of their injuries.
At 4;2j o'clock the alarm was rung
in from box -. 1t was soon followed
by second and then a general alarm.
The flames broke out in the
toy department of Horace Part
ridge 4 Co., who occupied the fifth and
sixth floors of the Seven-storv 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 as resem-
bling the bursting of frecracker
The flames spread with incredible
rapidity, and in a very few moments
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 sprinllled with human
beings.
The usual avenues of escape were at
once cut of and then began a scram-
Bile for life which sicllened beholders
The panic-stricken inmates fled to win
dows and roof Some escaped by
sliding down telegraph poles, 9TH
ers by leaping into blankets
Several jumped to the pavement, six
mangled, and others-how many can
not now be told--fell back into the
caldron of flames or were overcome by
the dense black smoke, which suffocated
all who did not speedily escape.
The fire spread rapidly from build
ing to building, and despite the heroic
efforts of the entire fire systems of
Suffolk county it was not controlled
until the whole square bounded by
Essex street on the north, Lincoln on
the east ana Kingston on the west had
been leveled; also one building north
of Essex street extending along Column
bia street, three more on the east side
of Lincoln street and one corner of the
United States hotel, south of Tufts
street, which corner contained the
emergency hospital.
Among the losers are the following
firms:
woonsocket Rubber company, Barbour Bros,
thread, Amazeune Machine company, CONSOLE
dated Last company, Merrick Thread company
A Packard s Co, r. NJ. Appleton Hanover
Shoe company, w. C. Rogers, Lariat Manu-
featuring company, Claain Larobe & Co,
United States Rubber company, Redpath
Bros. ) B Thing & Co. j.
A Jaquith Rubber company, Tapley
Machine company, Horace Partridge & Co,
Hathaway, Soule & Harrison J. 5 Fogg. NJ A.
Packard Ewing Bros sanford Bros. Il
Ryan, C. " Spur, Cape Cod Glass company.
Sheures Bros, American Pie company, OTTO
kreismau- y VI Rowland, Singer ManUactm
ing company Walter Barnes
Following Is the list of dead 50 far as
known:
Leouidas Il Redpath, senior partner in the
firm Of Redpath Bros Manufacturing company
died from multiple injuries al the civ hospital
Fred Mead0WCraft - years Old lHmped from
the third story and fen on his head, died on the
way to the hospital unknown man. eremated
The injured 30 far as known number
about thirty.
Hoseman O'Connor OF engine stated
to a reporter that ms engine was the
first at the scene of the conAagration,
and he was sent to the second story Of
the Ames building to help save the
employees Of the Horace Partridge con
Germ Said he:
Il have been in many a tight place, but what
have been through tonight I shall remember
as long as live When ] reached
the second story and entered the room
on the Lincoln street side the sight was most
utiful Men. women ana girls frenzied
with fear, were struggling to reach the win
dows to throw themselves into the street
Taking one at Il time, ] lowered them by the
hands as FAR as ! could, and then dropped them
into the nets spread for them below at
the same time fighting the nad crowd
back from the windows The cries OF the
frightened creatures were heartreuding while
the men seemed TO lose all presence OF mind
and fought Ike demons. I thnl ] succeeded in
lowering some twenty-five or thirty ] should
say that there must have been at least thirty
who never came ont OF the burning building
alive.