Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-03-16
HUNGRY FLAMES
Make a 81, 500, 600 Lunch i'm the
Heart Of Boston.
One of the Worst Fires in the
City's History.

VI gOPAG tnC AlAuC
in Boston's Fire History the Overhead
Wire System Proves n Means of Saving
Life-List Of the Victims.
Boston, March ia fire which
brings to mind the memorable conhagra-
ton which laid acres of structures in
ashes on Thanksgiving day, 1888, broke
out at o'clock Friday evening.
The fire was caused by an explosion
of fireworks in the factory of Horace
Partridge, a building owned by F. L.
Ames, at the corner of Lincoln and Es-
sex streets. Several explosions followed
the first and the fire spread with alarm
ing rapidity. ...
The old New Colony passenger depot,
now used by express companies, was
soon in flames, and the fire was eating
rapidly to the north and west, toward
Washington street. 1t got beyond the
control of the fire department in a. very
few minutes and kilograms were sent to
the neighboring cities for help. To
this there was liberal response.
Militia Ordered Out.
The fire assumed such dimensions
that Governor Russell ordered out the
First and Ninth regiments of the ma
tional guards to preserve order and es-
tablish fire lines.
Many burned and injured people were
taken into the emergency hospital, in
the United States hotel block, on Beach
street, hut that building caught fire,
adding to the scene of horror. People
became frenzied when the flames were
scene to leap to the emergency hospital.
A more sorrowing spectacle ean not be
imagined and it required lightninglike
efforts to take out the sick and injured.
AS the facts of the fire spread through
the city the excitement became intense,
and the multitudes which congregated
outside the fire lines became almost
frantic.
AS the fire continued its onward
march, it seemed as if the disasters of
recent years were about to be eclipsed.
Every one pitied the firemen as they
dragged their lines along the streets
and in the face of roasting flames raised
their ladders. So Intellectual did their
best efforts seem, that it looked like a
waste of energy to battle with so irwin
cible an enemy.
All the telephone and electric light
wires in the vicinity of the burned dis
trict were destroyed, and there was nc
communication with the district in that
way.
Only three persons are known to have
lost their lives. The injured will mum
Der more than score.
Every street in the heart of the fire
district is covered with heap of the
widest mass of destruction.
The principal business connected il
! Lincoln street, at the newly built-uI
end, was that of the wholesale leather
trade.
The fire was under control at 7:3(
o'clock, when the out-of-town depart.
ments arrived to relieve the wornout
men of the home department. The
entire city brigade had been doing
duty for hours in the hardest fought
battle with flames ever seen in Boston
The board of aldermen was hastily
summoned to meet at the city hall tc
take such action as might be necessary
This was the third in the series OF
Boston's great fires.
The Property Loss.
The property loss is estimated at $4,.
100000. A little over $1,000,000 is or
buildings and the remainder on stock
This is covered by an insurance within
$400, 900 of the total loss.
A Thrilling Incident.
One of the most thrilling incidents
ever seen was the perilous attempt OF
District Chief Egan to escape from the
roof of a tall building on Kingston
street to the structure on the Other
side. A heavy wire cable spanned the
thoroughfare, and, trusting himself tc
it, the chief started toward his enly
goal of safety. Borne down by his
weight the wire bellied in the middle
and when he reached the center he
could go no farther. There he hung 81
feet in the air with the stone street
beneath him. It was certain death tc
drop, and he could not go either way
A great multitude gathered in the
street. At every moment it seemed az
though his strength must fail; that he
must be obliged to loosen his hold and
be dashed to pieces.
At last half dozen men appeared on
the roof for which the chief had started.
They made a loop in a rope, which was
passed around the cable, and the looI
was passed toward him. When the
loop reached him he dared not loosen
his hold on the wire to grasp it. Final
ly the rope was drawn back and at.
tached to the wire, which was then cut
and with its human freight, was slowly
and carefully lowered. The chief grad.
ually came nearer and nearer the
ground. As the wire reached the ground
the chief, exhausted in muscle and
nerve, was seized by eager hands and
hurried away. followed by shout ol
joy from the crowd.
This was the first time in the fire his
tory of Boston that the system of wires
overhead has resulted in the saving oi
a life.
NO MORE SkY-SCRAPERS.
| nrH.. HNn.s