Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-11

BOsTON, March 1O.-One Of the most
destructive fires ia the history OF Bos-
ton, next In magnitude 10 the famous
one Of THANKSGIVING day, 1SSS, and 10
the same district, broke out shortly az
ter four o'clock this afternoon, and be-
fore IL was placed under control, three
hodrs later, had burned over more than
a square, had reduced % ashes several
of the magnificent new buildings re-
Gently completed on the territory burned
over three aud a half years ago, nad
consumed property valued by con-
servative estimate az four and One-hau
millions Of dollars, had been attended
by scenes Of panic und distress never
before ,eQualled in the memory or citl-
zens now living, and had destroyed sew
eral, perhaps many, human lives and
mangled or manned at least thirty per-
sons, some Of whom viii die OF their In
jUrieS.
AT 4:35 o'clock the alarm was rung in
from box 50. It was soon followed by a
general alarm. The flames broke out
In the toy department Of Horace Part
ridge & Co., who occupied the ttth 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 described by those nearest
10 as resembling the bursting Of fire
cracker. The flames spread with Ia
Incredible rapidity and in a very few
moments the entire interior OF the
building was burning. There was
many employees Of the Partridge Com
pany az work at the time aud the other
floors Of the building were sprinkled
with human beings.
The usual avenues OF escape were at
once cut of, and then began a scramble
for life which sickened beholdsrs. The
panic stricken inmates fled 70 windows
aud roof. Some escaped by sliding
down telegraph poles, others by leaDing
into blankets and nets. Several jumped
10 the pavement, six or eight stories,
and were terribly mangled, and others,
how many cannot be told, fell back into
the eauldron OF flames or were over
come by the dense black smoke which
suTocated all who did not speedily
escape.
The entire fire department Of the city
was soon on the scene, the departments
OF SomerviHe, Cambridge, Newton,
Quincy and BrOcktOn arrived later by
train and aid was requested 70 be Ia
readiness from more distant cities.
Vast crowds Of people began at once
TO flock 70 the scene and as a matter or
precaution Governor Russell speedily
ordered two companies Of MALTA under
arms and proceeded 20 the ire in per-
son. where he was soon Joined by May
or Matthews.
The fire spread rapidly from building
TO building. aud despite the heroic ei-
forts OF the entire fire systems OF sur
folk county, was not controlled until
the whole square bounded by Essex on
the north, Lincoln on the east, Tufts on
the south, and Kingston on the west,
had been leveled; also one buildidg
north OF Essex street, extending along
Columbia 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.
The principal buildings burned we're
as follows: Ames building, seven
stories, corner Essex and Lincoln
streets where FIRE started. The build
tDr was occupied by the following
firms: First floor, WOOnsOcket Rubber
Company, Barbour Bros, thread stock,
A. Mazenne Machine Company, COnSoli-
dated Last Company; second floor, Mer-
rick Thread Company; third floor, A.
Packard Il Co, r. NJ, Apple
ton. Hanover Shoe Company,
w. c. Rogers, Lariat Manufacturing
Company, Ciafin, LarObe Il Co., United
States Rubber Company; fourth hoor,
Red path Bros, boots and shoes, :. b.
Thing & Co., J. A. Jacquith Rubber
Company; fifth floor, Tapley Machine
Company; sixth floor, Horace Partridge
& Co, fancy goods; basement
Hathaway, SJule X Harrington,
boots and SHOES, J. ). FOgg,
boots and shoes, NJ. A. Pickard,
various Offices. Metropolitan Sewerage
Company and Testing Department, Ew-
ing Bros, Sanford Bros, blankets; j.
+. RYAN, hair dresser supply; G.. w.
Spur, veneerS; Cape. Cod Glass Com
pany, Sheur Bros, fancy leather and
and plush goods; American Pin COmpa-
nv. Emigh 4 Lebeil, collars and cuffs;
Otto Kreismhn, boots and shoots; ID. W.
Rowland, liver pills.
Lincoln building, on opposite corner,
on site OF old Crystal Palace, occupied
By the Singer Manufacturing Company
and a large number Of other concerns.
Ludlow building, six stories, l35 EsseN
street, Brown Durrell building, sew
en- storses, corner Essex and
Kingston streets, burned from roof
TO the fourth tloor; the fire proof
walls of this building stemmed the tide
OF flames to the north. Five-stOry
brick building, corner of Columbia and
Essex streets, occupied by Walter ).
Barnes, paper box manufacturers and
others. United States Hotel, slightly
damaged.
The con,fagrRtiOn as viewed from
distance was grand, while in the imme-
date vicinity the scene was awful.
While the Ames building was burning
there wefe repeated explosions
like fireworks mingled with
the hOarse shouts OF fremen,
the Changing and pAfing Of engines. the
crash Of falling wallis. the rumble from
hurrying teams and be surging of the
vast crowds which saOn gathered and
rushed to and fro in eAerybOdy's way.
II would be impossible TO narrate al
the events OF this exciting night There