The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-03-17
GREAT FIRE In BOSTON,
Four Million Dollars Worth OF
Property Burned
several Lives Lost and Many Injured
The Fire Ate Isig Hole m the
business Part Ut
the CITY.

| Rosrox. March ~. One Of the most
destructive fires in the history 81 Bos-
ton. .,cxt i'm magnitude 10 the famous
one of Thanksgiving day, 1859, and in
the same district. broke out shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon. and
before il 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 in the territory
burned three and a half years ago. and
had consumed property valued by n
conservative estimate nj St.50o. 900; had
hdoh attended by scenes OF panic and
distress never before equaled in the
memory of citizens now living. and had
destroyed several. perhaps many, hui
man lives. and mangled or manned mt
least thirty persons. some Of whom will
die of their injuries
At s:25 o'clock the alarm was sent in
from box -. 1t was soon followed by
a second and then general alarm.
The flames broke out in the toy depart
ment Of Horace Partridge 4 Co. who
occupied the fifth and sixth floors of
the seven-story building. corner Of
Essex and Lincoln streets, owned by +.
l.. Amcs.
The cause is at present unknown. but
the start is described by those nearest
it rs resembling the bursting Of fire
cracker. The flames spread with in
credible rapidity, and in very few
moments the entire interior was burn
ing. There We're many employees OF the
Partridge company ut work at the
time. and the other floors were sprin-
Killed. with human beings.
The usual avenues Of escape were
nj once cut f.and then began n scram-
bic for life which siclSened bcholders.
The panic-stricken inmates fled to
windows and roof. Some escaped by
shining down telegraph poles, others
by leaping into blankets and nets
Several jumped to the pavement. six or
eight stories. and were terribly manglcd.
and Others. how many can not now be
told. fell back into the caudron of
flames or were overcome by the dense
black smoke which suffocated all who
did not speedily escape. The entire
fire department Of the city was quickly
on the scene with those from Somer-
vile. Cambridge. Newton. Quincy and
Brockton arriving later by train. For
tunately further help was not needed.
to the scene. and as a matter of precau
ton Gov. RUSSELL ordered two compa-
mics of militia under arms and pro
ceeded To the fire i'm person. where he
was joined by Mayor Matthews. The
fire spread rapidly from building t.
building, and despite the heroic efforts
of the entire fire system of the county.
was not controlled until the whole
square bounded by Essex street on the
north. Lincoln on the east. Tufts on
the south and Kingston on the west
had been levelcd. also one building
north of Essex. extending along Column
street. three on the South side Of Lin
coin street and one corner of the United
states hotel south of Tufts street
which corner contained the Emergency
hospital.
The principal buildisgs burned were
as follows:
Ames building. seven stories. corner
Essex and Lincoln stseets. where the
fire started.
Lincoln institute. five stories. on OPP
po~ite corner. on site Of old Crystal
Palace. occupied by the Singer Manu-
featuring Go. and a large number of
other concerns
Ludlow building. i35 Essex street
ries. corner of Essex and Kingston
streets. burned from roof to fourth floor.
The fireproof walls Of this building
stemrnel the tide of the flames to the
north
Four-ssorv brick building. corner of
Co.umbss and Essex streets. occupied
by Wall 4 Earlcs. paper box manufac-
trrrrs- aod others.
United States hotel. slightly dam
aged.
Yhree-~tory building. between the
AIae> buihiing and the United States
hotel. occupied as n dwelling in the
upper story and by small traders be-
low.
The con fiagration as Viewed from a
distance was grand. A dense pail of
black snake covered thu, part of the
city and as darkness carae on this was
lighted mp by the flames while occa-
siouslly tongues of fire and burning
enbers shot up volcano-}ikc into the
ebony mass.
Near by the scene was awful. While
the Ames building was burning there
WIRE echoed explosions like fireworks
mingled with the hoarsc shouts Of fire.
msn. the changing ard pumping Of en-
gines with the crashing of walls. the
rfrnble from hurrying teams and the
ssrging Of the vast crowd which soon
gathered and rushed to and fro in every
body's way. The police service was adj
nsirable. The streets were promptly
ropssd off and in thu right sections
The wires were a. usual in the way, and
in many places lay ia tangled masses
The current howcvcr. had been turned
off.
The employees Of many large stores
! in the vicinity Were on duty until the
! fire was under control ready 10 no-e
n L. ~ 4.