Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-03-11
MWO DI ILL[dnATn.
From All Quarters.
|BOsTOA's Big FIRE.
The Nest Destructive in
Many Years.
FLAMsS Spread WITH Rapidly.
The Fire Originated in the
Ames Building.
ALL AVENUES OF ESCAPE CLOSED.
Men and Women Jump to
Their Deaths.
ALL AVENUES OF ESCAPE CLOSED,

j Their Deaths.
| MILLIONS WE'RE LOST.
Boston Visited With q Fire Tha,
Was Many Times More Severe Than
That OF Thanksgiving Day, 1850
An Entire Square Burned-The Fire
Originated in she Ames Building
Several Persons Killed and a Large
Number IDJured-Many Narrow rs
| capes From Death-District Chief
Easan Saves His Life by Crawling
Hand Over Hand on q Cable From
an Eighth Story OF One Bulldog to
Another-The Damage IL Estimated
at More Than Four Million DOL
lars.
BosToN, March 10-One Of the most de-
structive fres in the history of Boston,
next in magnitude to the famous one of
Thanksgiving day, 1889, and in the same
district, broke out shortly after 4 O'Clock
this afternoon, and before 1t was placed
under control, three hours later, it had
burned over more than a square, had re-
duced to ashes several of the magnificent
new buildings recently completed on the
| territory burned over three and one-half
years ego, had consumed property valued
| by conservative estimate at four and q
half millions of dollars, had been attended
by scenes of panic and distress never be-
fore equalled in the memory of citizens
now living, and had destroyed several,
perhaps many, human lives, and mangled
or MANNED at least thirty persons, some of
whom will die from their injuries.
At 4:25 O'Clock the alarm was rung in
from box No. SO. 1t was soon followed
by second and then general alarm.
The flames broke out In the toy depart
msnt of Horace Partridge & Co., who CO.
cupied the fifth and sixth foors of the
seven story building corner of Essex and
Lincoln streets, owned by F. L. Ames.
The cause is unknown, but the start is de-
scribed by those nearest 1t as resembling
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 floors of the
building were sprinkled with human
beings.
The usual avenues of escape were at once
cut off and then began q scramble for life.
The panic stricken inmates fed 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 mangled, and Others, how many
cannot now be learned, fell back into the
cauldron of flames, or were overcome by
the dense smoke, which suffocated all who
did not speedily escape.
The entire fire department of the city
was speedily on the scene, and the depart
ments of Somerville, Cambridge, Newton,
Quincy and Brockton arrived later by train
and aid was ordered to be in readiness
from moro distant towns.
Fortunately further help was not need
ed Vast crowds of people began at once
to Aock to the tcene, and as a matter of
precaution Governor Russell speedily or
dered two companies of troops under arms
and proceeded to the fire In person, where
he was soon Joined by Mayor Matthews.
The committee of the city council sp
Tod 20 "a Of
large fires was in session, but Immediately
adjourned to the scene of the confagration.
The fire spread rapidly from building to
building, and, despite the heroic efforts of
the entire fire systems of Suffolk county,
was not controlled until the whole square
bounded by Essex street on tho north, Lin
colin on the east. Tufts on the south and
Kingston on the west, had been levelled;
also ono building north of Essex strest,
extending along Columbia, three more on
the east side of Lincoln street and one cor
nsr of the United States hotel, south of
Tufts street, which corner contained the
Emergency hospital.
The principal buildings burned were as
| follows: Ames building, seven stories, cor
ner Essex and Lincoln streets, where the
Ere started; Lincoln building, Eve stories,
on the opposite corner, on the site of the
| old Crystal Palace, occupied by the Singer
Manufacturing company and large num-
Der of other concerns.
Ludlow building. six stories, 1875 Essex
| street. Brown. Durrell building, seven
stories, corner of Essex and Kingston
streets, burned from roof to fourth floor.
stemmed the tide of the north; fve-story
brick, corner Columbia and Essex streets,
occupied by Walter 8. Barnes, paper box
manufacturer and others. Three small
buildings, between the Ames building and
the United States hotel, occupied as dwell
ings in the upper story and by small tired.
ers below.
The confagration as viewed from dig
tanes WAS grand. A dense pail OF black
smoke covered that section of the city,
and a. darkness came on this was lighted
of FIRE and burning embers shot up into
the ebony mass.
Near-to the scene WAS awful While the
Ames building was burning there wore re-
pested explosions like fireworks, mingled
with the hoarse shouts of fremen, the
changing and putting of engines, tho crash
of fallings, the rumble from hurrying
teams, and tho surging of the vast crowds
which soon gathered and rushed to and fro
in sverybody's way.
The police service was admirable, the
streets were promptly roped of and In the
1 right sections. The wires were In the way
as usual and lay In tangled masses, but
the current had been turned of. Tho en-
ployes of many large stores In the vicinity
were on duty until the fire was under CON-
troll, ready to move out goods If necessary.
Jordan, Marsh & Go. kept 200 men for
that purpose. Many proprietors nearest
the IRE moved their most valuable mer-
chandiee, as did also several panicky house.
holders. The three largest buildings
burned, the Ames, Lincoln and Brown
Durrsll, were of modern construction and
built In the most inconbustible style pos.
sible. The Brown-Durrell had front walls
of sandstone and rear walls of brick. The
Ames and Lincoln were much like 1t.
In coming trains from all directions wert
heavily loaded during the early evening
and probably over 90, 600 outsiders helped
| to pack the streets In the vicinity while thu
Ere was in progress. A conservative est
mate Of the total loss is "A, SOC, 900. The
insurance viii amount to about a, 000, 900
Ne attempt viii be made to compile tn,
Insurance. tonight.