Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-17


BosroN, May 1j.-Some small RoXbury
boys set themselves up as rivals TO Mrs.
O'Learys COW on the Boston base ball
grounds this afternoon and ms result the
city was visited by the biggest fire since
Thanksgiving day, lSo9, and coniiagra-
ton covering greater area than any slnce
the memorable one of le'? w mle the
hnanclal loss Is not circumstance To thaO
OF either OF the above mentioned nres' NeI
IN less than three hours some - acres 0i
'i'1' ~ ' t,.'.,', i,.,,, s,.b,ol
house an engine house. 1Gl wooden build
incs and 13 brick buildings wero burned
and some 1000 families rendered homeless
The loss is conservativclv estimated at from
$500, 600 to $500. 900. although one author
ity puts it at 81 900, 900.
Indications are that the fire was caused by
carelessness and mischief and became be
voud control through stupidity. There
could not have been a better place to begin
hlale The seats in the centre field had
been torn down since last season and the
only 2j cent seats left were those occupying
a triangular position in the extreme right
field When these seats were completed
there were left a great many sbavings and
loose uipcoS of wood These should have
been removed but they were not
X
snot furnished excellent ammunition for a
fire The bovs SET fine fire and getting
scared ran AWAY and TINS the flames vot n
good start An officer was told about the
Ila1a ond tried to mil away soma boards
but thus gaye the flame the start If needed
t. make n confederation. Then il took n
long time to ring in an alarm and to turn
on the water. SO that if seemed all of %
minutes between the first appearance of
smoke and fine onplviug of
me firs' stream ot water
The second of a series of games between
the Bostons and Baltimores had begun be-
fore some 01OO spectators. Nettled by the
thorough defeat of the previous day the
Champions We're playing ball for all they
were worth and running bases in a way that
threatened to carry everything before them.
But two and one half innings had been
played and the Baltinores were to take their
turn at bat IN the last part OF the third IN
nlng, when the contest was interrupted by
hameS winch could be seen rising from the
right field bleachers.
,lor ,L,, lo,,'. l., ,,Ia,.f,,i. ,. &c., ~
shavings, A moment afterward the blaze
had spread to such an extent that the boys
became frightened at the unexpected result
of the bleachers, feeling the warmth under
them, jumped from their seats in wild
amazement and tried to extinguish the
flames by tearing the rubbish and scattering
it as best they could, but the blaze refused
to be extinguished and gathered headway
with persistency which surprised them and
in a few moments was exciting more inter
est than the national game
After five or 10 minutes Of unavaling
work someone suggested calling the fire de
partment The first alarm was rung in at
Al, =. N. This was followed bv "A second
at 4:91. a third at 4:22 and a fourth at 40.
The department was slow in getting to work
and before any one seemed 10 realize the
danger the flames we're beyond control. In
fact it was at first considered a Joke. When
the bleaclery spectators left en- masse and
made for the seats back of first base some
ono in the grand stand shouted: That's an