The weekly examiner., 1894-05-19
THE BITRNED GRAND STAND.

John M. Fitzgerald of Engine 37, chilled by exposure; William H. Hearne, Cam bridge, sprain; John T. Kane, South Bos- Lon confusion of side; Timothy F. Meas, Roxbury, wound over eye; Walter J. Burke, South Boston, head injured. Ten persons lying sick in the buildings were also taken to the City hospital. Two cases were considered serious, but these are ap- parently none the worse for being removed.
 A special meeting of the board of alder men was called to take action upon the emergencies of the case and it was voted to use the surplus of LOGO now held by the trustees of the Johnstown flood, and which was collected for the sufferers by the flood at Johnstown, for the relief of the 2, ,OO0 people made homeless by the con fagration. The meeting was adjourned to this morning, when some further means will be devised to aid those in distress
 Prominent insurance men place the loss sat upward of $1, 900, 900 and the insurance lat about two-thirds of the loss.
 The fire started in pile of lumber which was lying under the right field bleachers, directly back of first base, on the ball grounds. A group of boys was seen near the place few minutes before, and at the time the fire was discovered they ran away, Before any of the spectators could follow them it was evident that the fire needed all of their attention. In a moment it had Ieaped up to the seats, and famed by R brisk breeze it swept toward the grand stand
 So rapidly did the flames spread that be- fore the occupants of the grand stand real ized it the fire was upon them, and they were forced to flee with all haste, the ones in the rear narrowly escaping being caught. The woodwork was as dry as punk. No rain has fallen for some time, and it was 1taGI hn at work There was a roar, and there was nothing left but ashes, the flames swept on through the rafters of the struc- ture.
 BIeacIers Burned First.
 The left field bleachers were next ignit ed. Meanwhile the sparks had fallen upon the houses on Berlin street, q narrow thor oughfare which bounds the baseball grounds on the right. These buildings were all of wood and they burned more freely than those within the inclosure.
 The wind, which seemed to have increas- ed, drove the fire directly into the heart of these rattle traps, and the flames surged on toward Fremont street, reaching out to the right and left until the entire square between the ball grounds and Fremont street and extending north from Walpole street to Burke street was mass of burn ing buildings. The Sherwin Kindergarten
 
 Walpole and Fremont streets, 8 brick structure, checked the progress of the fire for only moment, and that, too, was quickly numbered among the structures consumed.
 At 5 o'clock the entire block along the west side of Fremont street from Walpole to Burke was A brilliant mass of flames, which swept across to the opposite side and soon engulfed the buildings for four blocks. The tons of water that had been poured into the buildings from every side apparently had not the slightest effect, and the tongues of flame licked up everything { in their path like so much finder.
 By this time the residents of the tene- rnents for nearly half a mile around had become alarmed and were moving all their property into the streets and seeking for places of safety. So rapidly did the fire eat it's way, however, that those in the blocks adjoining Fremont street did not have time to save their household effects and barely escaped with their lives.
 The streets were filled with frightened women and children, poor people who were trying to save part of their small property and hurrying firemen and police men. :
 Furniture of all kinds Uttered the side, walks and the firemen were greatly ham, pered by the Instructions
 1t is estimated that about 100 buildings have been burned and about 800 families rendered homeless. The fire was an un- 11sually hot one and one of the hardest to fight in the history of the Boston fire de- partment
 Three steamers-Nos. 24, 32 and 36-had to be abandoned because of the heat About 0,SO Chief Webster was forced to retire al- most exhausted, with his face covered with blisters caused by the heat, but he braveIy returned to the battle soon after and urged oA his men. ;ss:
 Alter the confagration was under con-