The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-16

before the occupants Of the grand stand
seemed to realize their danger they were
forced TO fee, and with all their haste the
ones Ia the rear narrowly escaped being
caught.
The woodwork was as dry as punk. No
rain has fallen for long time. and as IL
was several minutes before the streams
were i'm effective shape. there was a roar
and nothing was left but ashes, as the
flames swept on through the rafters of the
structure. The left field bleachers were
next ignited.
MEANWHILE the sparks had fallen upon
the house across Berlin street. n narrow
thoroughfare which bounds the basel ball
grounds. These buildings were all of
wood. and they burned as freely as those
within the enclosure.
The wind, which seemed to have inl
creased, drove the fire directly into the
heart of these buildings, and it rushed 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 Wal
pole street. was burning fiercely. The
schooihouse, which stood at the corner of
Walpole and fremont streets, brick
structure, checked the progress OF the
fire only for a moment, and that, too, was
numbered among those consumed.
Across fremont street.
fremont street at this point Is 80 feet
wide. There are wooden buildings on the
other side. The wind carried the flames
across the street, and the buildings on
Walpole street were soon burning. The
firemen In the vicinity turned their at
tention in this direction. but no sooner
had they done 80 than the flames shot up
toward Coventry street. on that side Of
fremont which is nearest the ball
grounds.
They swept on in this direction for three
squares, devouring the homes of the men
and women who were working with fran
tic energy TO get out their household
goods, and even before they could remove
these to safe place the walls would burn
and crumble down.
At 5 o'clock the entire block along the
west side Of fremont street. from Wal
pole TO Burke, was n brilliant mass of
flames, which swept across to the oppo-
site side and soon engulfed the buildings
along the east side 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 tinder.
BY this time the residents Of the tene-
ments for nearly half mile around had
become alarmed and were moving all
their property into the streets and seek
ing for places of safety. So rapidly did
the fire eat its way. however. that those
in the blocks adjoining fremont street in
the burning district did not have time to
save their household effects, aud barely
escaped with their lives.
Frightful Scenes.
The streets were filed with frightened
women and children, poor people who
were trying to save part Of their small
property, and hurryipg firemen and po
licemen. Furniture OF all kinds Uttered
the sidewalks, and the firemen were
greatly hamped by the distractions.
by 6 o'clock the confagratiop had ex
tended from fremont to Cabot street, and
men. Again and again The fire-fghter.
made u stand and poured thousands oi
gallons Of water upon the flames, but
still they swept on, and it seemed as
though nothing coald stop them.
Shortly after o'clock several steamers
arrived from surrounding cities and
towns, and every effort was made to stop
the fire at Cabot street. But in spite OF
the vigorous onslaughts Of the greater
part of the Boston department and the
assistance of the fremen from surround.
ing towns, the fire could not be checked
Continued on Page 3D.