Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-05-25
A LIGHTED MATCH.
CareleSSneSS the Cause
of Boston's Big Fire.
Relief Fund For the Homeless
Sufferers Coming Rapidly.

The big fire AZ the South End Boston, was
caused by lighted match carelessly dropped
| through crack between the boards which
composed the seats at the ball grounds.
James Laskey, l4-year-old-lad who had
previously told Colonel George Billings that
man had set the fire, was found by Deputy
Fire Marshal Crowley. He was taken to Fire
| Marshal Flynns Office for examination.
There he described where he was when the
fire occurred. and so plausible was his story
that he was taken to the ball grounds and
asked to point out his exact position and to
go over the ground with the officers. so
carefully did he explain what he knew that
the fire marshal was satisfied the mystery had
been solved
He was again brought to the fire marshals
| Office and once more asked to go over the
story. This time 1t was in the presence OF
reporters. II went down to the game Tues
, day afternoon with two other boys They
got In a place where they could see, and |
, went of. looked around for while and
then went down the railroad track where
got on top OF a small shed. then climbed on
the fence and dropped into the grounds.
Then Icrawled underline bleachers In right
field. There were three men and another
boy there when got there. They were look
ing through cracks. | found hole under the
small fence and | laid on my stomach and
looked out. My head was just outside the
small fence which was In front OF the stand.
Il was there about nine minutes when |
heard match scratch, and | looked around
to see IL 1t wasn't some one with bunch OF
cigarettes, for | wanted one. | saw q man in
the seat right over me lighting cigar. When
he got through with the match he dropped 1t
through u crack and II Landed on a strfnger.
Then some one made good play and
looked out the field.
soon began to feel hot. and when |
pI nd "a fnh of Hra hnn
a foot round within few inches of my elbow.
1t seemed to get bigger each moment. | got
up and man was getting over the fence ]
showed the fire to the other fellows who were
with me. Then climbed the fence and went
and told Patrolman Reynolds to get some
water and put the fire out. He got ladder
and looked at the fire for about five minutes.
'The fire was not very big when he got
there. After while he got down, and he
ran to the ladder house on fremont street
and he sent the ladder into an alley. When
the fire got going pretty we'll told the man
who threw the match under the seat that he
had done lots of damage, but he didn't say
word.
The first person told about the match
was Bobby Lowe. Then told Mr.. Bilings
The man who lighted the match was about
IS years old. He had on dark striped pants
and a black coat that was stained with grease
on the right sleeve. His hat was brown and
he had a sandy moustache and dark hair"
Jimmie" said he had been ''bunking OUT
since the fire. because he had fallen into
vault and was afraid to go home.
The flre marshal is satisfied from his in
yestigations thus far that the fire was not set,
but despite this fact will continue the investl-
CATION in a thorough and searching manner.
The Ruggles street Church is continuing Its
good work Of relieving the unfortunates who
lost their bones and personal property. Con
tributions Of money. clothing and groceries
continue to pour in. The amount received In
cash foots up to over S700. Over l40 fami-
lies have been housed by the church, the As
sociated Charities and the Overseers OF the
Poor. The funds received by the Roxbury
Charitable Society amount to 1896.
The citizens committee has received
t5S7. so. The appeal Of Mayor Matthews has
resulted in securing 1851. Many religious
societies and other organizations are assist
ing in the work of providing for the fire suf-
ferers.