The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-04
THIRD
EDITION
3:.15 O'CLOCK.
THREE PIERS
Destroyed by Fire
in Boston.
Large Store Houses and
Freight Sheds Burned.
Valuable Property Fed TO the Flames
This Morning.
Valuable Property Fed 10 the Flames
This Morning.
Cunard Steamer Cephalonia Scorched.
Fifteen Cars of Freight Destroyed.

Boston, Sept 4.-One OF the most dis
astrous fires that has occurred along Bos-
toms water front in years broke out on
the docks at East Boston this morning,
and before it could be controlled de-
stroyed three piers, two large storohouses
freight shed, 10 loaded freight cars,
large quantity of freight, and slightly
damaged number OF dwelling houses.
The loss Is estimated at 1900, 900, partially
insured.
The flames were discovered on the end
of the Boston K Albany Railroad pier,
No. /, in the freight shed known as sold
Round Top" about O'Clock, but an
alarm was not given until $3.50, and at
that hour, the structure, which was a
one-story building, several hundred feet
in length, was a mass of flames. The
steamer Burton discharged a cargo OF
hemp at this pier yesterday, and the en-
tire cargo, with a large quantity of -four
and other freight in the shed, was de-
stroyed. A large amount of freight was
also thrown into the water from the
docks
At 6:18 a second alarm was given, sum-
moning almost the entire Boston fire de-
partment, tho department from Winthrop
and the fire boats. BY this time the fire
had spread TO the adjoining docks, at one
of which the Cunard steamer Cephalonia
was moored. Before the steamship could
be towed out OF danger her sides were
badly scorcbed, one of her life boats was
partially destroyed ana her rigging was
on fire. The sides Of the vessel were also
blazing when she was towed out.
But little of the freight In the big
three-story warehouses, Nos. 4 and 5,
owned by the Boston & Albany Railroad
Company, could be removed before the fire
fastened ON the buildings, and in spite
OF the vigorous fight of the firemen, both
structures were soon almost entirely de-
stroyed.
The loss on the freight stored in them
will be very heavy, but no accurate esti-
mate can yet be made.
Near the storehouses, 10 freight cars,
most of them loaded, were lying on the
tracks, and IL was impossible TO remove
them before they caught fire. Almost all
of them were wholly destroyed with
their contents.
Piers numbered l. 4, and 5, on which
the burned storehouses were built, were
reduced to a mass OF charred timbers
sticking out of the water. A light wind
carried the blazing embers from the con
fiagration into the tenement house dis
trict nearby, and three tenement houses
were partially destroyed and damaged to
the extent of about 5000 Three smaller
dwellings were slightly damaged.
Shortly after O'Clock, the big store
house, No. 8, was fastened upon by
the flames and the fight of the iremen
was directed TO this pont. The south
end of the storehouse was destroyed,
but the main part OF the building was
saved after hard struggle with the
flames.
At 10:30 the fire was under control, but
was still burning, and il cannot be en-
tirely extinguished for some hours.
The smoke was unusually dense and
suffocating and many of the firemen were
overcome but not seriously affected.
nk,.. - Il. a. l.. - L..
1t was at first estimated that the loss
would not exceed $50, 900, but careful
investigation indicates that the damage
will probably amount to $500, 000
In the sheds destroyed were stored 5000
bales of sisal grass, 20 carloads of hay,
nearly 90 carloads OF flour in sacks, 10
carloads OF merchandise, and 1000 bales
OF hemp and wool, all valued at over
s170, 900. The wharves ana buildings do
stroyed were valued at $4,000.