The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-07
Memorable Week in Bay
State History.
LIFE AND PROPERTY LOST
Opened With a Big Blizzard and
Closed With Fire.
EXPERIENCES AT GLOUCESTER.

Boston, Feb 1.-The past week will
undoubtedly go down into history as one
OF the most disastrous to life and prop
erty that has ever been experienced in
eastern Massachusetts, Fire and storm
seem to have Wed with each other in
wiping out human life and the destruc-
ton of that which human hands have
raised. 1t is seldom that the daily press
has had TO chronicle so much suffering
and record 90 large loss in such short
space of time and within such limited
confines. Beginning with Sunday last
fires I'm this city and In neighboring COM
munities have caused property loss OF
many thousands.
The fearful blizz~rd OF Monday night
and Tuesday morning has already be-
come one of the historic storms OF the
century. 1t was directly responsible for
the death of 35 hardy seamen and the
loss OF nearly score OF staunch vessels.
1t paralyzed not only all telegraphic
and telephone communication between
this city and the outside world. but set
a seal on steaI-'. electric and horse rail-
roads and stopped all business in cities
within a radius of 40 miles of Boston for
many hours.
OF the disasters by sea, the coast
about Gloucester seems 10 have been the
scene OF a greater portion Of the wrecks
and OF the loss Of life. over 30 men alone
went down in the terrible surges. or
were dashed to their death on the rocks
at the entrance OF Gloucester harbor
while half a dozer more were swept from
the decks of various craft which were
hna rHa hx,v f.
Vhusetts bay. The subsequent effects OF
the storm were almost as terrible as the
fearful work which il wrought while II
lasted.
Six accidents on railroads must in a
measure at least be credited to the storm
and, while most fortunately none OF
them resulted in death TO those persons
who were involved yet no less than 100
viii carry to their graves the marks of
the injuries they then received. During
the week crimes of nearly every nature
have been rampant. while suicide by
both sexes has prevailed TO an unpre-
cedented extent.
Finally the week closed with the ter
rlble death OF six brave firemen and the
injury of four others while at their post
OF duty at a fire i'm a five-story building i'm
this city. The men of engine were on
the fourth floor. having entered by a
window, while those OF 3S and 80. which
Is double company. were on the sec
ond floor. Suddenly rear section of the
roof collapsed. carrying down the floors
to the basement and burying the fire
men beneath the wreck. The crash sent
up cloud OF smoke and sparks. and
scattered burning fragments in every di.
rection. In few moments the news
was spread broadcast that the men
were buried under the ruins.
The exact number Of victims could not
be determined, as il was not known how
many were on the spot. but hasty can
vass OF the members OF the fire depart.
ment showed that 10 men were miss.
ing. among them being District Chief
Esan, who led the men on the second
floor. Captain Garrity of engine I and
Captain Victory OF engines IS and 80.
The fire was still raging. but the COM
bined efforts OF the firemen were direct
ed towards the wreckage under which
the men had been caught. The progress
or the flames was checked in that di-
rection, and finally they were under
control. hut IL was more than an hour
and half after the accident occurred be.
fore the work OF removing the debris
could be begun.
Meanwhile 1t had become apparent to
those who were trying to reach the i'm
prisoned men that at least some Of them
were alive, for their voices could be
heard through the mass OF debris. The
rescuers worked with the greatest speed
possible, and soon had reached four OF
the men Of engine T. including Captain
Garrity, Thomas Conway. r. ]. Doherty
and Edward Shea. The men. although
seriously injured, were still alive. and
they were at once removed TO the Massa-
chusetts general hospital. Mr.. Victory
and MIR. Egan were pulled out alive. but
soon succumbed. Life was extinct when
the bodies OF the other four were re-
covered. Never since its organization
has the Boston fire department met so
severe loss. and today the heart OF
every member Is heavy with grief.
Coming generations may see more ap-
palling Disasters both on land and sea.
but II seems safe 90 believe that Il will
be many years before 30 much suffering
and 40 much actual loss are crowded into
30 short space OF time