Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
BIG FIRE NEAR BOSTON
Two Of the Largest Piers Of
Hoosac Tunnel Burned.
THE LOSS ONE MILLION
STEAMER DAMAGED AND MUCH
OF ITS CARGO DESTROYED.
Five Persons Sustained Injuries
Railway Company Principal Loser
-City's Narrow Escape.

A loss estimated at $I,ooo,Ccc
was caused by fire at the Hoosao
Tunnel docks at Charlestown early
today. Two of the largest piers
were burned, the Wilson-Leylan1-
Furness Line steamer Philade1pf1ian
was seriously damaged, and larg,
quantity of merchandise, both on
the docks and in the hold of the
Philadelphian, was ruined or de
stroyed. Five persons sustained in
juries.
BOSTON, Mass. February 21-A large
double pier, Nos. and of the Hoosac
tunnel docks, in Charlestown, together with
considerable valuable freight, was COM
pletely destroyed by fire early today, and
the steamer Philadelphian of the Furness-
Leyland line, from which the crew fled so
hastily that three were injured, was hauled
into the stream with her upper works
ablaze. The loss to the Boston and Maine
Railroad Company, the owner of the docks.
is estimated at fully 100000. while the
damage to the Philadelphian and merchan-
disc will, it is thought, bring the total loss
up to about million dollars
The adjoining pier, No. 3, which was
burned last November and which was be-
ing rebuilt, was slightly damaged while
the steamer Daltonhall, on the opposite
side of the pier from the Philadelphia,
backed out under her own steam, practi-
cally uninjured.
The Injured. -'..-
The following We're injured:
Chief Steward John w. Fellows of the
Philadelphian, of Liverpool, England; suf-
fering from exposure in the water and ex-
haustion; in a dangerous condition.
Fred c. Gushing of London, England, sea-
man on Philadelphian; right leg fractured
by jumping to lighter.
Charles W. Tate, London, England, sea-
man on Philadelphian; suffering from ex-
poSure in the water
John F. Murphy, fireman, engine A,
Charlestown; concussien of the brain.
Dennis Driscoll, engine 80, CharleStoWn;
toes crushed and back injured.
All the injured men were taken to the re-
lief hospital, where the condition of the
steward, Fellows, was pronounced danger
Gus. The physicians 1 stated ,re lne of ofhGPs tbs
fire department sustained their injuries in
falls.
Chief Steward Fellows of the Phladel-
nh
in an exhausted condition, while one OF
the firemen of the steamer Jumped TO the
deck of a nearby lighter ana had les
broken Captain Dickinson and ms Wl1e
were taken off by the fireboat, atter they
had been driven to the stern of the burn-
ing steamer and were about to jump INTO
the harbor
How Fire Started.
The fire started presumably from spon-
taneous combustion in some hay on pier
No. d. at 80 o'clock this morning, ana
swept with terrific speed through the long
she'd Within five minutes after 1t was dis
covered fully a quarter of an acre or COW
cred pier, well filled with the most infiam-
mable goods, was wrapped IN names.
Blazing brands were carried across the
harbor to the city proper, but fortunately
away from a large gram elevator al Tic
head of pier No. 4.
The Philadelphia, which arrived last sat
urday from Liverpool and had discharged
about a quarter of her cargo, causht Hre
within a few minutes Her crew, VINO
rushed on deck at the first alarm, were
driven over the side by the great volume
of fame which poured across the decks.
But few harbor tugs were in the neighbor-
hood and it was nearly an hour before she
was hauled from her perilous position.
More than half the fire department OF
the city was called into service and fought
the fire until dawn before 1t was suDdued.
An Exceptional Fire.
1t has been years since alarms summon
ing so much apparatus to single fire have
been sounded here and few fires ever have
given the department harder work. When
the first firemen reached the docks the sheds
on both piers 3 and were burning furi-
ously, and the force. which steadily grew
as the engines arrived in response to the
repeated signals on the fire bells, could
not begin to keep pace with the sweep OF
the blaze.
The direction of the wind is believed to
have been the chief factor in preventing a
much greater destruction of property in
CharleStOwn.
The steamer Philadelphfan, which lay be-
tween the burning piers, had small chance
to escape, and even before stream from
any source could be brought to bear, her
decks and upper works were ablaZe. When
she first caught more than half of her crew
of forty-eight men were below, and the
speed with which the flames laid hold on
her for a time made 1t seem impossible that
leaping overheard. Others succeeded in
lowering boat. although the davits be-
came red hot while they were doing it.
Captains Wife Escaped.
The captains wife was taken on board
the fire boat Captain Dickinson accounted
for all his men and announced that no one
had lost his life, although three had been
injured. The full extent of the damage to
the steamship and cargo cannot be told
until the vessel is unloaded.
The escape of the Daltonhall is considered
most fortunate. as she has on board a very
valuable cargo, having been practically
loaded to sail today for Rotterdam. The
steamer Michigan of the Warren line and
the steamer Martello also were threatened,
but they escaped damage.
While the property loss is severe, the de-
struction OF the two piers will not seriously
interfere with shipping. The loss to the
Boston and Maine railroad is covered by
insurance. Other losers also are insured
Railway Principal Loser.
The principal loser is the Boston &. Maine
Railroad Company, owner of the docks,
whose damage Is placed at $40O,OOO The
loss to the Philadelphian also is serious,
not only to the vessel, but to the valuable
cargo which was in her hold The loss on
merchandise which was on the docks, 1t Is
thought, will bring the loss fully up to ST..
100000. The amount Is partly covered by
insurance.
& The escape OF the city from a severe con-
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