Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-22
THE FIRE
In CharIestown Entails
Loss Of 100000.
Philadelphia Nearly Burned
Lying at Dock.
Several Of Crew Have Narrow Escape
The Railroads Losses.

Boston. Feb. 1l.-A loss estimated at
*l.ooo.oUo was caused by a fire at the
fiooSac tunnel docks at ChareStOWn
early Tuesday. Two of the largest
lerS We're burned. the Wilson, Leyland-
urhtS line steamer Philadelphi;;n Was
seriously damaged ana Il large puanti-
~ OF merchandiSe. both on the docks
ana IN the mold of the PhiladelDhian
was ruined or destroyed. Five persons
sustained injuries calling for hospital
attention. They were:
Chief Steward John Fellows of the
i'lli!adelphitn, suffering from exposure
Ill the N'.ter and exhaustion. in Il dam
ser"us condition: Fred c. Cushing of
ondcn. England. seaman on Philadel-
phian. right leg fractured by jumping
l." lighter; John +. Murphy, fireman.
l,n@ine A.. Charlestown. conclusion Of
me brain: Dennis DriscOll. Engine &c.
ChirlestoWn. toes crushed and back in
jured
All the injured men were taken to
the relief hospital where Steward Fell
lows was placed on the dangerous list
during the forenoon. The physicians
stated that the others all would recov-
o..
The members of the fire department
sustained their injuries by falls. The
principal loser is the Boston & Maine
l.. Il. Co. owner of the docks, whose
damage is placed at 100000. The loss
to the Philadelphian is serious, not
only TO the vessel but TO the valua BILE
cargo which was III her hold. The loss
oil merchandise which was on the
docks. it is thought will bring the loss
fully up to 81 ,000, 900. The amount is
partly covered by insurance.
The escape of the city from 4 severe
conhagration is attributed to the fact
that the wind blew the flames out over
the harhor. This also accounts. it is
believed. for the escape Of a big grain
elevator which was at the head of the
docks, IS well as of the adjoining pier
No. j. the rebuilding Of which after a
FIRE. last November. was nearly COM
peted.
Tho steamer DaltCnhall Michigan
and Martello, which wer tide up at
nearby docks also had narrow escapes.
The fire started presumably from
spontaneous combustion in some hay in
pier No. 4. at $50 o'clock, Tuesday
morning. ard swept with terrific speed
through the long shed. Within five
minutes after discovered fully three
quarters Of an acre of covered pier.
well filed with the most inflammab!e
goods, were wrapped in flames.
Blazing brands We're carried across
the harbor to the city proper, but for
tunately away from a large grain ele-
Vator at the head of pier No. 4.
The Philadelphian which arrived. last
Saturday and had discharged about
quarter of her cargo. caught fire within
a few minutes. Her crew who rushed
on deck at the first alarm We're driven
over the side by the great volume of
fame which poured across the decks.
As but few harbor tugs Wer in the
neighborhoOd il was nearly an hour
before she was hauled from her peril
GUS position.
More than half the fire department of
the city was called into service and
fought the lire until dawn before it was
subducd.
1t mas been wears since alarms sum-
,noning so much apparatus to Il single
ire have been sounded and few fires
ever have given the protection depart
rlent harder work. When the first fire
men reached the docks the sheds on
both Piers ; and A were burning furi
ously and the force, which steadily
grew as the engines arrived in response
10 the repeated signals of 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 he CHEZ factor in pre-
venting much grea.cr destruction OF
rrorerty in Charlestovn. The leaping
flames and brands driver out over the
hlrbur lost ;hnir life before reaching
ANYTHING inflanmable o falling into the
water were quickly cuenched.
The steamer phllal, lnhiaH which lay
DC tween the burning piers had small
chances to Escape and even before
stream, from any source could be
brought to bear her decks and upper
works ,wern ablazc. When she first
caught more than half her crew of IS
men were below and the speed with
which the flames aid hold on her for
time made il seem impo,Sinie mat all
could have escaped. Capt. Dickinson
made il his business as soon as possible
to account for al his men and was abb"
10 announce that no one had lost his
life although three hal been injured.
Thc fun extent Of the damage to the
ST steamship cannot yet he t"ld. In addi-
ton to DESTROYING the upper works the
flames reached the hold but how far
they went among ;hc iler' hahdise can
only be ascerta;ned by unloading the
vessel. 1t is thought that practically ali
Of her woodwork was destroyed.
TIE escape % the Daltcnhall is con-
sidered most fortunate as she has or
board very valuable cargo. having
been Practically loaded 10 sail for Rot
terdam The steamer Mlchigan Of the
Warren line at Pier No. . and the
steamer Martallo also were threatened
but they escaped damage.
While the loss is high. The destruction
Of the two piers will not seriously in
terfere with shipping. ample accom-
rodation is afforded ny other docks in
f,bo l1asf Boston for