Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-01-14

Boston-With burst of flames, fol-
lowed by repeated explosions, the big
theatre building known as the Acad-
emy of Music in Chelsea square burst
Thursday morning, hardly half an hour
after the place had been left by an
audience Of 1900 people.
The whole south side of the square
was wiped out before the flames were
| checked.
The loss is roughly estimated at
100000.
Hundreds were driven into the
| Streets from the burned buildings.
The Park Hotel and the Savoy no.
tel, on each side of the theatre build
ing, were consumed
A big tenement house on Division
street was partially burned. The six
tenements in the building in the rear
Of the Academy of Music were burned
out and dozen business places on the
ground floors of the Academy and ad-
joining buildings were totally de-
stroyed.
The huge masses of flames and Gin
ders flew over the square for long
distance. Several wooden buildings
In the vicinity of Winnisimmet ferry
were set on fire by the flying brands.
The sky was jllumined for over an
hour, and before the flames were un-
der control nearly $4,000 people had
rushed to the scene of the conflagra-
tion.
The Chelsea fire department, under
Chief Spencer, was assisted by en-
gines from Revere. Charlestown, East
Boston and Everett. Every bit of ap-
paratus in Everett was summoned.
The fire. originated in the upper
stories Of the Academy of Music, prob
ably in the gallery section.
Psrolman Morrison of the Chelsea
police was i'll the building at the time.
Before he could rush to the street to
give the alarm the whole auditorium
was in flames.
The scenery room was afire in a
minute, and before the department ar
rived the whole structure was mass
of flames.
Huge rolls OF smoke and flames
burst from the sides and roof of the
building. Big sheets of slate roofing
were sent flying over the square.
Scores of tenants in the nearby ho-
tells were hurried into the street by
the police officers.
AS soon as Chief Spencer arrived he
ordered a general alarm for all the
Chelsea apparatus, and sent des'
patches Immediately to Boston, Ever
ett and Revere for assistance.
Efforts to save the academy were
dispaired of from the first, ana every
bit of apparatus directed its efforts to
saving the surrounding property.
On the north was the Hotel Savoy,
a four.story brick structure, with con-
siderable woodwork In the interior.
The Park hotel on the south is an old
structure, and appeared to be doomed
from the start.
Hardly half an hour after the fire
was discovered the whole interior of
the academy was a mass of ruins. .
Shortly before / o'clock the rear
wall of the academy began to fall
Three men were pinned beneath the
falling debris.
Harry L. Giggey. call ledderman
In attempting to put up ladder in the
rear, did not get away quick enough
and was completely entombed in the
falling brick walls.
The other members Of the ladder,
company succeeded in getting him out,
and he was taken to the Frost hospi-
tai in a serious condition.
The families in the six tenements
in the rear of the building were
aroused from bed and taken to the
knights of Columbus hall. Some OF
the men tried to save some of their
furniture.
The big tenement house on Division
street next caught fire and the police
had to take out the families. Many OF
the children and Babies were taken
out in the patrolmen's arms.