Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-21
MILLION DOLLAR FIRE
 AT BOSTON DOCKS.
Five Persons Were Seriously Injured Badly Burned Two of the Largest Piers Were Destroyed and the Steamer Philadelphia Was Seriously Damaged Spontaneous Combustion.

Boston, Feb 21-A loss estimated at $1,O00,000 was caused by fire at the Hoosac Tunnel docks at Charlestown early today. Two of the largest piers were burned, the Wi'son-Levland- Furness line steamer Philadelphian was seriously damaged. and a large quantity of merchandise, both on the decks and in the hold of the Philadel- phian was ruined or destroyed. Five persons sustained injuries calling for hosnital attention. They were:
 Chief Steward John W. Fellows of the Philadelphian. of Liverpool, Eng land. suffering from exposure in the water and exhaustion, in a dangerous condition.
 Fred C. Cushing. of London. sea- man on Philade'nhian. right leg frac- tured bv jumping to lighter
 Charles W. Tate. London, England. seaman on Philade]phian. suffering from exnosure fin the water.
 John F. Murphy. fireman. engine A. CharlestOwn. coDcussion of the brain.
 Dennis Driscoll engine 36. Charles town. toes crushed and back injured.
 All the ininred men .were taken to the relief hosnital where Steward Eel during the forenoon. The physicians stated that the others would all re- cover.
 The members of the fire department sustained their injuries Inv falls. The princinal loser is the Boston X Maine railroad comnanv. owners of the docks whose damage is nlaced at S4OO.OOO. The loss to the PhiladeInhian also is serious. not only to the vessel but to the vn'nohle cargo who was in her hold. The loss on merchandise which was Ln the decks. it is thought will bring the loss fully LID to 1000 OOO The amount is partly covered by in- surance.
 The escane of the c'tv from severe ronfla @ration is attributed to the fact that the wind blew the flames out over the harhor. This also accounts 1t is believed. for the escane of a bic grain elevator which was at the head of the decks. as well as of the adioin- ine nier 5. the rebuilding of which. after fire last November was nearly cOmnIetpd.
 The steamers DoItonhall. Michigan, and Narte'lo which were tied m at nearby docks. narrowly escaped dam age
 The fire started. nresnmahIv from snontaneous combustion in some hay on nier i at .20 o'clock this morning. and swent with te~r'fi" snaed thronyh the long shed. Within five minutes afte" it was discovered fully a, quarter of an acre of covered ninr well filed with the most inHamma hIe goods wns wranned in flames. R'a7ing brands were carried arross the harhor to the city proner. hut fortunately away from large elevator at the head of pia~ f.
 The phi,odelnhinn. which arrived last Satnrdav and had dischar~ed ahont quarter of her cargo caught fire within few minutes. Her crew. who rushed on de"'s at the first alarm were driven over tho side hv the great volume of Har,e which nnnred across the decks Pnt few harhor turs we've in tha naiohhorhood. and it was nearly an hour before she was hauled from her nariIous position.
 More than half the fire denartment of tho citv was called into service and forcht the fire until dawn before it was srhdued
 It has been years since alarms sum- morning so much annaratrs to sinr'e fire hove henn sounded hara. and few fires have given the protaotive denart- nent harder work When the first firen,en reached the docks. the sheds on both niers 2 and 1 warn burning furinrslv. and the force. which stead ilv grew as the en"ines arrived in re- sronse to the renaafpd signals on the | fire bells could not hegin to.keep pace with the sweep of the blaze.