Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-20
Threatening Blaze in Bust
ness Heart Of Boston.
Several Business Houses Con-
sumed at Mansfield.
Bucket Brigade Stops Threatening
Fire at Carolina, R.. !.

Boston, Dec. ia fire of threatening
proportions in one of the worst So
called nests" of the business section
Of the city. caused heavy damage IN
the district bounded by fremont,
Bromfleld, Washington and Winter
streets. here Wednesday, and although
the flames were confined practically
to a portion of one structure, the Stu
do building, 40 to ZIG fremont street.
In which the fire started, the Christmas
trade was for a time paralyzed.
The store on the lower floor occupi-
cd by furniture firm. was the place OF
origin of the blaze and the flames soon
spread through to the roof. Across
the narrow alley from the original To-
cation of the blaze was the rear of
the Orpheum thcater, formerly BOStOn'S
famous music hall. Beside the thea
ter is the largest wholesale and retail
clothing store of the Talbot Co, num-
bered 1896 TO 403 Washington street.
Both these buildings caught fire on the
roof but the flames did inconsiderable
damage, although both structures suf-
fered from water.
The historic Bromfield street Metho-
dist church and the Wesleyan building,
which runs back from Bromfield street
i. TO the Studio building, escaped DAM
age. 't, -.
The fact that the firemen succeeded
in gaining the upper hand without
more serious property damage is con-
sidered remarkable, especially as the
narrow alley in which they had to
work cramped them while freezing
temperature caused them to become
coated with icc and made the ladders
and hose slippery. The fire burned for
about two hours and IL half before
Chief Mullen decided it was under cor
troll.
A rough estimate of the loss placed
the total at $4,000 including that of
Eldridgc Il Peabody, furniture, at S1a.-
600; rTalbot Co., $4,000; occupants of
f. studios including artists. architects. the
Hub Magazine Co. and others $4,000
Other losses are estimated at $4,000.
Christmas trade in the fire district
particularly on Broomfeld street. which
is known as "picture row." and the art
store district was greatly interrupted
for several hours and considerable loss
was suffered on that account. The vast
volume of water which WAS poured on
the burning building ran into adjoining
structures and caused some damage to
the Easements Considerable water
flowed into the basement of tine Brook
field Street Methodist church. but 9TH
erwisc 10 damage was caused to this
edifice, which is one of the landmarks
of Boston.
The firemen attributed the great
Roadway OF the flames to the fact that
many of, the hydrantS We're found to be
frozen when the engines arrived at the
scene. For a time the fire was fought
with chemical engines, and members OF
the fire companies who were already in
their places on ladders against the
buildings were forced to await until
hydrants could be thawed out and wat
or obtained.
Several artists slept in their studios
in the building but all escaped safely
before the flames cut off their exit.
Great columns of yellow smoke float
cd skyward from the burning build
ini, and was viewed by many thousands
of people who were on their way to
work. II is estimated the loss is about
three quarters covered by insurance.