The Washington herald., 1908-04-14

Boston April $50 rapidly has aid
come TO tie l0.ooO people made homeless
and penniless. in many instances. by the
confagration which swept through the
city OF Chelsea yesterday. they are now
all assured OF food. clothing, a roof over
their heads, and probably some money
with which to start anew.
With the carting of food. tents. and
blankets into the stricken city during the
night. the dazed residents began to pluck
up courage. When word came this aft
ernoon that monetary assistance would
soon be at hand, some OF them even
smiled.
The city is still under military guard.
One has TO show credentials before he is
allowed to pass the lines Of soldiers sta
toned at every entrance. Residents were
obliged to go TO Col. Nutter, Of the Coast
Artillery. ana secure passes before they
could leave the city limits with assur-
anee of being able to return to the To-
ealities where their homes formerly
stood.
Passes Exaeted of All.
The guard of marines at the bridge
leading from Charlestown was with,
drawn to-day. Some wagons were per-
mitted to pass along Broadway. With
out the special pass issued by Col. Nut
ter. even reporters wearing fire badges
were held up when they attempted to go
into the side streets Of the burned dis
trict
Tonight the city is again in darkness.
Fresh squads OF soldiers, with their rifles
containing ball cartridges, took the places
of their comrades who were on duty dur-
/ ing the day and are prepared TO shoot
down any one seen unlawfully pr0wling
about the side streets.
Most of the people v ho lost their homes
have been taken in by more fortunate
/ residents. Others are housed ia ii few
schools and churches ieft standing a
number Of men are camping in The parks
ia militia tents. Food was served Al diG-
ferent points 20 the needy. and clothing
also was distributed to the unfortunstes
100000 Already Subscribed.
Contributions for The stricken began
pouring in to the Office Of Lee Higginson
! & Co. carly to-day. By night fully Sl00.-
/ 600 had been received.
/ This firm of bankers was appointed by
Acting Gov. Draper custodian of the
fund. The money is TO be distributed by
the citizens relief committee named by
Gov Draper. following a meeting at the
I
ent quickly subscribed $1,000
Meantime, relief committee had been
organized in Chelsea by Mayor Beck. APP
peal for aid was scattered broadcast over
| the country.
Mayor Beck said that in his opinion
81 .000. o00 was needed to relieve the
runering. He requested that contTibu-
tions be forwarded TO City Treasurer
Frost.
Governor Objects to Appeal.
When the State officials heard Of this
appeal Gov. Draper endeavored TO have
the Chelsea appeal Withdrawn. but
was unsuccessful. He wanted all con-
tributions sent TO the treasurer ap-
pointed by him, and said he thought
! Massachusetts was wei able to provide
| all necessary relief without asking aid
OF other States.
Later IL was agreed that all funds
should be sent 10 the State relief body.
/ An order was introduced in the leg
/ islature this afternoon calling for an
appropriation of $1,000 for the suf-
ferers Cities in the neighborhOod OF
Boston made liberal contributions, that
Of Lynn being $25000. The Chelsea
city government appropriated $4,000.
The legislature viii be asked 10 al
| low Chelsea TO make a loan OF $500, 600.
with which TO replace some Of its
burned public buildings.
Pesthouse Alone Escapes.
\ survey of the situation shows that
the total property loss is $5,575,000. on
which there was insurance Of s.. 500, 600.
| The loss is divided as follows:
Churches and schools 500
Public buildings. $500
Factories, business blocks and contents-..- s5eo
Dwelling houses. Si5eeo
Totals 5l5tes
The insurance is divided among about
eighty companies.
walk through the district showed the
thoroughness which the fire ate up every
structure in its path. Starting from the
rubbish dump on the northwestern side
of the city the faples spread out on each
side and swe ag everything before
them ate throuel the wooden tenementg
| TO Broadway. wrecked the brick and
stone buildings there. climbed Mount
Bellingbam, where all the finest resi-
dences were located. and leaving them in
| smoking heaps reached Eastern avenue
I a 80 fz4,
Property Less, s5,5T5,000.
The IRE also destroyed everything
around the base OF Mount Bellingham and
made its way to the bank Of Chelsea
Creek. where more tenements and
factories fell before it. The only build
ing in the path Of the fire that escaped
unscathed was the little frame pesthGuss
that stands on Eastern avenue.
The burned territory comprises abouI
$50 scres The surprising feature of II
was ths eiean-sweep made. To-day it was
smoking brown patch dotted with
blackened trees. with here and there a
portion OF q brick wall still standing.
/ SO fierce was the heat that the curb
stones in the residence section crumbled
away Brass beGsteads, taken into the
4 streets for safety, were melted into
shapeless masse sof metal. Even the
business blocks. and there were some of
/ fair height. had crumbed before the fiery
blast and tumbled into the cellars.
Feb bricks fell into the streets. The
fremen had little to do to-day IN the way
% pulling down walls.