Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-14
MASSACHUSETTS CITY HAEr %
sTRoYED BY SUNDAY BLAZE
THAT CAUSES PROPERTY LOSS
OF FIVE MILLION
10000 PEOPLE
LEFT HOMELESS
TOWN is NOW UNDER MILITIA
GUARD AND PLANS ARE BEING
MADE TO GIVE INSTANT AID TO
DESTITUTE RESIDENTS.

Washington, D. c., April 13.-
President Roosevelt has sent
message Of sympathy to the may
or OF Chelsea, at the same time
Offering any necessary assistance
from the army or navy for the
stricken city.
Boston, April 13. - Mayor
Beck Of Chelsea today issued an
appeal for outside aid. Subscrip-
tions may be sent to Thomas q.
Frost, treasurer of the relief
committee.
Later Acting Governor Draper
today announced the funds for
the relief OF Chelsea can and will
be raised in Massachusetts.
Boston, April 13. - Although more
than ten thousand people were made
homeless and hundreds of buildings
were destroyed by the fire which yes.
terday wiped out a third of the neigh.
boring city of Chelsea, a careful estt
mate by insurance adjusters today
places the property loss at approx
mately $5,O00,000, on which there was
insurance of $3,O00,OOO. The relief
work early today took a substantial
form aid by noon the situation was
well in hand. There was clothing In
abundance and temporary shelter has
been provided for the homeless. So
bountiful was the food supply brought
in that no one went hungry.
Up to noon the number of dead was
three and only two of the injured were
in critical condition.
Following conference with Acting
Governor Draper, Chairman McClin-
took of the local relief committee re-
quested the Associated Press to make
the following announcement:
'"The local committee has decided to
ask that all funds sent for the relief
of Chelsea go to the treasurer Of the
general committee appointed by the
governor this morning. Lee, Higginson
& Co."
An area Of $50 acres Of blackened
ruins, representing nearly a quarter
of the total area of the city, marks
the scene of the great fire which
swept through the business sec.
tion Of Chelsea yesterday and last
night, turning ten thousand people out
of their homes and causing property
damage estimated at approximately
$S,000,000. Today the burned area Ia
guarded by militia men and marines
to prevent possible looting and mill
tary regulations prevail throughout
the city.
Early today only three persons ara
known to have lost their lives in the
fire, but 1t is feared the number would
be increased when search of the
ruins was made. Over half hun
dred were injured, but this morning all
were reported to be doing we'll Con.
certed efforts toward providing relief
for the thousands Of sufferers were
fairly started today Acting Governor
Draper issued a call for an early morn.
ness men to make plans for raising
funds for the temporary care Of the
homeless.
Mayor Beck has already received Of.
fers of financial aid from other cities.
The Fires Rapid Spread.
Starting near the corner of Cypress
and Third streets from the public
dumping ground the blaze spread be-
fore northeast gale swept across the
city to the southeast spreading out as
it advanced until its northernly
Doundry reached the eastern division
of the Boston G. Maine railroad.
Thence it extended to the junction Of
the railroad with the tracks of the
Boston and Albany railroad over which
1t leaped and them swept on until
checked by small creek. On the
other side it crept along Second street
until Broadway was reached. then
went along Essex and Middlesex
streets to tsh water front at Chelsea
creek, then leaped into East Boston.
The distance from the point where
| the fire started to the creek Is mile
and a half and the greatest width OF
| the fire Is about half mile. Even at
the creek the fire was not wholly stay.
ed for sparks were blown, across and
| set fire to several houses and the
plant of the Standard Oil company
The oil plant was still burning at day.
break and was practically destroyed.
The burned district included large
number Of manufacturing concerns,
stores and business houses, many cost.