Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-13

SO far as could be learned there had
been but one or two fatalities up to
that time. Half hundred persons
were either injured or painfully
burned. The fire started on the marsh
es bordering the eastern division tracks
of the Boston & Maine railroad in the
rear of the Boston Backing company's s
works, where employees We're at work
drying out rags. The companys works
are situated at the end of West Third
street, half a mile north of the heart of
the city. A series of long, low wooden
buildings comprised the works, stored
for the most part with old rags and
paper.
Spontaneous Combustion.
The exact cause of the fire Is not
known, but it is supposed that spon-
taneous combustion among the rags
was responsible A high wind blowing
at forty-tive miles an hour from
the northwest drove the flames from
the rag heaps directly upon the wood
en- buildings of the Boston Blacking
company. The buildings We're soon a
mass of flames, and as the surround
ing property consisted largely OF
wooden buildings used for storage OF
rags, the fire department realized that
a serious fire was then threatened, and
a general alarm was sounded. In the
gale, shingles. burning paper and oil
soaked rags We're flung high into the
air and went soaring over the city.
Among the structures destroyed were
thirteen churches. two hospitals, the
public library, city hall. five school
houses. twenty business blocks, nearly
a score of factories and upwards Of 800
tenements and dwelling houses.
Among the places burned We're:
Frost hospital Childrens' hospital. F'itz
public library. Stanislaus Polish Cath
olic church, Chestnut Street First Bap-
tist church. Grand Central Avenue
church, Central Unitarian church. st.
Lukes Episcopal church Gold building).
ue). Elm Street synagog, Walnut
Street synagog, West Presbyterian
church. Peoples Afro Methodist Epis-
copal church, Fourth Street Universal
church, Fourth Street Congregational
church, Schurtliff Methodist Episco-
pal church, Second Adventists church,
New England Telephone and Telegraph
company's central offices, Austin &
Young's cracker factory, Chaplain &
Soden Car company's shops. Rosenfelt
Brothers three story rag picking fac
tory, the Tidewater Oil company's inn
menSe tanks near the easterly end of
Marginal street.
East Boston Afire.
The flying embers and showers of
sparks were carried across Chelsea
creek to the East Boston district and
the East Boston engines were obliged
to return from Chelsea to protect prop
erty in their district.
militia call by Mayor Beck Of
Chelsea, brought out the first company,
in order to guard the proper
ty moved into the streets from build
ings in the paths of the flames. Col
Onel Wood, commander of the marines
at the Charleston navy yard, volun-
teered the services of $50 men sta
toned at the navy yard and on request
Of Mayor Beck the company was sent |
to the fire under command of Captain
Hill. Rear Admiral Swift of the navy
yard also sent out all the men from
the receiving ship Wabash who were !
not already off on leave. These sailors
were not sent under command of any
officer, but were instructed to give |
their services wherever needed.
Marines with fixed bayonets held
back the crowds, while the militia
helped families remove their goods. Ad- |
vance squads of the military and po-
lice were sent ahead warning out fam
lies living in the path of the fire, which
eaped block after block with astound-
ing rapidity.