Connecticut western news., 1908-04-16
CHELSEA IN FLAMES.
Third of City Wiped Out by Great
 Conffagration.
THOUSANDS MADE HOMELESS

Property Loss In Boston Suburb
 Mounts Up to Several Millions-Six
 Deaths Caused by Fire, Ono a Wo-
 mans Suicide.
 Boston, April 15.-An apparently in significant fire which started among rags on dump in the suburban city of Chelsea, in the northeastern section of Boston, was famed by a northwest gale into a confiagration which obliter- ated nearly one-third of the city. Five hundred dwelling houses and public buildings were destroyed, 1,50O fami- lies were driven from their habitations and 10000 people of Chelsea's 35,000 were made homeless. Six lives are known to have been lost, and it was reported that two other persons had perished, one a woman, having shot herself in frenzy over her inability to save her property. From fifty to seventy-five persons were injured.
 Tn the confusion attending the situa- ton accurate estimates of the loss were impossible. The damage is esti- mated at nearly $6,0OO,00O.
 Gale Drives Flames.
 The fire, which was the worst Greater Boston has known since the great fire' of 1871, ragged before a forty-five mile gale for more than twelve hours, defying the utmost eff forts of the combined fire departments oP CholSao and cavarol moo rhu oftios and large detachment of Boston fire men and apparatus.
 The fire started almost in the ex- treme southwest section of the city and cut a path to the end of Nav erick street, at the extreme southeastern end of the city, which borders on Chel- sea creek. This point is about one mile and a quarter from the point where the conf1agration began. The flames swept through the heart of the retail business section, which was about midway between the two ex- treme limits reached by the fire. Public Buildings Burned.
 Among the structures were thirteen churches, two hospitals, the public i- brary, city hall, five schoolhouses, twenty business blocks, nearly a score of factories and upward of 300 tene- ments and dwelling houses.
 The streets over which the flames rushed included Carter, Maple, Spruce, Arlington, Ash, Walnut, Poplar, Chest nut and Cherry to Broadway. From Broadway the fire spread to Belling- ham hill. From Summer street the fire cut another pathway, running diago- nally across Third street, Everett ave- nue and Fourth street to Bellingham the principal street of the city, at a point between Third and Fifth streets and destroyed the Masonic hall, Odd Fellows hall and Bennett block.
 The fire area, mile and a half long and half a mile wide at its broadest part, extended .diagonally across the city from point near the boundary between Everett and Chelsea to the waters of Chelsea creek. It was use less for the firemen to attempt to check the onrush of the flames before the gale, and their main efforts were to prevent a spread of the blaze upon either side Their last stand was talk en at Chelsea square, and for hours a doubtful battle was waged. Finally word was passed that the f1remen were winning, and with renewed en- ergy the contest was pressed. Two hours later official announcement was made by Chief H. A. Spencer that the fire was under control.
 Extent of Burned Area.
 The great majority of the buildings were of wood and were completely destroyed, but structures of other material were almost as quickly anC thoroughly incinerated by the fierce ness of the blaze.
 All the banks, more than three-quar ters of the churches, half of the busi ness blocks and nearly all the school houses were wiped out. One hospita and a day nursery were destroyed. II the turmoil many of the sick and in firm found difficulty in obtaining as sistance, and several of them had mar row escapes.
 The gale carried burning ember across Chelsea creek, and buildings il East Boston caught.