The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-13
Ten Thousand People Made
Homeless and Ten Mil
lions of Property is
Destroyed.
CASUAL TIES ARE MANY
Square Mile Of Tenement and
Factory Section Devastated
Churches, Banks and
Hospitals Go-People
Flee for Lives.

Boston, April 12-An apparently
insignificant fire which started among
rags on a dump in the city Of Chelsea
to-day was famed 81 northwest
gale into a connagraton which oblit-
Grated nearly one-third Of the city
Fire hundred dwelling houses and
public buildings were destroyed III
teen hundred families were driven
from their hahltatlons and ten thou
sand people made homeless. Two lives
are X nown to have been lost and at a
late hour tonight 1t was reported that
two other persons had perlshed, one
woman, having shot herself IN
frenzy over her inability to save her
property. From fifty to seventy five
persons were injured
In the confusion attending the sit-
uatlon accurate estimates of the loss
were impossible. The city solicitor
estimates It at nearly s1o,oOO,00o.
The Are, which was the worst
Greater Boston has known in many
years, ragged before i5-mile gale for
more than twelve hours. deiying the
utmost efforts of the combined fire de-
partments Of Chelsea and several
nearby cities and large detachment
Of Boston fremen and apparatus
The fire area, which Is In the form
Of an ellipse. a mile and half long
and half a mile wide at It's broadest
part. extended dlagonally across the
city from a point near the boundary
between Everett and Chelsea 10 the
waters of Chelsea creek II was use-
less for the nremen to attempt to
check the on-rush Of the flames be-
fore the gale, and their main efforta
were TO prevent the spread OF the
blaze on either side. Their last stand
was taken Chelsea Square late In
the afternoon and for hours doubt
ful battle was waged. At . o'clock
word was passed that the fremen
were winning and with renewed ener-
gyi the contest was pressed. At 1850
official announcement was made by
Chief n. A Spencer that the fire was
under control.
The great majority of the buildings
were Of wood and were completely de-
stroyed but structures of other ma
terial were almost as quickly and
Thoroughly nclnerated by the fierce
ness OF the blaze.
All the banks, more than three
quarters of the churches half of the
business blocks and nearly all the
school houses were wiped out. ono
hospital and day nursery were de-
stroyeld. In the turmoil many OF the
sick and infrm found difficulty In OBJ
tanning assistance and several Of them
had narrow escapes.
Late In the afternoon the gale car
r'led burning embers across Chelsea
creek and buildings in East Boston
caught but extensive damage there
was prevented by prompt and ener-
getic work by the hremen.
At an early hour this morning the
ruins of the burned district In Chef.
sea were under guard Of fourteen com.
panes of the state militia and ma.
rines from the Charleston navy yard
and the city was put under martha
law to prevent lootlng. The soldiers
were supplied with ball cartridges.
The bodies of three persons, SO badly
burned as to be unrecognizabe are a
the North Grove street morgue. NJ
other deaths have thus far been Off
cally reported.
It Is estimated that about 800 houses
were burned, and about 10000 people
rendered homeless.
An early morning estimate Of tho los
BY an official Of prominent insurance
firm, placed the total at between ST.
100000 and $1O,O000OO. The total In
surance, It was figured, was about $5
10000.
During the fire marines with fxe'
bayonets held back the crowds Will
the militia and sailors helped familie
remove their goods. Advance squad
Of the military and police were sen
ahead warning ont families living II
the course of the fire which leape,
block after block with astonishing
rapdity. The crowds generally wer
easily handled. Occasionally some OK
cited house owner would burst through
the Gordon Of militia and marines t
5 dash into q house for some forgotten
valuables, but the presence Of so man.
uniformed guards overawed the rough
or element.
In the afternoon aid arrived fror
Everetta, Lynn, Haverhil Wakefield
Salem, Maiden, Cambridge Winthro
IA and Revere.
The greatest damage was done wher
the fire reached City Hall square
with the junction Of Park and Wash
ington streets, The First Baptis
church, a lofty brick building frs
caught on fire on the highest part o
A the spire. Soon the roof was in dame
and then the embers settled down oi
I the unoccupied church building of 81
Lukes Episcopal parish and tho quar-
ters of the Veteran Firemeens asso
citation. The lower Of the First Uni
tartan church GO Hawthrne stree
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