Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-16
ONE SQUARE MILE or CHELSEA,
A SUBURB, DESTROYED
BY FIRE SUNDAY.
LOSS NEARLY SlO,OOO,0OO
A eo-Mile-An-tiour Gale Drove the
Flames Through the City
to the Water
Front.

1
ment and retail sections Of Chelsei
Sunday, burning over one square mill
Of territory and leveling many Of thu
city's best structures. The fire start
ed at 10:40 a. m. and was not undel
control until nine o'clock Sunda!
evening, Notwithstanding that half o
the Boston fire departments strength
and steamers from dozen other citiel
and towns went to the aid Of thu
Chelsea brigade.
So far as could be learned there hal
been but two or three fatalities up t
that time. Half hundred persons
were either injured or painful!
burned.
The fire originated in the rear o.
the Boston Backing company's works
on West Third street, near the eastern
division of the Boston 6 Maine rail
road, in close proximity to the Everett
City line. A terrific gale from the
northwest, which at times had We
locity of 60 miles an hour, carried
burning shingles, embers and myriads
Of sparks to a score of wooden build
ings, most of them of cheap con
struction.
The fire started almost from the ex
IRENE southwest section Of the city
and cut path to the end of Maverick
street at the extreme southeastern
end of the city, which borders Chelsea
creek. This is about one and hall
miles from where the fire began. The
flames spread through the heart Of the
retail business section, which was
about midway between the two en-
IRENE limits reached by the fire.
Among the structures destroyed
were 10 churches, two hospitals, the
public library, city hall, five school
houses, 20 business blocks, nearly
score of factories and upwards Of 300
tenement and dwelling houses.
A militia call by Mayor Beck Of
Chelsea brought out the first company
coast artillery, Captain Renfrew com
manding, In order to guard property
moved into the streets from buildings
in the path Of the flames. Colonel
Wood, commanding the marines at the
Charlestown navy yard, volunteered
the services Of the One Hundred and
Fifth company, stationed at the navy
yard and on request of MRyor Beck
the company was sent to the fire un-
der command OF Captain Hill. Rear
Admiral Swift of the navy yard also
sent out all the men from the reeeiv.
ing ship Wabash who we're not already
of ON leave. These sailors were not
sent under command of any officer,
but were instructed to give their SER
vices wherever needed.
Down to the waterfront the flames
swept. Factories along Maverick and
Marginal streets were enveloped in
flames. Among the plants burned was
the Austin & Young Cracker factory.
Behind the banks of flames families
were cut OF for a time from help and
escape. East Of Shawmut avenue on
Maverick and Congress streets were
scores Of families burned out and
homeless who were helpless to convey
their possessions 10 a place Of safety.
Steadily they we're forced back by the
flames which were being hurled down
upon them by the gale, until 1t be
came necessary, in order to save their
lives, to retreat around the wharf
frontage toward Revere. Suddenly
there was a terrific explosion and the
oil tanks Of the TAewater Oil com
pany on the waterfront burst into
flames. Thousands Of gallons Of oil
were soon burning and gigantic clouds
Of black smoke curled and rose into
the sky making 1t as night all over
the East End. The smoke was seen
as far away as Portsmouth, N. H.
From the western part of the city,
where the FIRE started to the burning
oil tanks on the waterfront, was
distance Of something like a mile and
4 quarter. In breadth the fire covered
an area something like three-quarters
Of a mile wide. cutting the city d.
lgonaIly from northwest to southeast
between Chelsea square on the south.
west and Sixth, Library and Belling-
ham streets on the northwest.
At an early hour Monday morning
he ruins Of the burned district in
Chelsea were under guard Of IA com.
)anies Of the state militia and ma
ines from the Charlestown navy yard,
md the city was put under martial
aw to prevent footing. The soldiers
vere supplied with ball cartridges.
The bodies Of three persons, 90 bad.
, burned as to be unacceptable. are
/ the North Grove Street morgue.
70 other deaths have thus far been
hieially reported.
n is estimated that about sou houses
rere burned and about 10000 people
endered homeless.
An early morning estimate Of the
Dss By an omcial Of a prominent In.
uranes firm placed the total at be
ween sT,5oe,0o and tio,ooo.o0o. The
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