The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-13
HEART OF CHELSEA IS SWEPT BY $10,000,0OO FIRE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE l.,


 Private Albert Knowlton, Fifth com pany Coast artillery, overcome by smoke.
 Phillip Dulond, assistant fire chief, Chelsea, burns
 Frank A. Chase, Chelsea. overcome by smoke and suffering from heart trouble; condition serious
 Paul Freeman an infant burns.
 Late tonight four bodies had been re- covered from the ruins. About 50 persons were injured, several probably fatally.
 Among the buildings burned were 13 churcnes, Frost hospital, Children's hos pital, city hall Fitz Public library, five school houses, a dozen or more factories and about 300 tenements and dwellings.
 TEe residential section of the city where the ,yealthier classes reside, escaped the flames.
 In thr retail section through which the fire passed were 20 business blocks which were destroyed. The United States ma rine buildings were not damaged.
 he Chelsea fire was practically under control at g o'clock tonight. Two women are known to be dead as a result of the fire. Neither body had been identified.
 Origin of Fire.
 The fire originated in the rear of the Boston Backing company's works on West Third street, near the eastern dlNls- ion of the Boston and Maine railroad, and in close proximity to the Everett City line A terrific gale from the northwest, which at times had a velocity of GO miles an hour carried burning shingles embers and myriads of sparks to score or wooden buildings most of them of cheap wooden construction.
 The fire started almost in the extreme southwest section of the city and cut a path to the end of Maverick street, at the extreme southeastern end of the city which borders on Chelsea creek. This point is about one mile and quarter from the point where the confiagration begal. 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. The flames reached Broadway, the principal street of the city, at a point between Third and Fifth streets, and destroyed the Masonic hall, Odd Fellows hall sand Bennett block.
 The flying embers and the 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 property in their district.
 fr' Buildings Destroyed. Among the places burned were Frost hospitals, Children's hospital, Fitz ! Public library, St. Stanius Polish Cath ollie church, Chestnut street; First Bap- ! tist church, Central avenue; Central .Uni- tarian church, Hawthorne street; St. Lukes Episcopal church, Hawthorne | street; First Methodist Episcopal church, | Casse avenue; Elm Street synagogue; ] Walnut Street synagogue; Chelsea Pres | byterian church; Peoples Afro-Methodist ] Episcopal church. Fourth Street Univer- 1 salist church; Fifth Street Congregational church; Schurtlef Street Methodist Epis- copal church; New England Telephone l ,,,,l nf6pp Austin Xy yaung's cracker factory; Chaplin & Soden | Car. company,s shops;, Rosenfelt Bros. , three -story rag picking factory; the Tide water oil company north end of Marginal street; County Savings bank; Chelsea Savings bank; Chelsea Trust company; Winnisimmet National bank; the Provi- l dence Cooperative bank.
 | The funds of all the banks, with the ] exception of the County Savings bank, are still in the vaults. The money and securities of the County Savings bank were taken to Boston before the fire reached the building.
 l Other losses are: ,Stroses Roman Cath ollie church. Broadway. loss s25.OoO; St. | Roseroman Catholic school, loss S40,0C0; states armory loss s1O0,C00; Sacred Heart convent. loss $400Oo; Y. M. c. A. building, l loss S75 GOO; Boston Elevated railroad station and barn. loss 5000. The streets over which the fire rushed | included Caster, Maple, Spruce, Arlington | Ash, Walnut, Poplar, Chestnut and Cherry to Broadway. From Broadway | the fire spread to Bellingham hill. From l Summer street the fire cut another path way, running diagonally across Third | street. Everett avenue and Fourth. street l to Bellingham street.
 | Militia Is Called. l A militia call by Mayor Beck of Chelsea l brought out the First company, coast ar | tiliery. Captain Renfree commanding, ir | order to guard property removed from buildings in the streak of the flames Colonel Wood, commanding the marines at the Charlestown navy yard, volunteered the services of the Fifteenth company stationed at the navy yard, and on re | quest of Mayor Beck, the company wa' sent to the fire under command of Cap tain Hill Rear Admiral Swift of thu nlvy yard also sent out all the men iron the receiving ship Wabash who were no is,l t4s.. s.Hst rstaa ,tfffH afa.1 4ai