Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-04-18
CHELSEA CITY, NEAR BOSTON,
SWEPT AWAY SUNDAY.
Five Lives Lost, While one-Third of
City Was Swept Away by Conflagra-
ton Which Occurred During a
Strong Wind, Last Sunday-20 Busi-
ness Blocks Destroyed.

among rags in a dump in the city of
Chelsea today, was famed by north
west gale into a conflagration which
obliterated nearly one-third of the city.
Five hundred dwelling and public
buildings were destroyed. 1900 families
were driven from their homes, and
10000 people made homeless. Three
lives are known to have been lost, and
at a late hour tonight it was reported
that two other persons had persisted;
one, a woman, having shot herself in
a frenzy over her inability to save her
property. From so to 100 persons were
injured.
Accurate estimate of the loss is inn
possible. One estimate gives it at
$10,000,000. The fire ragged before a
45-mile-an-hour gale for more than IL
hours, defying the utmost efforts of
the combined fire departments of Chel-
sea and several nearby cities, and a
large detachment of Boston firemen
and apparatus.
The fire area, which was in the form
of an ellipse, a mile and half long
and half mile wide at its broadcast
part, extended diagonally across the
city from a point near the boundary
between Everett ana Chelsea to the
waters of Chelsea creek. 1t was use
less for the firemen to attempt to
check the on-rushing flames before
the gales, and they confined their eff
forts to prevent spreading on either
side. Their last stand was taken at
Chelsea square late in the e>ternoon
and for hours a doubtful battle was
waged. At 8 o'clock word was passed
that the firemen were winning. Al
i0:5 so official announcement was made
by Chief II. A. Spencer that the fire
was under control.
A great majority of the buildings
were of wood and were completely des
troyed, but structures of other material
were almost as quickly and thoroughly
incinerated.
All the banks, more than threequar
ters of the church, half of the business
blocks and nearly all the school
houses were wiped out.
One hospital and a day nursery were
destroyed. In the turmoil many of the
sick and infirm found difficulty in OBJ
tanning assistance, and several of them
narrowly escaped.
Late in the afternoon the wind ha6
carried burning embers across Chelsea
creek and buildings in East Boston
caught fire. but extensive damage
there was prevented by prompt and
energetic work by the firemen.
Originates in a Factory.
The fire originated in the rear of the
Boston Backing company's works, OF
West Third street, near the eastern
division of the Boston & Maine rail
road, in close proximity to the Everett
City line. The gale carried burning
shingles to a score of wooden build
ings, most of them of cheap construc
ton.
The fire started almost from the ex
IRENE southwestern section of the cit.
and cut a path to the end of Maverick
street, at the extreme southeastern enc
of the city, which borders Chelsei
creek. This is about one and hal
miles from where the fire started. Tit
flames spread through the part of thu
retail business section, which wal
about midway between the two eS
IRENE limits reached by the fire.
Among the structures destroyed
were 10 churches, 2 hospitals, the pub
lie library. city hall, schoolhouses, 2
business blocks, nearly a score of fac
tories and upward of 800 tenement
and dwelling houses.
Facts About Chelsea.
Chelsea is located in Suffolk county
Mass, and is a suburb of Boston, iron
which it is distant two miles, on tn
Boston G. Maine railroad 1t is cor
nected with Charlestown by a bridg
across the Mystic river and with Bos
ton by ferry and steam and electri
railroads. The principal public builo
ings are the courthouse. city hall, tn
United States Naval and Marine hosp
tails, soldiers hsme, Fitz public librar
and Odd Fellows and Masonic halls
Inc CITY oAoO ChAOh Re'AAN 49,
public Fairgrounds and a soldiers
monument.
Though Chelsea is a residents
place, it has manufactures of rubse
goods, wooden, foundry and machin
shop products, shoes, brass good
stoves and furnaces, tiles, pottery an
other things. The city owns and ope
ates its waterworks.
The annual income of the city
about $425,OO0 the principal expend
lures are: s35. 1000 for the police depar
ment, $4,000 for the fire departmei
and 100000 for schools. The popul
ton in 1890 was 27.9O9 and in 49,
was 34,072.
First settled in 1926 as WinnisiI
met, Chelsea was part of Boston fro
1884 to 1888, when it incorporated as
town under its present name. Here,
May, 1775, occurred a sharp shrmi
between a body of British troops al
Cfarlr and pl