Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-13
TO GUARD PROPERTY.
Militiamen and Sailors from Navy
Yard Are Put on Duty.

brought out the LIST Company, Coast
Artillery, Capt. Renfrew commanding,
in order to guard property moved into
the streets from buildings in the path
of the flames Colonel Wood, COM
handing the marines at the Charles
town navy yard also, volunteered the
services Of the 105th Company sta
toned at the navy yard. and on re-
quest of Mayor Beck the company was
sent to the fire under command of
Capt. Hill. 5.f. a
Rear Admiral Swift of the navy yard
also sent out all the men from the re-
ceiving ship Wabash, who were not
already off on liberty. These sailors
were not sent under command of any
officer but were instructed to give
their services wherever needed. Ma
rines with fixed bayonets held back the
crowds while the militia and sailors
helped families remove their goods.
Advance squads of the military and
police were sent ahead warning out
families living in the course of the
fire which leaped block after block
with astonishing rapidity.
The crowds generally were easily
handled Occasionally some excited
house owner would burst through the
Gordon of militia and manage to dash
into a house for some forgotten Valu-
ables, but the presence of so many
uniformed guards overawed the rough
er element.
Over Chelsea bridge into East Bos-
ton streamed long line of fire refu-
gees Juggling what household furniture
they were able to save. Hundreds Of
people carried only huge bundles tied
up in sheets. These were mostly gray
headed women of the foreign class.
One old woman staggered under a
large bundle of clothes and bedding
the wondering face of baby too
frightened to cry.
Among these poor people there did
not seem to be any panic. There was
no crying or wringing of hands. All
seemed to stunned by the disaster that
had wiped out their homes. These
people seemed mostly of the poorer
class, who could not afford to loose
what little they possessed with fac
tories and mills closed down or earn
ings reduced by half time work. Pic
lures, trunks, bedding and chairs
streamed out over the bridge being
scarcely noticed by the dense throngs
that moved towards the fire from
Boston, too busy and pre-occupied with
the flames and heavy pail of smoke
sweeping in swift panorama before
them to take notice of the misery and
suffering passing by.
One woman plodded along by the
side of heavily burdened members of
her family, carrying nothing but an
empty waste basket. In the burning
district itself sidewalks were piled
high with household articles. In most
cases these goods were abandoned to
the flames. Bedding and furniture
blazed in the streets, and were caught
up by the gale and hurled into door,
ways and on roofs, setting other
houses on fire. Several of the large
type of cars used by the Boston Ele-
waited Railway in the East Boston tun-
mel were abandoned when it was found
necessary to shut off the power and
were left helpless in streets swept by
the flames.
In the fire house of Engine l, a
brick structure at the corner of Mar
ginal and Essex streets. were stored
many trunks and other furniture
when all had to be abandoned on the
command of a marine who warned out
the people just as the flames broke
through the back Of the building
Many invalids were carried by or
stretchers and furniture vans whose
drivers were awaiting for bargains
| were pressed into use by the police to
| remove the sick.
AS the fire made it's way rapidly
| towards the water front, where con.