The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-13

and was practically destroyed. Nine
Buildings were burned here. including
the pump house, storehouse, cooper
shop, office and tank rooms, the lat
ter containing about 5000 barrels OF oil.
The loss on the Standard Oil property
was estimated at 100000
Concerted efforts towards securing
relief for the thousands OF sufferers
were fairly started today. Acting Gov
ernor Draper issued a call for an early
morning meeting of prominent Boston
business men at the state house to
make plans for raising funds for the
temporary care Of the homeless and at
about the same hour, the citizens re-
lief committee also held a meeting
In the city of Somerville, Mayor
Grimmons issued a call for a mass
meeting to consider means of giving
aid to the fire sufferers. Similar ac-
ton was taken by the executive heads
of other cities. 1t is said the legisla-
ture will also be called during the day
to take measures for the stricken.
Housed in Tents.
Charitable organizations found
places for many of the sufferers;
school houses and other public build
ings in Boston and other places near
the stricken city were thrown open to
provide temporary lodgings and hun
dreds of military tents brought from
the state camp grounds at South
Ramingsham served as a protection
for victims of the fire. Acting Gov
ernor Draper early last night, author
lied the city OF Chelsea to procure
provisions for emergency use UP to
any reasonable amount at the expense
OF the state and dairy and bakery
companies generously contributed
large supplies of their products which
found their way promptly to the suf-
ferers.
But Notwithstanding the efforts on
all sides to render aid there were
thousands of homeless ones, who
streets, or shivered in the parks and
squares. Many of the unfortunates
applied at police headquarters for
shelter and were cared for temporarily
In the court house. Early this morn
ing however tents had been pitched
in open lots in Chelsea and the neigh
boring city of Everette, and all appli-
cants were sent to these temporary
camps.
| Although it was impossible to tell
even approximately the number of
people made homeless by the fire,
Conservative estimates placed it at
about 10000.
While prompt measures for caring
| for the homeless were being taken,
scores of physicians. nurses and vol
| unteer workers were attending to the
| injured. The Chelsea police station
was turned into temporary hospital
and many sufferers were brought
| there and treated temporarily.
Fifty Unidentified Babies.
Later they were sent to the naval
hospital and the marine hospital, both
| of which were packed to the limit OF
| their capacity, from this source and
from the influx of patients from the
| two other hospitals, which were
burned. During the afternoon and
evening over SO unidentified babies
who had been picked up by the po-
/ lice, flremen and citizens were taken
/ to the police stations. They ranged
i in age from two months to FIVE years
4 A boy brought in a baby less than six
i months old that he had picked up In
the gutter. A woman brought a pail
4 of boy twins, not more than a yeal
/ old. She said that frantic mother
had thrust the babies into her arm.
as she stood on the street, saying
l"Here hold these. I've got to get tht
others" What became or the mother