The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-04-14
BOSTON HAS BIG
F|RE..-EXTENDED
OVER MILE OF CITY

BOSTON, April 13.-Fire yester-
day devastated the manufacturing
tenement and retail sections OF Chel-
sea, burning over one square mile of
territory and leveling many of the
city's best structures. The fire start
ed at 1914 a. m. and was not under
control until 8 O'Clock last night,
notwithstanding that half of the Bos-
ton fire departments strength and
steamers from dozen other cities
and towns went to the aid of the
Chelsea brigade. The loss Is esti-
mated at more than S3.000,e00.
About 1900 families are homeless.
So far as learned. there were but
two or three fatalities. Half a hun
dren persons were either injured or
painfully burned.
The fire originated in the rear of
the Boston Backing oompanys
works on West Third street, near the
eastern division of the Boston and
Maine railroad, in close proximity to
the Everett City line. A terrific gale
from the northwest. which at times
had velocity of 90 miles an hour.
carried burning shingles, embers and
myriads of sparks to score of wood
en- buildings, most or them of cheap
construction.
The fire started almost from the
extreme southwest section of the ,ity
and cut path to the end of Nav
erick street. at the extreme south
eastern end of the city, which bor-
ders Chelsea creek This is about
one and half miles from where the
fire began.
The flames spread through the
heart of the retail business section,
which was about midway between the
two extreme limits reached by the
fire.
Among the structures destroyed
were thirteen churches. two hospitals
the public library city hall. five
school houses. twenty business blocks
nearly score of factories and DWELL
ing houses.
Frost hospital Children 5 hospital,
Fitz Public library, ST Nnislaus
Polish Catholic church. Chestnut
street First Baptist church. Central
avenue Central Unitarian church
hawthorne street St Luke's church
told building,D Hawthorne street;
+ lISi NJ. T. Val
Elm street Synagogue: Walnut street
synagogue; Chelsea Presbyterian
church. Fifth street; Peoples Afro
NJ f. church. Fourth street; Uni
versalist church. Fifth street ; Con
gregetional church, Shurtleff street,
NJ. e. church; Second Adventist
church; New England Telephone &
Telegraph company's central Office,
Austin and Youngs cracker factory;
Chaplin & Soden Car company's
shops. Rosefelt Brothers three-story
rag picking factory; the Tide Oil
companys three immense tanks near
the easterly end of Marginal street.
The streets over which the fire
rushed included Carter. Maple,
Spruce, Orlington. Ash, Walnut, Pop
lar. Chestnut, and Cherry to Broad
way. From Broadway the fire spread
to Bellingham Hill. From Sumner
street the fire cut another pathway.
running diagonally across Third
street to Everett avenue and Fourth
street to Bellingham street. The
flames reached Broadway, the
principal street of the city. at point
between Third and Fourth streets
and destroyed the Masonic hall. Odd
Fellows hall and 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.
Early this evening it was reported
that there had been one or two
deaths.
A militia call by Mayor Beck of
Chelsea brought out the first COM
pany coast artillery, Captain Rem
frew commanding. in order to guard
property moved into the streets from
buildings in the path of the flames.
Colonel Wood, commanding the ma
rines at the Charlestown navy yard.
volunteered the services of the One
Hundred and Fifth company. sta
toned at the navy yard, and, on re-
quest of Mayor Beck, the company
was sent to the fire under command
of Captain Hill Rear Admiral Swift
of the navy yard also sent out all the
men from the receiving ship Wabash
who were not already off on leave.
These sailors were not sent under
command of any officer. but were in-
strueted to give their services wher-
ever needed.
Marines with fixed bayonets held
back the crowds, while the militia
and sailors helped families remove
their goods. Advance squads of the
military and police We're sent ahead
warning out families in the path of
the fire, which leaped block after
block with astonishing rapidity.
The crowds generally were easily
handled Occasionally some excited
man would burst through the Gordon
OF militia and marines to dash into a
house for some forgotten yaluables,
but the presence of so many uni
formed guards overawed the rougher
element.
The exact cause of the fire is not
known, but il Is supposed that spOn-
Inn ha