New-York tribune., 1908-04-13

4 measure the black smoke was Il DRESSING, lor'
enveloping ii did the showers of burning EN-
bers from the main conhagratiOn to the north
and west. 1t smothered the fire in them and be-
came n protecting mantle which lay over Chel-
sea for q mile or more TO the east. keeping on
the fire and flames from many homes which
would doubtless otherwise have been swept
away.
FIRE CUTS CITY DIAGONALLY
From the western part OF the city. where
the fire started, to the burning oil tanks on the
waterfront was a distance of something like
a mile and q quarter. In breadth the fire GOV
cred an area something like three-quarters of
mile, cutting the city diagonally from north
west 10 southeast between Chelsea Square, on
the southwest. and 9th, Library and Belling
ham streets on the northwest
As the fire made its way rapidly toward the
waterfront where considerable shipping was
tied up. there was much excitement among
captains and crews. Several tugs were dis
patched TO the scene but as it was low tide
they had considerable difficulty in towing the
vessels out into the stream. All the vessels in
that portion Of the threatened waterfront were
pulled out TO safety, although two schOOners
tied up near the Tidewater Oil Company's
works beginning 10 blaze. The flames
We're eXtinguished without much damage being
done.
front property.
Firebrands We're swept across Chelsea Greek
to East Boston and five dwelling houses in
Wordsworth street and its vicinity were con
sumed. The Boston Fire Department was hard
pressed at Q o'clock tonight TO prevent the
fire from spreading. The East Boston works
of the Standard Oil Company are in close prox-
unity to the burned dwelling houses, and for n
time it was feared that they would be reached
tba fvarl
directed especially toward preventing an ex
plosion of the oil tanks, and it was believed
that they would escape.
This work was difficult. and for a long time
its success was doubtful. as burning oil spread
out over the water and blazing embers con
stantly were being driven by the gale across the
creek.
HEROIC STAND AT CHELSEA SQUARE.
While the flames were sweeping on to the
waterfront on the Chelsea side, the fremen were
making a heroic stand at Chelsea Square 10
prevent further progress toward the south. If
the blaze once broke away in that direction. it
seemed certain that the district between Essex
street and the waterfront. including a large
coal pocket the Magee Furnace Companys
plant. the Austin & Young Biscuit Company and
a shipyard with number of large vessels on
the ways for repair would quickly be swept
clean
Medical Examiner McGrath said at 10 o'clock
tonight that two bodies had been found. One
found at the corner of Essex and Highland
streets the medical examiner believed 10 be that
Of a young woman. perhaps twenty years old.
The other body was found in the ruins of 4
building AT No. l. Watts street. This also Is
thought to be that of a woman. The only pos
sible means of Identification of either of the
bodies is by teeth peculiarities. Both the bodies
were removed to the North Grove street mOrgue
At this time it also reported that the
bodies of and woman We're III the
ruins in Broadway. but il was impossible 10
make any search until the ruins became cooler
The territory burned over exceeded mile
square. The fire. which started near the cor
uer of Cypress and West Sd Streets crossed
Broadway ana spread out over the entire sec
ton southeast but did not reach the water
front on Chelsea Creek until after crossing
Willow street so that its sOuLhwesterly bounds
We're ID street. Essex MiddleseX far
Willow. and then to the waterfront, along
which it burned until it met the tracks Of the
Boston * Albany division of the New York
Central Railroad, shortly after they branch OF
from those Of the Boston & Maine Railroad,
The burned area was in the nature Of an
ellipse about one and Il half miles on its long
axis and half mile on It's short axis. The west
ery end of the ellipse. where the fire started was
the most deuseIy populated section Of the city
The three-stOry tenement houses We're teeming
with life and great majority held from
six TO eight families. Most Of these families
consisted of from six to eight persons, with
many small children. and almost invariably
some one aged intirm.
LARGE OIL BARGES BURNED
To The east Of Broadway the houses We're
close together, and averaged about two and
one-haIf stories in height Two large oil barges
tied up AT The wharf Of the TIdewater Oil Com
pauy. and containing five thousand gallons of
oil each, We're burned. and for u time it was
feared they would drift across the Chelsea
Creek and ignite the Standard OIL plant. on the
East Boston side. Two tugs made desperate
efforts To TOW the barges into the harbor but
the huWsers We're charred and before the barges
could be removed they Were burned.
Commissioner Charles W. Parker of The Bos
ton Fire Department stated tonight that Bos
ton would lose three engines which had TO be
abandoned
A force of national guardsmen called to con
trol the streets of the burned section was in
creased tonight by the arrival of Company l
of the 9TH Infantry, Company Of the Sth In
fantry. and the 9th Corps. coast artillery.
marine guard Of one hundred men under Cap
tain Charles s. Hill also Oh duty, four
squads of marines being placed 10 protect valu-
able safes IN the ruins Of different buildings.
A detail Of seveny-fve policemen from Bos-
Ton, under five sergeants was stationed at va
rious entrances 10 the city with orders to pre-
vent anybody from coming in. with the exception
of hremeu. policemen. soldiers and newspaper
men. The police of Winthrop and Everett also
lent assistance 1t was estimated late tonight
that nearly ten thousand persons are homeless
Neighboring cities and the commonwealth
81.