Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-04-13
DISASTROUS FIRE.

The manufacturing, tenement snd re-
tail business section Of Chelsea, suburb
OF Eostop, was dev. stated by fire yester
day. The flames spread over more than
oue square mile Of territory, and leveled
many OF the cty's best structures.
Late lsst night four bodies were taken
from the ruins.
The fire started at 10:40 8. N. and
was not placed under control until 10
O'Clock last night, notwithstanding that
half of the Boston FIRE department 9
strength and stearers from a dozen other
cities and towns went to the aid of the
Chelsea brigade. The loss up 10 10
OF clock was estimated at fully $IS. 000,-
600. About 800 families are homeless.
The fire originated IN the rear Of the
Boston Backing COmpSny's works, on
vest Third street, near the eastern d.
vision of the Boston and Maine Rail.
road and in close proximity to the EV-
erett City line. II is supposed to have
been caused by spontaneous combustion
in piles of rage. A terrific gale from the
northwest, which at times had a veloc-
ity OF go miles an hour, carried burning
shingles, embers and myriads Of sparks
10 a score of wooden buildings, most OF
them Of cheap wooden construction. The
fire started slmos: in the extreme south
west section OF the city and cut path
to the end OF Maverick street at the ex-
IRENE southeastern end of the city, which
borders on Chelsea creek. This point
is about one mile and quarter from
the point where The confsgrstion began.
The flames swept through the heart Of
The retail business section, which was
about midway between the two extreme
limits reached by fire.
Troops we're called out for the pur-
pose OF protecting property.
A high wind drove the flames from
the rag heaps directly upon the wooden
buildings of the Boston Backing Com
pany, and The buildings we're soon
mass Of flames.
Ia the gale shingles, burning paper
and oil-sosked rags were haug high into
the air and went sosriug over the city.
Within half an hour the ROsenfelt Bros
lhree.story wooden rag factory on Maple
street was in flames, as was the Chap
lin and Soden Car Company works. Tons
OF tsrred paper stored 10 the latter fac
tory created dense smoke, which made
the work of the 6remen extremely diff
cult. Soon a dozen factories and cheaper
tenement-honses west Of Everett avenue
we're 10 flames and the 6ePen saw
that they were utterly unable to cope
with the conGagrslion.
The first evidence OF the fire on the
east side Of Everett avenue was when
the roof Of the Peoples African Metho.
dist Episcopal Church, on Fourth street,
was seen to be ablsze. The services
we're in progress inside at the time, and
the congregation WAS unaware that a
serious Gre was rsgipg outside. Some
one notified the pastor, Rev. Charles P.
Watson. He Immediately turned to bis
people, told them of the dagger and adj
vised them to file slowly from the build
leg. Twenty minutes later there was
not vestige of the edi6ce left.
Heaps of burning embers and suffo-
eating cloud of dust hurled down across
Everett avenue Dy the gale, coupled
silh the intense heat, drove the firemen
from their posts, end those families
nearest the start of the conasgrstion had
only time to rush from their homes snd
save their lives, losing all their posses
sions.