Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-04-13
1000 HOMES GO.
Resides Many Public Buildings,
Schools, Post Office and Hos.
pitaIs in Chelsea Fire
ROOSEVELT'S DISPATCH

Boston, April 13-Early morning es-
Inmates of the property loss did not
vary greatly from those of last night.
The total taxable property of the city
amounted to about 24,OO0,0O0 and
according to estimates by members OF
the board of assessors. the property in
the districts covered by the fire was
worth at least $s,OO0OOO. The burned
district included a large number OF
manufacturing concerns, stores and
business houses, many costly resi-
dence and tenement blocks, churches
and other valuable public buildings.
William HI. Farnum an assistant
assessor said:
1T is impossible at this time to
place the loss accurately. At least
1000 private residences in the Belling-
ham Hill section of the city were
burned to the ground. More than 80
of the city's public buildings, churches,
clubs, schools, the post office, banks
and two hospitals were destroyed
and these alone would bring the
loss up into the millions. 1t seems tc
me that the loss will easily reach $S,-
100000 and perhaps considerable
amount over the figures. Cash to the
amount of several thousand dollars
was removed from the safe in the
city treasurer's Office before the city
hall was burned When 1T became
apparent that the city building was
in the path of the flames City Treas
urer Thomas b. Frost, accompanied
by City Clerk Charles H. Reed and
City Solicitor Harry w. James. hur-
ried to the treasurer's Office and Sc
cured the money which was in the
safe, carrying it to a place of safety
The valuables left in the safe and in
the burned business houses were
guarded from possible looters by de.
tachments of marines from the
Charlestown navy yard and compa-
nies of infantrymen and artillery
men of the state national guard
Military regulations were enforced
and no one unless provided with
d pass was ptIluillcu " dppIOdCu
the ruined section. The liquor IL
censes in East Boston and that part
of Charlestown adjoining Chelsea
were suspended to-day by order of
Police Commissioner O'Meara as an
aid to the militia and police in their
efforts to bring about condition OF
order and safety. As the dawn
broke cold and gray over the fire
swept city, the realization of the ter
rible situation was made fully ap-
parent to the bewildered Inhabitants
The fright of the night previous
which had overcome the populace
disappeared and frantic motheN.
grief-stricken fathers roamed the
streets begging that their missing
loved ones be returned to them. The
schoolhouses of the city as we'll as
those of the neighboring cities and
towns were filled with lost children
and scores of parents besieged these
institutions going from one to an
other growing more terrified and
frantic as each we're visited and no
tidings of their children were dis
covered. At s o'clock the first
gees on the lower side of the burnt
district being served at the district
court rooms while those on the upper
side were issued rations from the
high school buildings. The lines
we're regulated by the militia, ne
applicants being obliged TO pass be-
tween lines of soldiers before they
were served. The work of clearing
away the debris was commenced at
an early hour, but under the great
est difficulties, but as the workmen
were in constant danger from fall
ing walls.
Early in the forenoon the work of
searching the ruins OF the
residential section OF the fire
swept district was commenced
with the greatest care and it was the
opinion of the authorities that more
bodies would undoubtedly be found.
The insurance adjusters now esti-
mate the loss at s5.00O.000 with an
of s3,0OO.OOO.
The Chelsea police station was
turned into an impromptu hospital
and many sufferers were brought
there and treated temporarily. Later
they were sent TO the naval hospita
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 burn.
ed. During the afternoon and even
ing over fifty unidentified babies who |
had been picked up by the police
firemen and citizens were taken tc |
the police stations. They ranged in
age from two months to Eve years. A
boy brought in a baby less than slx
old that he had picked up in
the gutter. A woman brought a paiI /
Of boy twins not more than a yeaI
Did. She said that a frantic mother
had thrust the babies into her arms
Is she stood on the street saying 4
Here. hold these. I've got TO get the
What became Of the moth
sr had not been ascertained at an
"a