Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-04-17
WASSlO,OOO,O
CHELSEA CITY, NEAR BOSTON,
SWEPT AWAY SUNDAY.
Five Lives Lost, While one-Third Of
City Was Swept Away by conHagra-
ton Which Occurred During a
Strong Wind, Last sunday-2o Bust
ness Blocks Destroyed.

Boston, Mass, April IAN appar-
emily Insignificant fire which started
among rags in dump in the city of
Chelsea today, was famed by north
west gale into a confiagration which
obliterated nearly one-third of the city.
Five hundred dwelling and public
buildings were destroyed, 1900 families
were driven from their homes, and
10000 people made homeless. Three
lives are known to have been lost, and
at late hour tonight it was reported
that two other persons had persisted;
one, a woman. having shot herself in
a frenzy over her inability to save her
property. From so to 100 persons were
injured
Accurate estimate of the loss is i'm
possible. One estimate gives it at
$10,000.000. The fire ragged before a
45-mile-an-hour gale for more than 70
hours, defying the utmost efforts of
the combined fire departments of Chel-
sea and several nearby cities, and a
large detachment OF Boston firemen
and apparatus.
The fire area, which was in the form
Of an ellipse, mile and half long
and half mile wide at its broadcast
part, extended diagonally across the
city from point near the boundary
between Everett ana Chelsea to the
waters of Chelsea creek It was use
less for the flremen to attempt to
check the on-rushing flames before
the gales. and they confined their eff
forts to prevent spreading on either
side. Their last stand was taken at
Chelsea square late In the afternoon,
and for hours doubtful battle was
waged At 8 o'clock word was passed
that the firemen were winning At
1880 official announcement was made
by Chief H. A. Spencer that the fire
was under control
"A great majority of the buildings
were of wood and were completely des-
troyed. but structures of other material
we're almost as quickly and thoroughly
moderated.
All the banks, more than threequar-
tiers of the church, half of the business
blocks and nearly all the school
houses were wiped out.
One hospital and day nursery were
destroyed. In the turmoil many of the
sick and infirm found difficulty In OBJ
tanning assistance, and several of them
narrowly escaped.
\ Late In the afternoon the wind had
carried burning embers across Chelsea
creek and buildings in East Boston
caught fire, hut extensive damage
there was prevented by prompt and
energetic work by the flremen.
Originates In Factory.
The fire originated in the rear OF the
Boston Backing companys works, on
West Third street, near the eastern
division Of the Boston & Maine rail-
road, in close proximity to the Everett
City line. The gale carried burning
Sshingles to score of wooden build
ings, most of them OF cheap construc-
ton.
The fire started almost from the ex-
treme southwestern section of the city
ana cut path to the end of Maverick
street, at the extreme southeastern end
OF the city. which borders Chelsea
creek. This is about one and a halt
miles from where the FIRE started. The
flames spread through the part of the
retail business section. which was
about midway between the two ex
IRENE limits reached by the fire.
Among the structures destroyed
were 10 churches. 2 hospitals, the pub
lie library, city hall. schoolhouses, 20
business blocks, nearly score of fac
tories and upward of 800 tenements
and dwelling houses.
Facts About Chelsea.
Chelsea is located in SUFFOLK county
Mass, and is a suburb of Boston, from
which it is distant two miles, on the
Boston & Maine railroad. 1t is con
nected with Charlestown by a bridge
across the Mystic river and with Bos
ton by ferry and steam and electric
railroads. The principal public build
ings are the courthouse, city hall, the
United States Naval and Marine hospi
tails, soldiers home. Fitz public library
ana OOU F6llOWS anu mooOhAS mans
The city contains also Union park ant
public Fairgrounds and a soldiers
monument.
Though Chelsea is a Residential
place, it has manufactures of rubber
goods, wooden. foundry and machine
shop products, shoes, brass goods
stoves and furnaces, tiles, pottery anC
other things. The city owns and oper
ates its waterworks.
The annual income of the city II
about $4,000 the principal expendi
lures are: $4,000 for the police depart
ment. $4,000 for the fire department
and s12O 900 for schools. The pOpula
ton in 1890 was $1,000 and in 19O
was 34,072.
First settled in 1926 as Winnisim
met. Chelsea was part of Boston iron
1884 to 1888, when it incorporated as
town under its present name. Here, Il
May. l775, occurred sharp skirmis
between a body of British troops an
1000 Americans under Stark and Put