Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-28
BOSTON AND VICINITY.
About $5,00o,cc0 Damage Is the EST.
mate Now Made.

Boston, Mass, Dec. PA $5,0C0,0GO
loss is the estimate made Monday of
the havoc wrought in and around Bos-
ton by the blizzard which Sunday
swept New England and drove rec
ord tide over the coast.
No fatalities, however, have been re-
ported besides the four known to have
occurred Sunday in Chelsea where II
tidcl wave. bursting through the dyke
along Island End river, flooded so acres
of homes ard forced 25o0 persons to
| fec scantily clad into the raging
| storm.
| All over New England wire service
companies are trying 10 restore com.
munication In every direction service
! is being only gradually restored, the
damage being so excessive. Thirty-two
| cities and towns, Sunday night,
plunged in darkness owing to the cut
ting off of the electric light service.
! hope to have their lighting facilities
restored by Monday night but it is
doubtful if this work can be completed
so early.
The storm was easily the greatest
that New England has experienced in
II years. MI along the coast phenom-
email tides were reported. In many
places sea walls were battered to
pieces, hnulevards ruined and clubs
ard houses olong the shore destroyed.
II Boston tie tide swept over the
'vrarves across Atlantic avenue and
as far inland as the Chamber Of Com
, merce. 1t is estimated that the damage
| in this section will reach at least $780,
| 0G0.
| The worst damage wrought by the
storm was in Chelsea and Everett
where, it is believed, it will be several
| weeks before the tide gate on the Is
| land End river can he repaired and
! the flooded district reclaimed. This
means~that the many homeless people
will lose the larger part Of their house,
hold goods. Their plight is pitiable.
Having escaped through the snow,
scantily clad, and many Of them bare
footed they had to stand for hours
in the blizzard waiting for wagons to
| take them to shelter.
| Hundreds of the homeless were
taken care of in relief stations estah-
lished in public schools and churches.
| No further damage resulted from the
| tide late Sunday night. The water did
not rise as high as in the forenoon, but
| was a couple feet lower. The police had
, taken precautions, however, ano no
one in the submerged section Of the
| two cities was in danger when the
tide was at It's highest.
! News from Gloucester was delayed
badly nut reports that arrived from
there early Monday showed that the
full force of the blizzard had Visited
the little fishing city. Some fears werc
| felt for the fishing fact which was Oft
shore VI her the storm began. 1t Is
thought. however, that the feet will
come safely inc port Monday. All wire
communication between this city and
Gloucester was cut off and train SER
vice was freely delayed.
\ disastrous fire added to the dam
| age Of the storm in Gloucester. Four
teen buildings on Rocky Neck were
r5urned, causing a loss estimated at
100000. The damage by the flood and
blizzard will bring the total up to a.
most s15GO00 One small fishing schcon-
! er went ashore on Ten Pound Island,
but was pulled off by tugs without
! great damage.
| The three-masted schooner Nantas-
CONTINUED on Page Twelve.)