The Washington times., 1909-01-17
Three Lives Believed 10
Have Been Lost, and
Many Are In
jured.
500 AUTOS BURNED
FIemen Battling With
Flames, Face Binding
Snow; Coliseum
Destroyed.

BOSTON, Jan. 17.-Tfnee lives
are believed to have been lost and
six acres in the garage district were
burned over this morning as he re-
suit Of fire which ragged in the
midst of binding blizzard that had
covered hydrantS under a foot of
ice. Blizzard and fire combined
caused accident after accident, am
bulances carrying away thirty fire.
men suffering with burns, frostoites
and from falls.
The COnfagraton burned $1,000
600 of property, destroying the
great coliseum which was formerly
the Providence railroad station, and
a dozen garages stocked with val
liable automobiles.
THREE MISSING.
Three chaufeurS who slept in the
coliseum building are missing. and
are supposed to have lost their lives,
but the Srnoldeing ruins cannot be
searched before night.
Gasolene in great quantities was
stored in and around the garages, 50
that explosion followed explosloH
while the firemen strove desperately
to prevent the flames from reach
ing one big gasometer, and the
largest reservoir of oil. in the
coliseum building.
General Alarm
Five alarms were turned in summon
Ing all the apparatus in greater Boston.
but the blizzard prevented the use OF
much of 1t, while falls from slippery
roofs disabled more than score OF
firemen.
The flames started in the coliseum
Half Of this building is an auditorium
where a six-day race was recently held.
and half is divided into garages and
storehouses for automobile dealers.
watchman Samuel T. Kennedy entered
the boiler room under the auditorium
Just before dawn to pull in his signaI
box. As he opened the iron door, an
explosion followed which hurled him
back. while a sheet Of fame set Are TO
his clothing
Discovery Of Blaze
Kennedy rushed out into the blizzard.
rolling around in the snow until ne had
extinguished the blaze. and then ne
pulled an alarm. Then joining Walter
savory, another watchman. he went
back into the building at a different
entrance and the two barely saved Pat
rick DoIan, a night washer in one o.
the garages. All three were taken 70
the relief hospital IN ambulances, and
it was said that all Will recover.
Before the first apparatus from the
nearest fre station arrived. the flames
had ragged through every garage in the
old railroad building, and Ct was im-
possible TO try to rescue the three chaIt-
feurs. who it is believed were asleep
there.
Explosion Spreads Fire.
Explosions of gasolene shook the dis
trict for blocks around. and threw The
flames out 70 all the smaller buildings
near the old coliseum, several of which
were formerly devoted to railroad uses.
and are now used as garages. A grea-
blaze Ieaped across half a dozen stor--
rOoms and surged against the building
occupied by the Baum Automobile OIL
and Grease Company. Another great
explosion there followed. and a strea.a
OF blazing oil flowed into the streets
Chief Mullen ordered extraordinstg
precautions to prevent the explosion ~
a greet reservoir Of gasOIene, containinE
a thousand gallons. buried foot under
ground in the heart OF the fire A hos
was nun to this spot as speedily as pos
sfbIe. and the nozzle pointed downward
10 the ground
Compelled TO abandon this nose. tH=
hremen kept 1t from burning by turJ-
ing another stream on the hose Aa
explosion OF this would have endangered