The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-26

COlOHl6l QAy8, Ut the WO8tCEA Gnu "a
the city. A high wind carried tho
flames through the manufacturing
district and thence southeastward to
the heart Of the city and across q
thickly populated tenement district
to the water front.
The wind shifts.
A shift in the wind sent the fire
northward along Lafayette street
where scores Of the city's finest resi-
out to another manufacturing center
on the shore of the harbo-' and de-
stroyed large factories. In the inter-
vening area scores OF business houses
were swept away. The Salem hospital
was among the buildings burned. but
all the patients were safely removed.
Great quantities Of apparatus from
neighboring cities assisted in fighting
the flames and finally succeeded in
checking their passage southwark. To
the eastward they. burned themselves
out at the waters edge. The final
stand was made near the Boston &
Maine railway station. Here several
buildings were dynamited and the fire.
men at last gained the upperhand.
saving the northeastern part Of the
city.
A separate fire which the police say
was OF inceL diary origin, destroyed Is
dwellings in North Salem, and threat
ened the plant Of the Salem Oil COM
pany.
Starts I'm Leather Factory.
Starting at 2 o'clock as the result
of an explosion in the Korn Leather
company plant. the flames spread in
all directions, defying all efforts Of
the firemen.
Block after block was dynamited.
but the hre checked in one direction
was driven by shifting winds into new
paths of destruction.
At the start the water pressure WAS
low and when the fight became des-
perate q great water main near Bev-
erly Bridge broke. leaving the firemen
practically helpless.
Meanwhile calls for assistance were
rushed to nearby cities and an enor-
ed to find that there was no water to
check the progress of the flames.
The entire section occupied by the
italian and Greek colonies was devas-
tated. Most OF the two thousand per-
sons who had homes in that district
c. A. building. the state armory. po-
lice stations and other public build
ings.
The railroads leading from the city
were crowded with refugees on foot. m
motors and all sorts Of conveyances.
Many carried all they had saved Of
their household possessions wrapped
in sheets and shawls over their shoul-
ders.
Second Fire Starts.
Firebrands, carried into the business
section to the north, started q second
fire at North street. A little later q
tank Of the Standard Oil company In
the extreme northwest part Of the city
was ablaze and presently q third fire
was leveling the buildings in that vi
cinity.
The blaze was started by an unex-
planned explosion In the factory Of the
Korn Leather company at Proctor and
Boston streets This 10 in the shoe and
leather manufacturing district in the
western part Of the city. 1t quickly
spread through the structure and
jumped to adjoining property.
Famed by brisk northwest wind,
the flames swept rapidly through the
entire section. destroying more than
twenty factory buildings and scores OF
dwellings and small stores.
There was a panic among employees
in the Korn factory. but only one per-
son was injured severely In leaving the
building.
Spread of the Fire.
The fire spread first on the west
side Of the city at the foot Of Gallows
Hill. Territory about two miles long
and more than half q mile wide, ex-
tending from Proctor and Boston
5tICCtS Ou TIC u O0ueESOn ave-
nue. on the south. was devastated. In
this district are Proctor, Pope, Broad,
Hawthorne, Winthrop, Mount Vernon,
Endicott and Peabody streets, on
which practically all the structures
were destroyed.
Falling embers started fires in
South Salem, and he more exclusive
residence part of the city. All the
available fire-fghting apparatus was
in the historic Gallows Hill section,
where 1t had responded to q general
alarm. and South Salem was left
without protection. One building aft
er another burst into flames.
For several hours the fire in this
district was confined to q small oval.
but as evening approached, the flames
spread In all directions, destroying
hundreds OF residences in the district,
including many handsome homes on
the most fashionable thoroughfares.
The City Orphan asylum on Lafay-.
cite street. sheltering $50 orphans.
was destroyed. All the children were
taken by the NUNS to place Of safety.
The Salem hospital was the next
prey. The patients were removed to
safety on stretchers. A child was born
shortly after one Of the women was
recovered.
Nothing to Check Flames.
There was no apparatus here to
check the flames, which licked up
scores of tenements and high wooden
apartment houses. st. Joseph's church,
a new brick structure with lofty twin
towers, and the adjoining school and
convent buildings, recently erected at
a cost of X million dollars. made
ready fuel. .
At the start the water pressure was
low. and when the fight had become
desperate, great water main near
the Beverly bridge broke, leaving the
firemen practically helpless.
Meantime calls for assistance had
been sent to nearby cities and an
enormous quantity OF apparatus rang
ing from antiQuated tubs from towns
and villages to the new high pressure
motor engine Of the Manchester, N. H.,
department responded.
The Manchester angina ,,ndorfoolr A<,