The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-06-27
LOSS IS ESTIMATED
AT TEN MILLIONS
Industrial Center and Hundreds
Of Residences Destroyed in
Massachusetts City.

Salem, Mass, June 27.-Nearly half
of the historic city OF Salem, rich in
historic buildings and tradition. is in
ruins as the result of a most destruc-
tive fire.
The disaster has cost at least five
lives, has practically wiped out the
industrial and manufacturing districts,
destroyed hundreds of homes, rem
dered IL, 900 homeless and caused dam
age estimated at $4,000, ,000
Over fifty persons were injured.
The fire started from a mysterious
explosion in the Korn leather factory
on the west side of the city. In a few
minutes the flames had spread to
other buildings. The fire was soon
beyond control 1t swept through the
leather manufacturing district, de-
stroying every building in curving
path two miles long.
Burning embers carried by the wind
started fires in two other sections,
the fashionable residential district q
South Salem and the manufacturing
and tenement district along the river
front
People Are Panic Stricken.
The people became panic stricken,
the police were unable to control the
situation and four companies of local
militia WEI called out Word was
sent Governor Walsh He dashed to
the stricken city in an automobile.
Volunteers aided the fremen, but
water seemed to have no effect on the
flames
Late in the AFTERNOON dynamite was
used and whole blocks were blown
into debris This seemed only to
hasten the progress of the flames.
Early in the evening the wind car
ried burning brands to the plant OF
the Salem Oil company The oil
tanks caught fire. They blew up
showering sparks and burning oil on
parts of the city that had not been
in imminent danger before.
Firemen were hurried to the section
about the oil plant After a terrible
fight this fire was checked after ii
had destroyed the oil plant and thir
teen houses.
AS the wind carried burning embers
TO different sections of town the panic
among the people grew. Thugs from
Boston arrived bent on looting the
town. Governor Walsh, in order to
control the situation, ordered out the
entire Fifth regiment of state militia
Ten companies, numbering LEO men
have patroled the streets since and
the city is practically under martial
law.
Many Persons Are Injured.
The panic among the people in
creased as they saw buildings of all
kinds being destroyed. Many dashed
into burning structures in an effort tc
save as much of their property as pos
sible. 1t was in this way the great
est number were injured. Ambnlances
were on the go continually carrying
the injured to hospitals.
Reports of injuries from all parts
of the city began coming in and soon
common wagons and automobiles
were pressed into service to get the
injured ones to places where they
| could be given medical attendance
Every doctor In town was called upon
While th fire was at its height &
large water main near Beverly bridge
| broke. At the start of the fire the
water pressure had been low. Witt
| the breaking OF the big main the fire
men We're practically helpless.
| Dynamite was again resorted to. By
, this time calls for assistance which
had been sc 1T out to other cities were
being answ cred. Great quantities o.
fire fightins apparatus arrived only tc
fnd there was no water.
Hundreds Of Homes Burned.
The firemen centered their efforts
on the residence district, at one enc
OF which were the colonial residences
and places of historic interest. Theil
Shorts were Of no avail Residence