Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-07-01
HALF SALEM, MASS, IN RUINS.
Estimated Property Loss, $2O,OOO,-
O00-NO Lives Lost.

Salem, Mass, June 25.-Nearly
half the "Old Witch City" of Salem,
rich in historic buildings and tradi-
ton, was devastated to-day and to-
night by a fire that caused an esti-
mated loss of $20,OOO,OOO. A thou
sand buildings were destroyed, in
cludlng "a score Of manufacturing es-
tablishments, and made 10000 OF
the 10000 residents homeless.
The Hre originated in the Korn
Leather Factory, on the west side of
the cityS, about 2 o'clock this after
noon and swept through the shoe
and leather manufacturing district,
running tevery building in a curving
path two miles long and more than
a half-mile wide.
Burning embers, carried by
strong northwest wind, started fires
in two other sections, the fashiona-
Bile residential district adjacent to
Lafayette street, and a manufacture
ing and tenement house district on
the peninsula, bounded by Palmers
Cove, South river and the water
front. }f1
X Fire Brands Fly.
Late In the evening brands kim
died a fourth fire in the plant Jos the
Salem OIL Company in Mason street.
The oil tanks blew up with a terrific
report and showers of sparks fell
threateningly on part of the town
that before had not been in immi-
nent danger. This fire, however, was
checked after it had destroyed the
oil compRny's plant and 13 houses.
WhenSthe flames were believed to
be under control at IL o'clock to-
night All the historic and literary
landmark had escaped destruction.
These included the Peabody Museum,
Essex Institute, customs house,
where; Nathaniel Hawthorne did
much of his literary work, and the
House OF the Seven Cables" made
famous ty the novelist.
Several buildings were dynamited
and late to-night it looked as though
the fire, had been checked. No fatal
titles had been reported up to mid
night, but in the confusion it was
impossible to estimate the casual
ties. Some so injured persons were
removedkto hospitals.
Thousands Of homeless were
caa.mlpepS a.l ON Salem common ,tornight
sands't he, city was polieed by lnilitia2
men.
The great destruction was due to
poor water pressure.
Late tonight fire brands carried
into the business section started a
second fire at North street. A little
later tank Of the Standard Oil
Company in the extreme northwest
OF the city was ablaZe and presently
third fire was leveling the build
ings in that vicinity.
The burned buildings include the
plants of a score of manufacturing
companies, among them the big fac
tory of the Naumkeag Cotton Mills,
twice as many business places, st.
JoSeph's Roman Catholic church, re-
Gently erected at a cost Of a Quarter
OF million dollars, the orphan asy-
lum and more than 200 residences
and tenement buildings. Among
these residences were colonial houses
which artists have declared to be
the finest type of that architecture in
the country.
Fight Fire.
A determined effort was made to
stop the fire at the Boston G. Maine
railroad station close to the center
of the city. Several garages were
dynamlted after a tower in the rail
road yard had burned. The entire
district occupied by the Italian and
Greek colonies was devastated Most
or the 1000 persons who had homes
in that district were housed tempo
rarlly at the Y. NJ. G. A. building.
the State armOry, police station and
other public buildings.
me DlaZe was started by an un-
explained explosion in the factory of
the Korn Leather Company.
AT the start the water pressure
was low and when the fight had be-
come desperate a great water main
near Beverly Bridge broke, making
the hremen virtually helpless. Mean
time calls for assistance had been
sent to nearby cities and an enorm-
Gus quantity of apparatus responded.
The Manchester On. H. engine
undertook to pump water from the
ocean. Boston, Lynn and other
cities sent apparatus and details of
police. But the combined efforts OF
the great aggregation OF fire-fghting
machlnes were futile, and when
darkness fell dynamite was used.
several blocks in the path Of the
hames were blown up in hone of
checking their progress, but a tickle
wind carried the destrution in a new
direction.
ine great loss is partially covered
Dy insurance, estimated at about So
100000