Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-07-03
BIG PART OF ;
SALEM BURNED
1000 Buildings il Ruins at a
Loss OF Millions.
$1,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS
City Is Under Martial Law and Sol
diers Ordered to Shoot Looters.
Four Known Dead.

The great fire which destroyed al
most half of the city of Salem, Mass.
was gotten under control after burn
ing unchecked for fifteen hours.
The property loss will not be les
than $5,O0O,C00, insurance experts say
and will probably eventually tota
three times as much.
Four persons are known to have
perished. Several hundred are unac
counted for in the confusion, but it is
not believed the loss Of life Is great
Fifty persons, men for the most part
are suffering from burns and injuries
and about $1,000 are homeless for the
time being.
About a thousand buildings were
destroyed by the flames. The fire
originated in the Korn Leather com
pany's factory, on the west side, and
swept through the shoe and leather
manufacturing district, running every
building in a curving path two and
half miles long and more than mile
wide.
Burning embers, carried by strong
northwest wind, started fires in two
other sections, the fashionable resi-
Dental district adjacent to Lafayette
street and manufacturing and tene
ment house district on the peninsula.
Later brands kindled fourth fire in
the plant of the Salem Oil company
in Mason street, northwest Of the Es'
sex county court house. A terrific e&
plosion occurred when the oil tanks
blew up and showers of sparks fell
threateningly on a part of the town
that before had not been in imminent
danger. This fire, however, was check
ed after it had destroyed the oil COM
pany's plant and thirteen houses.
Contrary to, earlier reports, all the
historic and literary landmarks es
capped destruction. These included the
Peabody Museum, Essex Institute, Ok.
Custom House, where Nathaniel Haw
titorne did much of his literary work
and "The House of the Seven Gables,
made famous by the novelist.
Lack Of water helped in the destrut'
tion and the city is practically wit
cut water even for drinking purpose
Thousands OF the homeless are bein
fed in a great army camp set up o.
Highland avenue. A thousand cots, ii
thousand tents and a thousand bla2
kcts are being distributed among tbe
sufferers. There are rations for 10,0OH
being served by the militia commi
sary department.
Drinking water was brought in buck
cts from springs on the outskirts OF
the city or carried from Peabody.
Beverly, Marblehead and Lynn. 81
small was the supply that only a
scantily filled lineup could be allotted
each applicant.
The city government met and adopt
ed a relief plan. This provided for the
establishment of three relief stations
and the transfer, for sanitary reasons,
of the homeless ones from public halls
and churches, to tents erected on the
base ball park and the common. There
will be a tent colony of 5000 people
in the base ball park. A telegram re
cciTed by Mayor Hurley from Secre.
tary of War Garrison at Washington
said that all necessary tents and the
equipment would be furnished by the
national government.
The greatest loss has fallen up>n
the factory employees, chiefly French.
Canadians and Poles. They comprise
a majority of the homeless, and they
have lost not only their homes and
personal belongings, but their employ
ment.
The city is now under martial law.
All looters WI! lie shot on sight, II
has been annoUlccd, and Gordon OF
soldiers extends around the burned
section.
The fire started in the factory of the
Korn Leather company at Proctor and
Boston streets, in the center of tn
shoe and leather manufacturing DIS.
trict, in the western section of the
city.
Three hundred men and women op.
eratives were at work in this build.
ing when it was suddenly shaken by
terrific explosion. The cause of this
has not been determined but all al
once flames appeared in half dozen
different spots.
Block alter block was Gynamited in
an effort to check the fire. The rail.
road depot was among the buildings
blown up.