Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-26
SALEMF|REL0SS
NEAR S1O,OOO,0OO,
OFFICIALS FIGURE
Fourth of City's Population
Homeless as Result of
ConfIagration.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS NOT
IN PATH OF THE FLAMES
Many of the Finest Residences, Fac
tories and Business Houses
Are Burned.
THREE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED
Prompt Relief Measures Taken and
Plans Already Are Under
Way for Rebuilding
of City.
THREE KNOWN TO HAVE DIED


The conhagration which laid
waste more than a thousand
buildings in the historic city of
Salem was burning itself out
TODAY in the 1eveled ruins
CITY officials. after making a
careful compilation OF values, to-
day figured the total loss at
$4,000. 900. The burned district
followed the lines of a rough
semi-circle. three miles in length
and varying in width from half a
mile to mile and half.
Only Three Lives Lost.
The loss of life, SO far as known,
was restricted to three persons:
Mrs. Jennie Cunningham, whose
BODY was recovered from her
tenement home on Lafayette
street.
Samuel P. Withey, burned to
death in his home on Prescott
street, to which he had returned
TO save some personal belongings
after he had once escaped.
a third BODY. found in the mill
district. so burned that it was I'M
possible to determine the sex.
10000 People Homeless.
At least 10000 persons, fourth
of the citv's population, were
made homeless. Thousands
passed last night in the open.
Many hundreds were sheltered
il schools, churches and public
buildings in this city and Beverly.
Plans for Rebuilding City.
Refore the fire had been fairly checked
relief measures and plans for reoulioihs
we're under way. Gov. Walsh, Lieut. GOV.
Barry and Secretary OF State Donahue
spent the night here. The governor an
nounced that 5000 tents and tensAouses
and rations would be shipped TO the CITY
al once He also issued a call tor pup
lie meeting at the stateholse III bosloh
10 take further actlOn.
In the midst of the gloom caused py
the staggering blow TO the CITY, resi-
dents found cause for thankfulness IN the
fact that the more noted buildings anu
the museums with their priceless collec-
tions of antiquities. were spared Inc
birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the
House of Seven Cables, and the oio
custorn-house were threatened for tune,
and the flames approached dangerously
close to the Peabody Museum and the rs
Sex Institute but none of those structures
was damaged.
Under Rule of Militia.
The companies of militia summoned to
assist in maintaining order patrolied the
streets today Martial law was not de-
cIared. but no one was permitted to ap-
proach the fire-swept area without pass.
Only one attempt at looting was discov
cred.
On the common and in open spaces in
the outskirts of the city thousands OF
refugees tried to find little rest during
the night. Many stretched themselves out
on the grass: others had managed 10
save mattresses or rocking chairs from
their burning homes. Little groups hud-
died together about piles, OF household
goods. Some of the children were fright
ened and crying, others nailed the night
adventures lark.
From o'clock yesterday afternoon.
when terrific explosion occurred in the
factory of the korn Leather Company,
at Proctor and Boston streets. the flames
ragged practically unchecked until mid
night The explosion is thought to have
occurred among highly lnhammaole
patent leather This factory stood near
the foot of Gallows Hill. famous as the
hanging place of witches in early
colonial days. at the western end of
the city.
High Wind Spread Flames.
A high wind carried the flames
through the manufacturing district and
thence southeastward to the heart of
the city and across a thickly populated
tenement district to the water front.
Great quantities of apparatus from
nsighboring cities assisted in fighting
the flames. and finally succeeded in
checking their passage southwark. To
out at the waters edge. The final stand
was made near the Boston and Maine
railroad station Here several build
ings were dynamited. and the fremen
at last gained the upper hand saving
the northeastern part of the city.
A separate ire, which the police say
was of incendiary origin, destroyed
thirteen dwellings in North Salem and
threatened the plant of the Salem Oil
company.
Panic in Leather Factory.
There was panic among employees in
the korn factory. but only one person
has seriously hurt in leaving the build.
Ing.
The first spread of the fire was on the
west side of the city. at the foot Of
Gallows Hill territory. about two mile:
long and more than half a mile wide
extending from Proctor and Bostor
! streets on the north to Jefferson avenue