Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-01
five DEAD IN
SALEM's BIG B G BLAZE I:
Industrial Center and Hundreds
Of Residences Destroyed In
Massachusetts City,.

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 1000 homeless and caused DAM
age estimated at $12,00o,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 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 a curving
path two miles long.
Burning embers carried by the wind
started fires in two other sections,
the fashionable residential district in
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 we're called out Word was
sent Governor Walsh. He dashed to
the stricken city in an automobile.
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.
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 LOO 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 to
save as much of their property as pos
sible. 1t was in this way the great
est number were injured. Ambulances
were on the 60 continually carrying
the injured to hospitals.
While the fire was at it's height a
large water main near Beverly bridge
broke. At the start of the fire the
water pressure had been low. With
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 sent out to other cities were
being answered. Great quantities of
fire fighting apparatus arrived only to
find there was no water.
The firemen centered their efforts
on the residence district, at one end
of which were the colonial residences
and places of historic interest. Their
efforts were of no avail Residence
after residence was devastated; hun.
dreds Of fashionable homes were de
stroyed.
Tenement District Wiped Out.
From this section to the tenement
district was only short jump fol
the flames. There was no apparatus
here and the flames licked up tene
ment after tenement.
The places where the witches were
hanged over two centuries ago was
swept at almost the same time. Places
rich in tradition were destroyed.
The different fires rapidly ate theil
way outward until they finally merged
into one tremendous swath three
miles wide.
The fire ragged throughout the night
The widest havoc prevailed.
Il Hundreds Of people, homeless
sleepless and rendered paupers in ont
blow, wandered the streets.
At daybreak the flames were still
at work. Smoke begrimed firemen
tired out after eighteen hours strug
ala wara holding tho blaze within fhI