The Potteries Examiner : — 1872-11-16 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THBRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT BOSTON-THE  CITY IN FLAMES.  Boarorr, November 10.—A terrible fire has occurred here,whieh has annihilated the finest businese quarter of the city. The whole district burnt was built during the past decade, at a vast expense. It consisted of magnificene streets and acnares, as magnicent as any in the world. The houses were solid and substantial, many of granite, but they were utterly unable to resist the progress of the flames. This terrible catastrophe is considered a striking demonstration of munieipal inefficiency. Such ruin in such a district is the fault of the fire department. The engines were half an hour in arriving after the first outbreak of the flames. The excuse made is the horns disease; but no provision what. ever had been made against an emergency. In Boston, as in New York, general polities rule in purely local concern.. fhe chief engineer of the tire brigade is a partisan, and as such obtains his appointment. . _ _  The old south church, the most interesting historical monument in Boston, where Warren defied the Royal authority, delivered his oration on the Boeton maeiaore, and where resistance to the tea tax was organised, where for a century and-a-half the election sermons have been preached to the Governors of Massachusetts, is burnt.  All the amusements of the city are suspended, and Mr. Fronde's lectures are postponed.  BOSTON, November 10 (Midnight). The conflagration has at last stoppei, after lasting for 20 hours and destroying 70 sores of buildings. The loss is estimated at not exceeding 100,000000 dollars, and the wool, leather, and dry goods trades are said to be the heaviest losers. Troops have been stationed to guard the property. Several lives have been lost, and many persons hays been injured.  BOSTON, November 11.  The fire broke out again shortly after midnight. The second fire wee caused by explosions of gas, and it has destroyed six large stores. The flames, however, have again been checked. The interior of the Exchange and the Post-office are destroyed, and Trinity Church is but a mass of ruins.  The area which has been devastated is probably two or three square miles in extent, and the damage is estimated at fifty millions sterling. The list of firms which are sufferers by the fire fills nearly a column of the New York papers, and includes many of the °Pest and wealthiest tradesmen. Oro or two  merchant. are Asia to have committed suicide. Some fears of. a financial panic were entertained, but Mr.  Bontwell had telegraphed that there was no reason for them, and had promised to render every assistance in his power. Meanwhile Chicago and other cities have offered aid, and relief meetings are at once to be held all over the country. In Boston itself, too, relief committees are already at work, and a meeting has been held with a view to the rebuilding of the city.  BOSTON, November 11.—According to the latest and what are believed to be the most reliable estimates, the loss by the fire will amount to 80,000,000 dole., which chiefly falls upon local capitalists who are considered able to bear it. The number of buildings destroyed are 930 business premises and 60 dwelling-houses. The Boston insurance companies are able to pay about 50 per cent, of their policies. It is officially stated that the Treasury will render aid to the sufferers by selling geld and buying bends largely. _ _ . .  The intended journey of President Grant to the West, and of Mr. ikeretary Bontwell to the East, has been postponed, in eoneequenee of the calamity.  New Yoxe, November 11.—Great excitement WWI experienced to-day in the Walbstreet Market, and the stooks suffered a considerable decline. According to estimates in the New York papers the losses are as follow : The Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company, 1,500,000 dots.; the Royal, 1,250,000 dole.; the Imperial, 1,000,000 dole ; the North British, 600,000 dots.; and the Commercial Union, 375,000 dole.  Over 1,000,000 dole. In gold will be shipped for Europe on Wednesday.