Year: 1872

Benham preparations were made for the blowing
M OF suflcient number OF buildings to clear
space in the probable course OF the flames, and
thus check the fre BY robbing 1t Of material
for its furious passion. At three O'Clock
this work OF mercifui destruction was begun. and
tho explosions which followed in rapid succession
were, indeed, welcome sounds to the ears OF the
panic-strickeD community. for It betokcned fear
less, honest radical effort to save what was now
left OF the burning city. Three discharges were
made in block ON Devonshire street. and 1t
threw the building partially down; but IT
did no apparent good, for the names jumped over
it almost instantly again ana again. This work Of
destruction and demolition went on, each explosion
shaking the whole city and breaking windows miles
away. Portions Of Federal and Congress streets
were blown up, but stlli the


FLAMES WOULD 0vERLnAP THE VACANCY
created. 1t was not until daylight that there
seemed to como any good or relief from this wfu,,
but absolutely necessary destruction OF some Of
Bostons finest warehouses;, and probably even then
all these efforts would have been abor-
tive but for the concentration OF nearly
all the fire engines upon one particular
point 1t was about nine O'Clock when there came
the first sense Of relief, that the Hremen might
probably save the northern and western sections
Of the city, both Of which had for hours seemed
inevitably doomed to the same fate as the
business portion This feeling, however.
was not universal. The wind was still
blowing fresh, and many shook their heads
ominousy and declared that the whole space, from
the wharves to the Back Bay. and from the south
end to the Charleston ana Cambridge bridges,
would be in ruins before night. No pen can
picture, no brain can frame into thought, the
effect that this appalling and threatening prospect
had upon the people,


EVERY ONE SEEMED PERFECTLY FRANTIC,
wandering hither and thlther in great crowds, ana
only adding to the CONSERVATION that ragged
through the ranks OF the nremen and about the
more immediate localities OF the raging names
Merchant princes. who on Saturday locked
their doors upon immense treasures, now
found themselves not only impoverished
but threatened with being made homeless by the
the excited masses, but where and what for
they could not TELL All, all was consterna-
tion. The ruined merchants, the impover-
ished mechanics, the helpless and home
of thousands Of other representatives OF society,
all united in the general mourning OF what had
and what might come. But


THE ENERGETIC BUT EXHAUSTED FIREMEN
still kept at work, and in the very face OF gen.
eral despair fought the flames more determinedy
than ever.


Between eight and nine O'Clock was the most
critical period in the whole connagration. The
whole Of the Fifth ward had been nearly destroyed,
and from Summer street almost down to MIX a
clean sweep had been made Of everything on the
east side Of Washington street. The old South
church, the famous sanctuary Of many generations,
on the northeast corner OF Washington and MIX
streets, was now the objective point If that sue
cumbed to the furious element it was generally
conceded that the whole Of the north and west ends
would follow. Thousands watched the old spire
with breathless anxiety and prayed fervently that
1t might be spared. The nremen worked with
determination, inspired 1t seemed as II by Heaven
and for an hour or more not less than


FIFTY STREAMS POURED UPON THE AN GENT TABER-


NACLE


and the burning buildings sur rounding it.
Steadily but slowly the brave fellows seemed to
get the mastery Of the nend, and finally, after
hours persistent TOLL they came out triumphanty
The old ''South" was saved. and so was half Of
Boston. Thanksgivings mingled with tears and
'God bless you' were showered in profusion upon
the timely saviors But while this battle was
being fought the fiery enemy was making
flank movement In another direction
Devonshire street, already destroyed on both
sides from its southern extremity clear up to Milk,
was now being moved away upon the west side
down to Water street, and threatened to be, what
subsequently was, one Of the most disastrous fea.
lures Of the whole connagration. At the same time
the flames took turn up Congress street as far as
Water, dodging around the magnificent New Post
ONCE structure and fastening its fury upon large
new granite building on the north side OF Water
street and Immediately adjoining the elegant es-
tablshment OF the Boston Daily Post. The heat
which now came from the burning OF the sinuous
structure was OF a kind which need not be de-
scribed. 1t was SO intense asito cause the streams
which we're vainly directed against 1t to as.
sumo all the


CoLoRs OF THE RAINBOW,


and the Water street front OF the new Post ONCE