THE CITY OF BOSTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3047, 23 November 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE CITY OF BOSTON.

Several large fires have from time to time devastated the city of Boston. In November, 1676, happened a fire which destroyed forty-six dwellings, a church, and other buildings. There was no lire department in existence at that time, but fortunately the inhabitants were favored with a rain, or the conflagration would have been more extensive. A fire department was then organised, but not with much immediate effect, for in 1679 another conflagration swept away 80 dwellings and 70 warehouses. The loss was estimated at L 200.000 sterling. The cry of incendiaries then commenced, and ever since has been kept up. These evils were reg irded as direct visitations for the sins of the town. Strange how history repeats itself! In 1692 Boston was agitated by the discussion of the question whether it is lawful for a man to marry the sister of his deceased wife, ami they decided it iu the negative, which decision was followed by the enactment of severe laws against marriages of affinity by the general court. Boston has suffered n uch by famine as well as fire. In 1698 the harbor was frozen up, quite out to the sea, for two months. Trade suffered severely, and the people were reduced to the verge of famine. Fourteen years later there was a destructive conflagration, which destroyed 100 large buildings, including the first church that had been erected at Boston after the rude hut which had witnessed the primitive devotions of the early Pilgrim Fathers. Several persons were killed and others wounded by the blowing up of houses, and a number of sailors perished while piously endeavoring to save the church bell. In 1721 small-pox raged virulently at Boston ; half the population were attacked, and nearly 1000 persona died within a few days. Ou the 18th November, 1756, the town was dreadfully shaken by the occurrence of an earthquake, perhaps the severest ever known in Now Kngland. The greatest fire, however, that ever occurred in .Boston previous to the occurrence just telegraphed, was on the 20th March, 1760. It is spoken of as the “great fire” to this day in the United States. It consumed 349 buildings, the entire property destroyed being valued at L1U0,()00. Relief was sent to the sufferers from the cither colonies and from England. The locale, of the last and greatest fire is mentioned by telegraph as being iu Centre and Commercial streets ; and if this statement be correct, the conflagration must have ranged over a wide area. These streets are in Boston North. Commercial street abuts upon the bay, running around it in a semicircular direction i asr, north, and west, numerous wharves jutting nut from it into Boston Harbor. Centre street lies, however, farther south, and landward about midway between Boston Hay and the Charles Kiver, though nearer to Commercial street oil the eastern than the north-western side of the city. The point, therefore, where the devastation would be greatest would include a, dense ngaas of business buildings, and embrace some of the principal wharves in Boston Harbor, To illustrate how great the damage may have been, it may be mentioned that there are no less than twenty-three jetties for the shipment of merchandise running out from Commercial street, and that near them, in immediate proximity to the same street, are corn-factors’ establishments, flour mills, shipwrights and caulkers, sailmakers cloiffi ing warehouses —besides whiph North Bos-, top, or the North End, is the olde.st part of the place, find 'still retains much of the irregular appearance that characterised it in Colonial times. Some of the streets arc crooked iud very narrow, a few being little better than lanes. Many old buildings yet stand there, The public buildings that woqld stand most in danger would he the Corn Exchange, tho Gas Works, tap state Customs at the corner of India and Centre streets, the Volunteer Hall, the bio k of buildings at the corner of Richmond and Commercial streets. Centre and Commercial streets arc business thoroughfares, containing many large mercantile buildings, end the loss sustained by the trading portion of the city has, no dpubt, been very severe. The Fire Brigade of Boston is regarded as one of the most efficient public bodies iu the Uniou, and the appliances for dealing with fire are of the most perfect description. This being the case, the insurance rate is low, and it has been found, in most instances, whore loss of property has occu rod, that it was insured nearly up to its full value.