THE GREAT FIRE IN BOSTON.

Southland Times, Issue 1690, 17 January 1873, Page 3

THE GREAT FIRE IN BOSTON.

♦ ' — The following telegram* regarding the above calamity are taken from the San Francisco papers : — New York, November 10. — The intelligence of the destructive fire at Boston, as it became known at several kotels and places of public resort here, to night, created intense interest. The fire is considered by residents of that place now here as likely to spread extensively, as it has reached localities where the buildings are mostly wooden. The buildings on tho streets already reported as attacked by the fire, are mainly constructed of granite, and compose the finest portion of the business section of the city. Boston, November 10, 12.30 a.m. — The fire still rages. It is feared that the entire area from Summer street, on South Washington street, on West Milk street, and on North street to the water east will be laid low. 1 a.m. — The flames have reached Washington street, north of Franklin. All the splendid granite warehouses on Franklin and Wentworth Squares and vicinity are burned. Feara are now entertained that the flames will sweep everything to State street, if not further north. 1.45 a.m. — Among the prominent buildings already destroyed, are the Cathedral Block, Daniel Webster Block, Pilot buildings,. a "d the rear of the Boston Transcript building. Orders have been given to blow up the corners at the junction of Devonshire and Milk streets. The fire is spreading towards South Boston. It ia also progressing towards Statt street, and from Franklin street. The Insurance Block, opposite the Pilot office, chiefly occupied by wholesale woollen dealers, is now on fire. Immense crowds of people fill the streets, and every effort is being made by them to save property, which is being transferred to various parts of the city. 2 a.m. — The fire has broken out on both sides of Pearl street and the corner of High street, and threatens the destruction of this great centre of the shoe and leather business. 2.30 a.m. — Two buildings have just been blown up at tbe south corner of Devonshire and Milk street*. 3.10 a.m. — The lurid columns of flame and smoke, the detonations caused by the blowing up of buildings and crushing in and falling of walls, make the scene grand and terrible. Nearly the whole population appears to be on the streets and house-tops, watching the conflagration 4.15 a.m. — The conflagration continues with terrible effect. After the building was blown up, tbe apparent effect was increasing the horrible volume of flame. The newspaper offices which are on the line of fire, made all preparations for re moving books, papers, &c. The Tranecript office is already in flames, and the old, cool, South Church, dear to all Bostoninns, has at last fallen a victim to the fire. The Journal office will next have to succumb, and the Post and Traveller will soon follow. The second building to succumb was directly opposite that in which the fire broke out, and was occupied by Main, Mullin, and Bins, Harding Brothers and Co., Bowen, Moore, and Co., George Lide, Carter and Co., Conant Brothers — all wholesale dealers in dry and fancy goods. This was at the corner of Otis Place. The heat now became infernal. The streets ran rivers of water, and every moment was heard the sound of granite blocks exploding, and entire walls fell into tbe streets, making them impassable. The firemen were driven from one station to another, and many an engine was kept nobly at work, while the firemen were wet by band. The engineer could onlr hold his place while a stream of water waa kept playing on him. Blocks of granite weighing tons were split as if by powder, and hurled across wide streets. Planks were flying through the air like feathers. Women erected barricades and worked behind th,em, but they were burned almost j as soon as erected. An hour had hardly elapsed before it was evident that Beebe'a block, the finest business structure in the city, built of granite, five storeys high, ] with that cursed Mansard roof over all, must go within thirty minutes. The flames were coming out in fiery billows from every window, and up tbe stairway leading to A. T. Stewart's rooms, a perfect column of flame. This building j served but as fuel to the flames. Whole pieces of dry gooda went whistling acrosß the square, lodging on tbe window-sills of the magnificent stores on Devonshire street and Beebe's block. Several minutes after the inside fell, but tbe heat warped it, and two millions soon lay a heap of stone, brick, and mortar. A hurricane of wind now raged, and, owing to the intense" heat, every building caught like tinder. Four-storey granite blocks caught like shavings, and deafening explosions were constantly heard. A new terror was now added to the Babel of confusion. The tenement houses at the upper end of the street were being fast licked in by the flames, and women, crazed and fainting, were rushing to and fro, carrying children, crockery, clocks, bedding, Ac. November 11, 2.25 a.m. — Fire has again broken out in tbe stores of Marsh and Co , and Shreve, Crump, and Low, jewellers, and is raging violently. It is hoped, however, that the fire department will be able to keep it under. The gas is going out all over the city.