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diff --git a/78708-0.txt b/78708-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f925c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/78708-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2651 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78708 *** + + + + +[Illustration: VIEW OF THE BURNING CITY FROM POWDERHORN HILL] + + + + + THE BURNING OF CHELSEA + + BY + WALTER MERRIAM PRATT + + WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS + FROM ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS + + [Illustration] + + _BOSTON_ + SAMPSON PUBLISHING COMPANY + 1908 + + + + + _Copyright, 1908, by_ + SAMPSON PUBLISHING COMPANY + + First impression, June, 1908 + + _Printed by The Sparrell Print + Boston, Massachusetts_ + + +_The author dedicates this book to Captain James H. Smyth, Lieutenant +Olin D. Dickerman, Lieutenant Harry J. Kane, and the enlisted men of +the Eighth Company, Coast Artillery Corps, with whom he served in +Chelsea on Provost Guard during the week following the fire._ + + + + +PREFACE + + +This book is intended by its author to be a story of THE BURNING +OF CHELSEA as he saw it,--a contribution to local history based on +personal knowledge and observation. No one man saw, or could see, all +the phases of the conflagration, but the writer saw more than most. +He was actively engaged during the entire course of the fire in the +saving of persons and property, and was able to closely observe the +whole progress of the flames. He served as a volunteer fireman for +many hours and afterward on provost guard, being at work continuously +for forty-eight hours without sleep. As he was thus present during the +entire period of greatest stress, his narration consists of first-hand +facts. + +It was thought advisable to add chapters on the history of Chelsea, +and some phases of the period immediately following the fire, for the +information of those not familiar with the city, and also a chapter on +the future of the city. + +The illustrations are from photographs, and the author’s thanks +for courteous permission to use them is due to Frank Roy Fraprie, +Robert Buck Jeffers, of Chelsea, Mass., _Leslie’s Weekly_, William J. +McClintock, Frank Thompson, the Utica _Saturday Globe_, and Royal S. +Wentworth. + +Mr. Jeffers is maker of the frontispiece, and pictures on pages 56, 78, +and 102. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I Historical Chelsea 15 + + II Statistics of the Fire 31 + + III The Start 39 + + IV Beyond Control 52 + + V Under Control 72 + + VI Night among the Ruins 75 + + VII Day Dawns upon the Ruins 83 + + VIII The Firemen 87 + + IX The Militia 93 + + X Expressions of Sympathy 104 + + XI The Relief Work 109 + + XII Chelsea’s Future 134 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + View of the Burning City from Powderhorn + Hill _Frontispiece_ + + The Bellingham-Cary House 16 + + The Pratt House, built about 1700 18 + + Broadway before the Fire, looking South from + Bellingham 22 + + Broadway, a few Weeks after the Fire, looking + South from Bellingham 24 + + Ruins of the Baptist Church and City Hall 32 + + The Lynn Engine destroyed by the Flames 34 + + Start of the Fire near the Everett Line 38 + + Responding to the First Alarm 42 + + Granite Block, Dynamited during the Fire 48 + + A Boston Fire Boat fighting the Fire 56 + + Brown Stone Houses Fared no Better than + Wooden Tenements 56 + + Junction of Washington Avenue and Broadway + before the Fire 58 + + Residence of Ex-Mayor Thomas Strahan before + and after the Fire 62 + + Boston and Albany Railroad Bridge, with + Wrecked East Boston Bridge and Burning + Oil Tanks in Background 68 + + The Fitz Public Library before and after the + Fire 70 + + Where the Fire was stopped on Sixth Street 74 + + Ruins of the Central Congregational Church 78 + + A Vast Expanse of Ruins 82 + + The Highland School before and after the Fire 84 + + Shurtleff Street before and after the Fire 86 + + Chief Spencer during the Fire 88 + + The Eighth Company, Coast Artillery, keeping + back the Crowd in Winnisimmet Square 94 + + Troop A, First Squadron of Cavalry 96 + + Granite Crumbled to Gravel under the Heat 102 + + The Court House, used as City Hall after the + Fire 108 + + The Bread Line 114 + + Effect of Fire on Granite Walls and Curbing 120 + + The Shurtleff School before and after the Fire 128 + + Map showing Burned District 134 + + County Road, in the Residential Section 136 + + The Wentworth Residence, among the Places + not Destroyed 140 + + Residence of Ex-Mayor Pratt, in the Prattville + District, One of the Many Attractive Places + in Chelsea not Burned 144 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +HISTORICAL CHELSEA + + +Before relating the story of THE BURNING OF CHELSEA it seems that a +slight sketch of the history of the city may be appropriate. Thousands +of people read, with mingled interest and horror, newspaper accounts +of the burning of Chelsea, who had previously only heard of the city +in a casual way, perhaps in connection with the unfair and time-worn +expression, “Dead as Chelsea.” Few people who have not made a study of +the matter realize how much Chelsea stands for in history. To quote +from a speech made by the late historian, Judge Mellen Chamberlain, +L.L.D., at the laying of the corner-stone of the Prattville +Schoolhouse, the city is associated with more really “first things” +than any other city of this State or continent. + +The first settler, Samuel Maverick, landed on the shore of what are +now the United States Naval Hospital grounds in 1624. In 1625 he built +a fortified house near the water’s edge, which, according to the +historical tablet, erected near Chelsea Bridge, was the first house in +the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Here Governor Winthrop was entertained in +1630. In 1631 the first ferry in the country was established here, the +landing being near the present pier on the government grounds, where +the first county road in the colony, ending at Salem, began. There is a +story to the effect that Maverick’s house was attacked by the Indians, +but being completely repulsed, they never attacked again. Maverick +traded with the Indians, and in this way acquired some five thousand +acres of land, comprising what is now Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, and +Saugus, then known as Winnisimmet. + +[Illustration: THE BELLINGHAM-CARY HOUSE] + +In 1630 Noddle’s Island, now East Boston, was sold to him. About 1632 +Maverick sold Winnisimmet to Richard Bellingham, afterward governor, +after whom Mount Bellingham was named. Bellingham built the Cary house, +which is still standing, and used it as a shooting lodge, his home +being in Boston. Later it was bought by the Carys and greatly altered. +Tradition says that British troops were quartered in the house and an +officer committed suicide there. There is a secret chamber in the top +of the house, reached only by a peculiar passage, which winds about the +chimney from the cellar. Although the house is two hundred years old, +it is still used as a dwelling, and fortunately escaped the fire. + +Until January 10, 1739, Chelsea was a part of Boston. On that date, by +the terms of an act passed by the Great and General Court, that part of +Boston known as Winnisimmet Village, Rumney Marsh, and Pullin’s Point, +including what is now known as Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, and Saugus +was, “in consideration that they had long since built a meeting-house +and supported the same,” set off as a town, to be known by the name of +Chelsea. + +The first naval battle in the history of the United States occurred +in Chelsea Creek on May 27, 1775. The conflict occurred between the +Provincials and the British troops. Its outcome was that the armed +schooner “Diana” was captured by the former and burned on the Chelsea +shore. + +During the siege of Boston, in 1776, revolutionary troops under command +of Colonel Gerrish were stationed in that part of Chelsea known as +Prattville, and General George Washington on a tour of inspection took +dinner at the Pratt homestead. This house was demolished in 1855. Its +doorstep was built into the wall of Washington Park, where it may still +be seen. The other old Pratt house which is still standing belonged +to the same family. It is the second oldest house in Chelsea to-day, +having been built about 1700. It was in this house that Increase Mather +(president of Harvard College from 1684 to 1701) took refuge from the +persecution of Governor Andros. + +[Illustration: THE PRATT HOUSE, BUILT ABOUT 1700] + +In 1802 The Chelsea Bridge and Salem Turnpike Company received a +charter, and during that year and the next built a toll bridge between +Chelsea and Charlestown. Up to this time the only way to reach Boston +with a loaded team was through Malden, Medford, Cambridge, Roxbury, and +over Boston Neck, the trip usually requiring a whole day. + +On February 28, 1828, the State ceded to the General Government the +property now used for the Naval and Marine hospitals. + +In 1831 an act was passed giving Boston the exclusive control of county +buildings and relieving Chelsea from all expense attached to them. +If at any time Chelsea should wish to be set off to another county, +Boston has no power to appear in opposition. + +In 1831 Francis B. Fay and others, acting for a proposed ferry company, +purchased of Thomas Williams his farm and ferry for the sum of $22,500. +The company, which still exists, was incorporated in 1833. + +In 1832 the first store in the village was built at the corner of +Broadway and Everett Avenue, by John Low, and he was ridiculed by his +friends for locating a store so far out of the way, as they said there +would be few or no dwellings near him for twenty years. In this store +were kept dry goods, groceries, medicine, the post-office, and baiting +for horses. This being the only public place in the village, it was a +general resort for the few early inhabitants, and records show that +many pleasant evenings were spent there by Major Chase, Squire Knapp, +Samuel Batchelder, Thomas Pratt, Dr. Stedman, Colonel Fay, Joseph and +Charles Hanscom, and the “Ferry hands.” + +The first postmaster was Rev. Horatio Alger, followed by Abel Bowen and +then Benjamin Dodge. + +In 1835 the town house was built. The town appropriated $3000. The +building committee expended $3036.33, and for this excess “asked the +indulgence of the town.” + +The first fire in Chelsea of which there is any record occurred in +1834, in Winnisimmet Square. There was no engine in Chelsea at the +time, but No. 15 came over from Boston. After this fire the town bought +an engine, and in 1835 the original Chelsea No. 1 was bought, and a +house built for it in the square. In 1837 a second engine was bought +for $150, and a company organized under the name Volunteers No. 2, with +quarters on Park Street. + +On February 22, 1841, a narrow strip of land extending from Malden, +Melrose, and well into Wakefield, known as the Panhandle, was set off +to the town of Saugus. + +On March 19, 1846, North Chelsea, now Revere and Winthrop, was set +off, reducing the town to its present size, which is about two and one +quarter square miles or fourteen hundred and forty-one acres. + +In February, 1849, the Grand Junction Railroad was granted a charter +to run from East Boston through Chelsea to Boston, thus giving Chelsea +railroad connection with the outside world. + +In February, 1857, as the population was in excess of twelve thousand, +the town petitioned the Legislature for a city charter, and on March 13 +it was granted. On March 23 the charter was presented to the town and +accepted by a vote of seven hundred and thirty-three to one hundred and +seven. In the same year the Boston and Chelsea Horse Railroad received +a charter to run from Revere along Broadway to Boston, and at the same +time the Winnisimmet Railroad got a charter to run from Prattville +through Washington Avenue, Park and Winnisimmet streets, to and across +the ferry. + +[Illustration: BROADWAY BEFORE THE FIRE, LOOKING SOUTH FROM BELLINGHAM] + +When the Civil War broke out Chelsea was among the first to send men to +the front, and during the war over one thousand men were forwarded. + +Hon. Frank B. Fay, who was mayor at the time, was made chief of the +United States Sanitary Commission, and spent nearly two years at the +front. + +On June 5, 1868, tolls were abolished on Chelsea Bridge and the Salem +Turnpike, and they were made free public highways. + +Many famous people in all walks of life, both living and dead, came +originally from or live at present in the city of Chelsea. + +Among them are Benjamin P. Shillaber, better known in the literary +world as Mrs. Partington; Lieutenant William B. Cushing, who became +famous by his heroic work in blowing up the “Albemarle” during the +Civil War; Mellen Chamberlain, L.L.D. and L.L.B., lawyer, judge, +statesman, and historian; Hon. Frank B. Fay, chief of the United +States Sanitary Commission during the Civil War; Hon. Rufus S. Frost, +congressman and ex-president of the National Association of Woolen +Manufacturers; John F. Low, inventor of the famous Low Art Tiles; +Herman Atkins MacNeil, the sculptor; Rear Admiral John E. Pillsbury, +United States Navy, assistant chief of the Bureau of Navigation; +Captain J. B. Briggs, United States Navy; Miss Ellen M. Stone, the +famous missionary; Congressman Ernest W. Roberts; Ex-Governor John +L. Bates; David and Levi Slade, known by their famous spices; Henry +Mitchell, the foremost engraver in this country; Fred L. Cutting, late +insurance commissioner of Massachusetts; Colonel William Grantman of +the Civil War; Mr. Frank Roy Fraprie, the author; Hendricks A. Hallet, +the well-known artist; Jabez K. Montgomery, the ship builder; Samuel +Orcutt, inventor of the first rapid printing-press ever patented in +the United States; Hon. Eustis C. Fitz, trustee of Brown and Wellesley +colleges and ex-president of the Boston Board of Trade; William E. +McClintock, chairman of the Massachusetts State Highway Commission; +Dr. William G. Wheeler, associated with Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes +as examining physician for the Federal Government during the war; +Mr. Joseph Lincoln, the author; Miss Laura Lee, the artist; Thomas +and William Martin, manufacturers and exporters of elastic webbing; +Miss Helen Fitz, president of the National Daughters of the American +Revolution. There is practically no city of any size in the United +States that does not contain former Chelsea people. + +[Illustration: BROADWAY, A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE, LOOKING SOUTH FROM +BELLINGHAM] + +In Chelsea there are located many manufacturing concerns, famous not +only locally but all over America, and in many cases throughout the +civilized world. Among them are The Magee Furnace Company; George D. +Emery, the largest mahogany works in the United States, which maintains +a line of steamers between Chelsea and South American ports; The Revere +Rubber Company; the Low Art Tile Works; the D. & L. Slade Company, +spices; Thomas Strahan & Company, whose wall paper is considered the +finest made in America; T. Martin & Brothers, elastic fiber; Atwood & +McManus, box manufacturers; and many large shoe factories. + +There are three prominent hills in Chelsea, Mount Bellingham, already +mentioned, which was burned over in the recent fire; Sagamore Hill in +Prattville, where lived the tribe of Sagamore Indians, and where up to +recent years it was a common thing for Indian graves and relics to be +found, better known as Mount Washington, after the visit of General +George Washington; and Powderhorn Hill, which tradition says was once +sold for a horn of powder. The top of this hill, which was purchased +by the city in 1897, is set aside to be enjoyed forever as a public +park. From the top of this hill during the Revolution signals were +made to the people in Roxbury and Cambridge, giving the news of any +movements of the British army in Boston. During the winter of 1775-6 +three companies of Colonial troops had their quarters on the south side +of this hill. + +In addition to the park on Powderhorn Hill, Chelsea has Union Park in +the heart of the city, adjoined by two smaller parks at the railroad +station, Washington Park in Prattville, and two playgrounds, one in +the Highland district, and the other in the extreme western end and +adjoining the boulevard. The latter contains a quarter-mile cinder +track, a football field, and two baseball diamonds. The Revere +Beach Parkway passes through the northern end of Chelsea and adds +twenty-one and one fifth acres of boulevard and parks to its open +spaces. It connects the city directly with the beautiful Middlesex +Fells Reservation of eighteen hundred and eighty-five acres, and the +wonderful five-mile Ocean Drive just completed from Winthrop to Revere +and Lynn. + +Chelsea is the easiest to reach of all the suburbs of Boston, being +connected with it by the Winnisimmet Ferry, the Boston Elevated by the +East Boston Tunnel, the Boston and Northern Electric line, and the +Boston and Maine Railroad. From Chelsea Square to Scollay Square, in +Boston, the running time is but thirteen minutes. Chelsea has the same +postal service as Boston. It has the advantage of the Metropolitan +water system and the Metropolitan sewerage system, both acknowledged +unexcelled. Its schools are considered by the best colleges as of very +high standing, and up to April 12, 1908, it had many miles of beautiful +shaded streets and many natural advantages over other cities. + +Why is it, then, that during the few years previous to the fire Chelsea +had lost so many desirable citizens? Why was it that in less than +fifty years it had entirely lost its standing as the most aristocratic +suburb of Boston, a place where people came to spend their summers, as +they go to-day to Clifton, Magnolia, and Manchester, with a fashionable +hotel on Powderhorn Hill, now the “Soldiers’ Home,” and beautiful +country places leading down to the water along Marginal Street? How was +it possible for a city of wealth, with a population of ten to fifteen +thousand, to change in so short a time to a business and manufacturing +community with a population of forty thousand, including ten thousand +Hebrews? + +This is what happened. In 1846 North Chelsea was set off, leaving an +area of only two and one fourth square miles, including the United +States Naval and Marine Hospital grounds and the United States Magazine +Reservation. As the population increased business crowded the people +back, until those who wished large estates migrated one by one to +Brookline, Newton, Malden, and other places. The Winnisimmet Ferry +Company reduced its fare to three cents, and the crowded North End of +Boston overflowed into Chelsea. Fire restrictions were placed on North +End property in Boston and more Hebrews landed in Chelsea and set up +their rag shops. It was gradual,--so gradual that old residents did +not realize the number that were locating in the city. The water front +properties were too valuable to lie idle, and large manufacturers +secured them and located their factories there. With them naturally +came a poorer class, and every two that came drove one old resident +away. Young people married and moved away and the old people gradually +died. This is why on April 12 this change had taken place, and Chelsea +had become the most thickly populated city in the United States in +proportion to its size, having forty thousand population in less than +two square miles. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND CITY HALL] + + + + +CHAPTER II + +STATISTICS OF THE FIRE + + +Few people realize the size of the Chelsea fire from the newspaper +accounts. In no cases were they exaggerated, while accounts in the +New York and Western papers invariably underestimated the size of the +burned district. On the authority of the “Fireman’s Herald” of New York +it was the third largest fire in point of area in the history of this +country. The San Francisco fire burned over twenty-seven hundred acres, +the Chicago fire twenty-one hundred and twenty-four acres, the Chelsea +fire four hundred and ninety-two acres, and the Portland, Me., fire +four hundred acres. The great Boston conflagration of 1872 covered only +sixty-five acres. + +The Chelsea fire swept the center of the city, covering a space a +mile and a half long and three quarters of a mile wide. It destroyed +practically all the business section, most of the municipal buildings, +and twenty-eight hundred and twenty-two other buildings, making +seventeen thousand four hundred and fifty people homeless. + +It burned thirteen churches, eight schools, twenty-three oil tanks, +the City Hall, the Frost Hospital, the Board of Health building, the +Young Men’s Christian Association, the United States Post-office, +four newspaper plants, the Masonic Temple, three fine bank buildings, +two fire stations, and over three thousand shade trees, and ruined +miles of granite curbing. There were over seven hundred business firms +and professional men burned out. They included fifty grocery stores, +twenty-nine barber shops, twenty-eight doctors, twenty-eight tailors +and dressmakers, twenty-one real estate offices, seventeen insurance +offices, thirteen apothecaries, and twelve bakers. + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +THE LYNN ENGINE DESTROYED BY THE FLAMES] + +The fire spread so rapidly that three engines were caught in its +path and destroyed, one from Lynn and two from Boston. A peculiar +coincidence is that one of the Boston engines was “Big 15,” bearing +the same number as the engine which in 1834 came across the river +and helped Chelsea put out its first fire. The insurance loss was +$8,846,879, according to the figures given in the speech of President +Burchell at the annual convention of the underwriters, on May 14, 1908. +The taxable value of the property destroyed is estimated as $12,450,000 +and other personal property brought the loss close to $20,000,000. + +The insurance loss was well divided, although the various companies +located in Hartford, Conn., lost in the vicinity of $1,000,000. The +Royal of England was the heaviest single loser, with a loss roughly +estimated at $500,000. The Phœnix and Hartford Home offices came next, +with losses figured at $250,000 each. The losses in addition to those +mentioned above were as follows:-- + + Ætna, Hartford $165,000 + American, New Jersey 60,000 + American Central, St. Louis 200,000 + American Lloyds, New York 4,000 + Agricultural, New York 60,000 + Alliance, London 35,000 + Alliance, Pennsylvania 2,500 + Albany, New York 7,500 + Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania 5,500 + Boston 90,000 + Buffalo-German, New York 15,000 + Cambridge Mutual 30,000 + Caledonian, Scotland 50,000 + Capital, New Hampshire 10,000 + Camden, New Jersey 15,000 + Citizens, Missouri 27,000 + Colonial, New York 20,000 + Concordia, Wisconsin 32,500 + Connecticut 50,000 + County, Pennsylvania 13,000 + Delaware 35,000 + Dixie, North Carolina 8,000 + Dutchess, New York 6,000 + Eastern, New York 4,000 + Empire City, New York 5,000 + Fire Association, Pennsylvania 80,000 + Firemen’s, New Jersey 60,000 + German-Alliance, New York 30,000 + Girard, Pennsylvania 12,000 + Granite State, New Hampshire 15,000 + Hanover, New York 175,000 + Hamburg Bremen, Germany 40,000 + Holyoke Mutual, Holyoke 150,000 + India Mutual, Boston 2,500 + Insurance Co. of North America, Pennsylvania 185,000 + Jefferson, Pennsylvania 35,000 + Law Union and Crown, England 1,000 + Liverpool & London & Globe 100,000 + London & Lancashire Co 94,700 + London Assurance Corporation 85,000 + Mechanics, Pennsylvania 3,000 + Mercantile Fire and Marine 15,000 + Merchants & Farmers Mutual 30,000 + Middlesex Mutual, Concord 60,000 + Milwaukee Mechanics, Wisconsin 12,000 + Nassau, New York $15,000 + National, Connecticut 60,000 + National, Allegheny 4,000 + National, Pennsylvania 2,000 + National Union, Pennsylvania 83,000 + New Brunswick, New Jersey 10,000 + New York Underwriters 25,000 + Niagara, New York 115,000 + North River, New York 65,000 + North British, New York 10,000 + Norwich Union, England 300,000 + Old Colony, Boston 5,000 + Orient, Connecticut 95,750 + Palatine, London 95,000 + Pennsylvania 96,000 + Phenix, New York 200,000 + Philadelphia Underwriters 35,000 + Providence-Washington, Rhode Island 30,000 + Queen, New York 95,000 + Richmond, New York 1,600 + Royal Exchange, England 35,000 + Scottish Union and National 50,000 + Security, New York 20,000 + Southern, Louisiana 5,000 + St. Paul Fire and Marine, Minnesota $12,000 + Spring Garden, Pennsylvania 50,000 + State, Pennsylvania 7,000 + Sun, London 125,000 + Svea, Sweden 25,000 + Union, Pennsylvania 25,000 + Western, Pennsylvania 10,000 + +A relief fund was raised through Messrs. Lee, Higginson & Company of +Boston, amounting at this writing to over $350,000. The contributions +to this fund were almost entirely from citizens of Massachusetts, as +outside help was not asked for. They came from all classes of the +community, and were sent in with the spontaneity and promptness with +which the people of Massachusetts always respond to an appeal for +merited aid. + +The fire traveled more rapidly than any other of the large fires. It +reached its most distant point inside of five hours, and inside of ten +hours all of the buildings burned were totally destroyed. How many +persons lost their lives in the fire will probably never be known. +Eighteen bodies were recovered, and it is safe to estimate that as many +more were entirely burned. Over three hundred injured were treated at +the United States Naval, United States Marine, and the Massachusetts +Soldiers’ Home hospitals. + +The Metropolitan Water Commission records show that forty million +gallons of water were used in Chelsea on April 12, instead of an +average consumption of 3,000,583, the cost of extinguishing the fire in +water alone being $1600. + +[Illustration: START OF THE FIRE NEAR THE EVERETT LINE] + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE START + + +The fire started a little before eleven on Sunday morning, April 12, +1908. Its origin will probably never be positively known. The most +plausible theory, however, is that the roof of a building of the Boston +Blacking Company, which is located just off Summer Street, close to +the Everett line, in the extreme western part of the city, caught fire +from a burning pile of rags on the dump to the windward. At all events, +the flames were first seen just before eleven o’clock licking up this +inflammable building with its contents of oil, and sending a shower of +sparks blown by a forty-mile gale towards the heart of the city, and an +alarm was at once sent in. + +Immediately upon his arrival Fire Chief Spencer ordered a second alarm +sounded as a matter of precaution, owing to the high wind. The firemen +did good work and soon had the initial blaze well in check, as is shown +by the fact that the remaining buildings of this company close by were +saved. + +Soon after the second alarm was sounded the firemen and spectators were +astonished to see the three-story rag-shop of T. Lewitzky & Son, fully +two blocks away, burst into flames. Apparatus to successfully fight its +burning was not available. It was this fire that doomed Chelsea, for +sparks from it started fires in several directions. + +Opposite Lewitzky’s factory was the tar paper factory of Chapin & +Sawdin. The fierce heat from the tar paper drove the firemen back. +A shed containing a large quantity of gasoline near by soon caught +fire and blew up, just after a man, who was trying to save it, was +ordered off by the police. This explosion set fire to houses in the +vicinity, which were principally of old-fashioned wooden construction, +and allowed the fire to get such impetus that it spread out diagonally +across the wind like a fan. When it reached Everett Avenue on the north +and set fire to Justin S. Perkins’ hay shed it looked as if nothing +could save the Standard Oil Station, not over two hundred feet to the +windward. “Cy” Coben was showing his nerve by sticking to his plant, +but it was to the Malden firemen that Chelsea people are indebted for +the saving of the northern section of the city. They arrived just in +the nick of time and without thought of their personal safety, or of +the awful result if the thousands of gallons of naphtha blew up, stuck +by and saved the building. + +If this plant had burned the exploding oil would have set fire to the +great building of the Eastern Storage Company across the railroad +track, and nothing could have prevented it making a clean sweep of +Caryville, increasing the burned area by at least one hundred acres. + +As it was, the fire did not cross the tracks until an hour later, and +then there was enough apparatus to extinguish it. After once getting +hold of the little buildings on Maple Street, the flames almost +simultaneously laid relentless hold of wooden buildings on all the +surrounding streets. It raced down Summer, West Third, and Elm streets +to Arlington Street, burning everything on Spruce Street and Everett +Avenue. + +Although it took but a short time for the fire to reach and burn the +city stables, through the energy of City Engineer O’Brion all of the +horses, carts, harnesses, tools, etc., were saved, which was fortunate, +as it enabled the city to set large numbers of unemployed to work the +next day cleaning the streets. + +Before this time assistance had been asked of Boston, Everett, Revere, +Lynn, Winthrop, Cambridge, Malden, Medford, and Melrose, and the +engines soon began to arrive; but from the moment the fire crossed +Arlington Street there was no formidable stand made against it, as it +spread so rapidly under the impulse of the gale and stretched out over +so long a front, backed by acres of lurid flames. + +[Illustration: RESPONDING TO THE FIRST ALARM] + +Not till it actually passed Arlington Street did people have any +apprehension that it would not be stopped at this line, where the +houses were of substantial brick construction. Ash Street, next to +Arlington, was soon blazing and spreading the fire towards the railroad +track in one direction, and Second Street in the other. The people on +Walnut Street, next beyond, began moving out, and soon Union Park, near +by, was filled with household goods. Women with babies in their arms +stood huddled in the smoke, old men stood guard over the few things +they had saved, and crying children hunted in vain for their parents. +All the section about Walnut Street was inhabited by poor people with +large families; Jews predominated, but all nations were represented. +Many could not speak English, and panic seized all. + +It seems as if every one tried first to save a mattress, which would +become ignited before it was carried a block, and add to the volume +of the flames. The yards and open spaces were strewn with old bedding +and other inflammable material, which assisted in spreading the +fire. Trunks and other heavy things were dropped from upper windows, +regardless of those beneath. In some cases men and women fought as to +what they would save, while their houses burned. One man loaded a team +with old junk; some women cried and refused to look at the flames, +others were hysterical and looked and laughed. Many Jewish women +carried live hens in their arms. All fled towards the park, but this +haven of refuge was only temporary, for soon the suffocating smoke +drove them out, and a few minutes later the flames destroyed most of +the property laboriously removed from the houses. From here people +dragging little ones or some article of furniture made for the railroad +station, with the flames in close pursuit. + +While the human beings were having such a hard time of it, dogs and +cats were also having their sufferings. Looking out into Walnut Street +one dog was seen, that had once been black, rushing madly about; its +hide had been singed to a crisp, and when last seen it was headed right +into the flames. On many streets dogs, cats, and hens were found after +the fire, burned to death, and many horses also perished, as more would +have, but for heroic work. In one instance Frank W. Wentworth, with +some help, saved nineteen horses from a burning building by covering +their eyes with blankets. + +Huntington Smith of the Animal Rescue League estimates that as many as +two thousand cats were burned to death. He says that these figures are +conservative, and gives as the reason their devotion to their homes; +dogs, on the other hand, are more devoted to their masters, whom they +followed, and for this reason very few perished. + +From Walnut Street the fire leaped across Fifth and entered the windows +of the new Jewish synagogue and literally lapped it up, and then hurled +itself against the imposing brick walls of the Central Congregational +Church at the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. This church is one +of the largest in the city, yet the flames took but a few moments to +go from the basement up through the immense auditorium into the tower. +While these buildings were burning the fire had destroyed on the other +side of the city and at intermediate places the African Methodist +Church, two Jewish synagogues, one on Walnut Street and one on Fourth +Street, the Williams School, the Universalist Church and the Polish +Church on Chestnut Street, and was headed straight for Broadway. + +The Universalist Church caught first in the steeple, as did most of the +churches. It burned very slowly, but finally the great golden cross +fell with a crash into Fourth Street. After this the pastor, Rev. R. +Perry Bush, went in by a back way and up into the pulpit to take a last +look at the familiar scene which was so dear to him. In a lecture which +he afterwards gave he described his feelings very dramatically, and +said that he stood in the pulpit until the church was filled with smoke +and the flames broke through the big stained glass window, then saying, +“Good-by, dear old church,” he went as he came. + +The deacons had saved the communion service and had loaded a team with +other church property, including valuable books and documents. On top +of these they piled many pew cushions,--a fatal error. To quote Dr. +Bush, “Do not ever try to save cushions under such conditions; if we +hadn’t tried to, we would have our books and papers to-day.” The +cushions caught fire before they had been taken two blocks and were +instrumental in setting fire to several wooden houses in the vicinity +of Chestnut Street and Washington Avenue. + +Chestnut Street was, until a few years ago, one of the best streets +in the city, and parts of it were still considered very nice. Among +the prominent people still living on the street was Dr. J. B. Fenwick, +whose wife lost her life in the fire, together with her niece, Mrs. +Walter C. Barnes, of New York, and Elvina Boyn, Mrs. Fenwick’s maid. +Mrs. Fenwick was prominent in Chelsea, being a member of the School +Board and an active member of the Woman’s Club. + +It is not known how the women met their death, but it is believed they +left the house by the rear door, as the street in front was thick with +smoke and flying fire brands. They may have first turned up Cherry +Street, a narrow street which ran past the rear of their house, and +been stopped by the falling tower of the Polish Church. This would +have caused them to return towards Fourth Street. At about this time +Granite Block on Broadway, directly back of which their bodies were +found, was dynamited in an attempt to stop the conflagration, and the +women probably took shelter in the porch of the building where their +bodies were found, and were overcome by smoke. + +[Illustration: GRANITE BLOCK, DYNAMITED DURING THE FIRE] + +Dr. George Fenwick, the son, has told friends that the last he saw +of them was on the second floor of his home. As he was going to his +room on the third floor Mrs. Barnes stopped him and handed him a wet +towel to put over his face. The house had not yet caught fire, but +the windows were cracked and broken by the heat from the fires across +the street, and the building was full of smoke. He says he was not in +his room over five minutes collecting his valuables. When he returned +downstairs the women had left, and after making sure of this fact +he made a dash down the street to the fire lines. Here he met his +father, who had previously gone out with things of value and was not +allowed to return. As the women left before young Dr. Fenwick, both men +supposed them safe, and getting out their automobile, which was at a +garage, helped others save property. The bodies were not found for four +days. + +On Chestnut Street, not far from the Fenwicks, lived Miss Ellen +M. Stone, the missionary, who a few years before was captured by +Macedonian brigands and held for a large ransom. People from all over +this country contributed. Her home was filled with priceless souvenirs +and a great many valuable books. Miss Stone was away from home over +Sunday, and her servants had been given a holiday. Her brother, knowing +that she was out of town, secured a horse and express wagon and drove +to the house to save whatever might be possible. The doors, of course, +were locked, and while he was battering one in the structure caught +fire. When the door finally yielded the interior was all ablaze, and +Mr. Stone had to flee without saving a thing. + +Captain Frederick M. Whiting of the Eleventh Company, Coast Artillery +Corps, also lived on Chestnut Street. When his company was ordered out, +he went with it. When the fire reached his home, his brother gathered +some valuables into a trunk and removed them to the Armory for safe +keeping, but later the Armory burned and they were lost. + +Dr. J. M. Putnam was another resident of Chestnut Street, and was +fortunate enough to save a few things with the aid of his son, Dr. +Ralph Putnam, who came over from Winchester. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BEYOND CONTROL + + +Every one seemed to feel sure that the fire would be stopped at +Broadway, as the buildings on this street were substantial structures +built of stone and brick, and no one even then judged rightly the havoc +which must ensue before the fury would abate. + +The local militia (the Fifth Company, Coast Artillery Corps) had been +summoned, and the militiamen had donned their service uniforms and +overcoats, leaving in their lockers, in security as they supposed, +their civilian clothes, their watches, and pocket money. Hardly had +they been assigned to their posts before Broadway was threatened, +and soon their new $100,000 Armory became a volcano of flame as the +element of destruction spread on. + +It first reached Broadway between Third and Fourth streets. Here a +heavy battery of engines was assembled to prevent its crossing, but the +efforts of man and the floods of water were of no avail; the fire was +beyond human control. + +Up to now the flames had rushed through the foreign tenement district, +but when it passed Chestnut Street it entered the business center. +Before the fire had even reached Chestnut and Fifth streets awnings +in Bassett Square, two and three blocks away, caught fire. The fire +reached Bellingham Station about two o’clock. The sight from here, +looking down Broadway and Hawthorne Street, was beyond description. The +fire fairly lay across the streets in a cyclonic whirl of flame. + +All at once out of Hawthorne Street shot an engine, as if coming out of +a cannon. The driver was almost doubled up and the horses were going +at a two-twenty clip; where they came from or how they ever got out of +that furnace alive is a mystery. + +The new six story brick Young Men’s Christian Association building +caught first in the upper story and then all over; hose was burned +at this point as fast as it was laid. An electric car of the Boston +and Northern Railroad which had been stopped on Broadway, just below +Bellingham, by the shutting off of the power, was pushed up the street +and over the bridge to safety by fully a hundred men. + +Beyond Broadway lay blocks of substantial residences. The flames were +gnawing up the structures on Hawthorne Street, and the Unitarian Church +and Newspaper Row on Fourth Street were quickly burned. The fury of the +spreading flames was indescribable. There would be no sign of fire in +a building, when all at once it would seem to fairly burst into flames +and simply melt away. One large double house, which was timed, took +just eight minutes to burn from the moment the flames were first seen +until the building was a mass of ruins in the cellar. + +All this time people were fleeing from the fire, many moving things +to what they considered a place of safety, only to be obliged to move +them again and eventually have them burned. Many people who lived +east of Broadway went out to see the fire before it had crossed that +thoroughfare, only to return and find their homes either on fire +or already destroyed. No one seemed to realize how fast the fire +was traveling, except those who fought it. If people had heeded the +first warnings of the soldiers and the police, many could have saved +something, but they waited, not wishing to appear timid, and afraid of +ridicule if they started to move too soon. In the face of the great +battle they had to fight, firemen and police officers could not give +heed to the frantic appeals of women to save furniture. + +[Illustration: A BOSTON FIRE BOAT FIGHTING THE FIRE] + +Many people, when they realized that they had lost everything, threw +themselves in the street and cried aloud in their suffering. It was no +uncommon sight to see white-faced women walking aimlessly along the +street, heedless of where they were going, yet carrying a frying pan or +tin dipper. One man rushed into his house, at the risk of his own life, +to save the family cat. After carrying it a block the cat scratched +itself free and dashed back into its burning home. Hundreds of people +saved canary birds, and one woman came along the street with a statue, +which had no head or feet, under one arm, and a bird cage with a cat +in it under the other. When asked why she was saving the broken statue +she looked at it in a dazed sort of a way and threw it away in disgust, +and then wonderingly inquired how her bird had got out of the cage, +never realizing that the cat had eaten it. One woman, remembering +that she had left a pocket-book containing $17 on her dining-room +table, rushed back into her home and grabbed up what she thought was +her pocket-book, but when she had gotten several blocks away she found +that in her excitement she had taken a piece of cut glass instead, and +it was then too late to return. Another woman was ordered out of her +house by a militiaman, but would not go until she had first filled her +teakettle with water. Afterward she couldn’t explain why herself. Many +people went temporarily insane. On the Washington Avenue bridge one +man stood for hours making appeals for volunteers to fight the fire; +his coat was off and his hair was mussed. People paid no heed to his +frantic gestures, but he probably imagined he was saving the city. +Another man committed suicide by shooting himself near Union Park. Some +lost the power of speech, but under the circumstances the number of +minds affected was small. + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +BROWN STONE HOUSES FARED NO BETTER THAN WOODEN TENEMENTS] + +One woman lugged a great marble clock under one arm and a dog under +the other for three quarters of a mile. The dog couldn’t lay down for +three days, she had held him so tight. Many people saved things of +little value and left things impossible to replace. One man carried +twenty-two pieces of cut glass loose and unpacked, tied up in a +sheet and thrown over his shoulder, for over a mile, through all the +excitement, and not one piece was smashed. + +A fireman entered Freeman’s drug store while it was burning and taking +the reflection of himself in the long mirror at the end of the store +for another fireman walked through the glass. + +Two men trying to save an upright piano gave it up when the cloth in +the back caught fire. One opened the lid and played “There’ll be a +hot time in the old town to-night,” while the buildings all about him +burned. + +Fate was especially kind to Eli C. Bliss, who lived in what is called +Chestnut Street Pocket,--a short blind end of Chestnut Street beyond +Washington Avenue, ending in a steep embankment at the railroad +tracks. The fire approached so rapidly that escape was impossible, +except by way of the embankment. Just as Mr. Bliss was leaving his +attractive home a passing freight train stopped directly at the end of +the street, and the train crew rushed up the bank and announced that +they had two empty box cars. Working like demons nearly everything in +the house of any value, including a grand piano, a lot of old mahogany +furniture, books, and paintings, was piled into the cars, until they +were nearly full. The train then pulled out just as the house commenced +to burn, none too soon, as the cars were smoking themselves. Mr. Bliss +later located his furniture in Lynn, after it had landed in Portland +and been shipped back. + +[Illustration: JUNCTION OF WASHINGTON AVENUE AND BROADWAY BEFORE THE +FIRE] + +The railroad tracks which passed through this part of the city have +always been considered an eyesore and have been the cause of much +regret to many residents. There is not a resident of Chelsea to-day, +however, who is not glad of their presence, as they were the means of +saving the northern part of the city, the best residential section. The +fire burned only a single building north of the tracks. + +Not far from the Bliss estate lived the Millers. Miss Edith Miller was +to be married in a few days, but so hurriedly were they obliged to +leave that not even her wedding dress was saved, and all her beautiful +presents and trousseau were lost. + +When the fire started up Mount Bellingham, hurried calls were made for +ambulances to take the patients out of the Frost Hospital. There were +twenty-five patients suffering from different injuries and diseases in +the building, and the doctors and nurses showed great heroism. But for +their running into the street and hailing all the automobiles and teams +in the vicinity, and making them carry the patients to the other three +hospitals in the city, none would have been saved. As it was, before +the last patient was out the roof was blazing. Meanwhile the children +at the day nursery had been taken care of and were nicely housed, +thanks to Mr. Jesse Knowlton, at his home on Powderhorn Hill. + +The City Hall did not last long after the flames took their first +mouthful. The city treasurer, Thomas B. Frost, early recognized the +peril and removed all the city funds, while the books were locked +in the safes by the city clerk, Charles H. Reed, who stayed in the +building so long, saving property, that he was obliged to make his +escape through a second-story window. The beautiful Baptist Church +across the street melted away before the flames in a few minutes. + +Many people made a frightful mistake by thinking they were safe in +fleeing to the Garden Cemetery. Those who did were surrounded on all +sides by the flames, and for hours they crouched behind tombs, fighting +the burning embers and gasping for breath. + +The flames fairly shot up Bellingham Street, on which were many fine +homes. Chief among them, on the very top of the hill, was the beautiful +estate of Ex-Mayor Thomas Strahan, filled with valuable paintings, +tapestries, and art treasures, collected from all parts of the world. +The house was of brick and stone with a slate roof and plenty of land +about it, and it seemed as if it could be saved. The view from the +tower of the Strahan house can never be forgotten. As far as one could +see, a seething mass of flame, like a tidal wave, was rolling up the +hill. So fast had the fire approached that the Lynn engine, stationed +halfway up Bellingham Street, was unable to get away. The firemen did +not abandon it until their faces were burned and their hair singed. It +was beyond human force to withstand the terrific heat and suffocating +smoke, and it was with difficulty, when they finally abandoned it, that +they were able to save their lives, as the fire completely surrounded +them. + +[Illustration: RESIDENCE OF EX-MAYOR THOMAS STRAHAN BEFORE AND AFTER +THE FIRE] + +At this time the fire had already passed the Strahan house in the +valley to the left, and the Highland School, halfway up the hill on +that side, was in flames. Great pieces of burning wood came into the +tower and the wind was so strong that it was hard to stand against it. + +So fascinating was the sight that it was not until the Strahan +barn, only a few feet away, burst into flames, as if it was made +of celluloid, that the writer descended from the tower to help the +Strahans to escape; but they, like too many others, had waited too +long, in hopes their home would be saved. With the help of the servants +we carried out several blankets filled with clothing, a chest of silver +and some jewelry, leaving thousands of dollars’ worth of beautiful +things to be devoured by the flames. + +We fled down the hill in the direction of Orient Heights. Hundreds were +going the same way; poor and rich were on equal terms. The wind blew +with such force that women were blown into fences and trees or lost +their balance and fell. Great pieces of furniture went bounding end +over end down the hill, blown by the wind. Horses were running away, +and the scene was one of terrifying confusion. Escape was possible +only by enduring the hostile breath of the flames, running, tripping +over abandoned furniture in the blinding, sickening smoke, towards +the marshes to the northeast, where, although safe from the flames, +the refugees suffered untold agony from the hail-storm of stones and +showers of blazing embers that fell upon them, burning holes in their +clothes and starting grass fires in every direction. + +One old lady’s celluloid back comb caught fire and her white hair was +burned down to the scalp in back before the flames could be smothered. +The many horses set loose on the marsh also endangered lives. The wails +of hundreds of frantic parents vainly searching for their children +added to the excitement. One mother fell in a dead faint when her +two-year-old child, whom she had given up as lost, was brought to her. + +In the crowd racing down Mount Bellingham were many men, who had +assumed the duties of clearing houses of inmates, lending a hand to all +the weak and faltering, until they themselves were obliged to flee for +their lives. Perhaps the most touching spectacle was the old people, +forgotten by their relatives. In many cases these old women had to be +carried bodily to safety, and it speaks well for the city that there +were men doing this work amid the confusion and at the risk of their +own lives. Men and boys, crazed by the thought of losing their homes, +clambered to the roofs and tried to save them with puny buckets of +water, replying to frantic warnings to escape while there was time, +only with curses, until in many cases they had to be driven by blows to +a place of safety. + +The flames came down the hill like a forest fire. They were upon the +people before they realized it, and when they attacked at the front +door there was but one thing to do, and that was to make a rush for the +rear door. + +In the meanwhile, on the south side of the city the fire had burned +from building to building. There was no stopping it, although the +firemen worked desperately. It kept on towards the water front until it +reached the buildings of the Tidewater Oil Company. Here five oil tanks +caught fire and exploded and set fire to the docks along the water +front, and then three barges loaded with oil a little farther on caught +fire and spread to the Ellis yard, where more oil was stored. The fire +boats came as near as they dared and poured streams of water on the +flames, but it was like trying to check a volcanic eruption. + +The two bridges to East Boston next fell and cut off this means of +escape, and in this way a Boston engine was burned and a boy lost his +life. Near the bridges were many fine yachts, that of Mr. Seaver being +worth $50,000. This, and many other vessels, were burnt. One broke +away from its moorings and drifted to the East Boston shore, setting +fire to the Standard Oil Works. This was about four o’clock, but from +the time the fire began to spread into the east side of Chelsea, East +Boston was in peril from the shower of sparks and burning brands which +the high wind swept over its roofs. More than half the residents packed +their belongings and were ready to move at a moment’s notice. Despite +the desperate efforts of the many engines the flames spread to a +one-story brick building, containing three hundred barrels of oil, and +soon four other buildings of the plant were burning. Next the great oil +tanks went up, the flames shooting several hundred feet into the air +and sending skyward great clouds of flame and thick, black smoke. This +swept down the harbor, across the bay, and out to sea, continuing to do +so for two days and two nights. Reports from Scituate, Cohasset, and +other places showed that showers of embers dropped from the clouds, +and in places good-sized pieces of burnt shingles were picked up. +Grass fires were started in Nantasket and Winthrop. The glare from the +fire in the evening was seen from Portland, Me. The natives at first +believed it to be York Beach, it was so bright. + +Meanwhile about fifty houses in East Boston had their roofs badly +damaged. These fires, however, mark the extreme limit of the flames in +this direction and were soon extinguished. + +Although much credit is due the firemen, they were greatly helped by +the fact that the velocity of the wind began to decrease about the time +the oil works caught fire. + +While this contest was being waged, another army of firemen was +struggling on the north. About two o’clock the Armory burned; and +when it was all ablaze, a large quantity of ammunition which was +stored in the building exploded with a tremendous report, while tons +of burning wood were shot across the street and into the adjoining +buildings. + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +BOSTON AND ALBANY RAILROAD BRIDGE, WITH WRECKED EAST BOSTON BRIDGE AND +BURNING OIL TANKS] + +The Public Library directly across the street, a gift to the city +from the Hon. Eustis C. Fitz, containing over eighty thousand volumes +and many historical records and relics, caught and burned without an +attempt being made to save it or its contents. + +One of the best illustrations of the heat of the fire to those familiar +with the burning of books, is the fact that after the fire not one +scrap of paper was found. Granite will often crumble and iron melt +before a book will be totally burned up. + +The Convent and Parochial School also were among the buildings which +caught from the Armory, and the twenty-eight sisters made a hasty +departure. Next went Saint Rose Catholic Church, remodeled at an +expense of $50,000 a short time before. Beyond this was the railroad +track, and here a determined stand was made. Thousands of people lined +the opposite side of the track, and water was played on most of the +buildings. Soon after the Catholic Church commenced to burn the Melrose +fire department crossed the track with a line of hose and climbed the +steep bank just in the rear of the church, which was like a flaming +furnace. Hardly had they got the water on when the roof fell. The heat +was so terrific that the firemen who held the hose were obliged to drop +flat on their faces with their hands under their bodies. Even then they +were more or less burned about the neck and ears. One fireman, who was +nearest the building, groaned in agony, “Give me hell in preference to +this.” + +On Washington Avenue there stand to-day three wooden houses. They are +the only buildings, with the exception of part of Cobb’s stable on +Broadway, which were saved on that side of the Boston and Maine tracks, +and that they are still standing is due to two things:-- + +First, to the fact that Union Park and the park at the station are in +the rear and the fire had to burn around them and then up into the +wind. + +Second, to Dr. Thomas Green and Robert Hamilton, who, after the others +had deserted their homes, remained and helped the firemen. + +On the south of the city firemen were stubbornly fighting to save +Winnisimmet Square. The flames upon spreading along Everett Avenue had +made away with the great Chelsea Trust Company building on the corner +of Everett Avenue and Broadway. They then reached out to the other +corner and caught on every floor of the building. Across the street was +the Post-office and this was doomed, but at the Park Hotel the flames +were checked. + +[Illustration: THE FITZ PUBLIC LIBRARY BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE] + + + + +CHAPTER V + +UNDER CONTROL + + +By six o’clock the firemen were keeping the fire confined to the +buildings already burned on the south. On the north they had succeeded +in preventing its crossing the railroad tracks, and on the east and +west it had burned itself out, while in East Boston the firemen seemed +to be holding their own. It was not until one o’clock in the morning, +however, that Commissioner Parker announced that all danger of its +further spreading had passed. + +Late in the afternoon the United States marines from the Navy Yard, +who had been ordered to Chelsea by Admiral Swift, arrived in Chelsea +Square. The detail consisted of one hundred and ten men under command +of Captain C. S. Hill, Lieutenants Moses, Williams, and Judson, with +rifles and ball cartridges, and they at once cleared the square and the +surrounding streets, and assisted the firemen in many ways. + +The good work done by this corps and their ability to carry out +instructions is well illustrated by a story which went the rounds at +the Puritan Club a few days later, at the expense of Harry Frothingham, +one of the members. + +It seems that the former Boston fire commissioner, “Ben” Wells, and Mr. +Frothingham went over to Chelsea, arriving shortly after the marines +had cleared the square. Mr. Wells’ fire badge admitted him through +the lines, and although Mr. Frothingham had no badge, he got through +at the same time. Reporters who recognized Mr. Wells joined him, +anxious to get an interview from a man of so much experience in fires. +A corporal of the guard who saw the crowd broke in with the remark, +“Have you fellows all got badges?” Mr. Frothingham had none and the +corporal ordered him out. The reporters could not stand for this, +and one excitedly exclaimed, “Look here, what are you doing? That is +Ex-Alderman Frothingham, and he is with Ex-Fire Commissioner Wells.” “I +don’t care who he is or who he’s with; if he hasn’t got a badge, out +he goes,” replied the corporal, and turning to one of his men he said, +“Put that man out and keep him out. See!” and Mr. Frothingham went. + +[Illustration: WHERE THE FIRE WAS STOPPED ON SIXTH STREET] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NIGHT AMONG THE RUINS + + +As night approached the problem of protecting the seventeen thousand +refugees and their goods confronted those in authority, and it was +realized that it was too great for the local artillery company and the +detail from the Marine Corps to handle. The State was called upon for +more military assistance and eight companies of the Coast Artillery, +four of the Fifth Infantry, six of the Eighth Infantry, and four of the +First Corps of Cadets were rushed to the scene, making twelve hundred +troops on duty before morning. At ten thirty the city was declared +under martial law, and no one was allowed in or out until morning. +Seven hundred tents and seven hundred and fifty blankets were ordered +down from the barracks at South Framingham, and a special train with +Battalion Adjutant Kendall in charge brought them through in record +time, arriving shortly after midnight. All trains on the Boston and +Maine, and all electric cars on the Boston and Northern and the Boston +Elevated had been stopped. The Chelsea Ferry was commanded to cease +its trips and a cordon of soldiers was thrown entirely about the city. +At the principal approaches it is estimated that one hundred thousand +curious people were turned back. The telephone exchange had been burned +and of course the service was useless. Early in the day the electric +power plant was shut down to prevent death by live wires, and the +streets outside the burned district would have been dark, but for the +glow which was reflected from the sky and the moon, which dimly beamed +through the pall of smoke. At the Court House, where scores of injured +were taken in ambulances, doctors and nurses, under charge of Dr. J. +A. Johnson, worked as best they could by the light of lanterns. + +In the court room were homeless women huddled in gray despairing heaps +on the hard benches. At the back of the room rows of rubber-coated +men leaned back on their hard benches, their inflamed eyes completely +hidden by squares of soft absorbent cotton, soaked with ointments, +which showed up with startling effect against their blackened faces. In +the center of the room, under the sickly ray of a red lantern, stood +the big court table piled high with thick square loaves of bread, +big four-gallon cans of milk, and fifty-gallon cans of coffee. At +either end of this table were well-dressed women, their faces pale and +haggard, one cutting slices of bread and others pouring coffee. Men ate +in huge gulps and drank from thick white mugs and quart dippers, then +rushed out to the fire, taking handfuls of food to those who could not +leave their engines. The difference between the room, with its misery +and confusion, and the orderly hall of justice for which it had served +up to that day, was as marked a contrast as could readily be imagined. + +All night long ambulances dashed from the ruins to the United States +Naval Hospital, where, under the direction of Medical Inspector H. +E. Ames of the United States Navy the majority of the injured were +treated, and to the United States Marine and Soldiers’ Home hospitals, +and but for the unflagging efforts of the hospital sergeants, doctors, +and nurses many more lives would have been lost. + +[Illustration: RUINS OF THE CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH] + +One man, when picked up by the ambulance with his face and arms +terribly burned, was nearly dead. Attempts were made to learn his name +in case he should die, but in reply to the attendant’s question he only +moaned, “My God! My God!” Another man was picked up with both legs +broken, still another had a terrible gash in his forehead caused by +a falling wall, another man fell from a roof and broke two ribs, and so +it went. In all, three hundred injured persons were treated. + +Mayor Beck, who had lost his home and his newspaper plant, was +everywhere, and it was nearly morning when he lay down on a policeman’s +cot at the station for a few hours’ sleep. Many of the policemen who +were on duty lost their homes, but stuck to their posts, although they +did not know where their wives and families were. + +About midnight a gang of men started to clear the street railway tracks +on Broadway and Everett Avenue, which are the outlets from Boston +to many of the northern suburbs. In places they were piled several +feet high with bricks, granite blocks, and other debris. The rails +themselves had been twisted and bent into all conceivable shapes by +the heat, and the trolley wires and poles were down. In spite of the +several miles of track thus destroyed the company ran cars through +the city the second day after the fire. Through the orders of Henry +Mitchell, chairman of the High School Committee, the doors of the +High School on Crescent Avenue had been thrown open early in the day +to hundreds of women and children who were wandering aimlessly about +the streets and parks. The corridors were now filled to overflowing +with sobbing women, little children, and a few old men. Husbands and +brothers were out hunting for relatives, directing people to shelter +or helping in some other way. Few men slept during that night, and +hundreds had their eyes so badly burned and inflamed by the smoke and +heat that they were in great pain. + +The High School could hold only a limited number, and it was pitiful +to see women and children huddled together for warmth in little groups +along the railroad tracks, in the parks, or in side streets. Thousands +flocked to Powderhorn Hill and spent the night sobbing out some story +of woe to any bystander who might seem at all interested. + +During the evening a citizens’ meeting was held in the High School, +which was attended by many prominent men. A Relief Committee was formed +to care for the destitute and needy. Mr. Wm. E. McClintock, chairman +of the State Highway Commission, was chosen chairman; City Treasurer +Thomas B. Frost, treasurer, and Benjamin P. Nichols, secretary. After +sending out the following letter of appeal the meeting was adjourned +until eight o’clock in the morning. + + “Chelsea, April 12, 1908. + + “We have been visited by a most terrible catastrophe. One half + the area of our city has been swept by fire. Fifteen thousand + people are homeless. + + “Twelve million dollars’ worth of property has been destroyed. + Our business section is almost wholly wiped out. We are in sore + need. We have not lost our courage, but are applying ourselves + with all our ability to the task before us. + + “But that task is stupendous, and we ask assistance of all who + are beneficently inclined. He who gives quickly gives double. + Subscriptions may be sent to City Treasurer Thomas B. Frost.” + + (Signed) + + “JOHN E. BECK, + + “Mayor of Chelsea. + + “WILLIAM E. MCCLINTOCK, + + “Chairman of Relief Committee.” + +Later it was decided to accept no aid outside the State of +Massachusetts. + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +A VAST EXPANSE OF RUINS] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DAY DAWNS UPON THE RUINS + + +As the sky grew light and the morning mist cleared away, it disclosed a +vast expanse of smoking ruins. The night had passed, and what a night! +filled with vivid, awful memories of the dead and injured, the homeless +and destitute. The great blackened tract over which the fire had swept, +which only the day before had been covered with dwellings, stores, and +public buildings, was deserted, save for the soldiers, and here and +there little groups of firemen, tired and worn out, but still working. +As it grew lighter more people appeared. On the playground to the west +soldiers were pitching tents for the homeless. As far as one could see +lay nothing but a barren waste, with here and there the ragged walls +of a church or school standing out against the sky, like the ruins of +some old castle. + +On the sides of Bellingham Hill, with the exception of the walls of +the Highland School, nothing remained. Far off in the distance towards +the west stood the ruins of the big Frank B. Fay School, named for +Chelsea’s war mayor. + +[Illustration: THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE] + +Broadway had been partly cleared during the night and was passable. +The other streets, however, were piled with debris. The telephone, +electric light, and street railway wires were in a tangled mass all +over the city. In spite of this, by noon the telephone people had six +lines operating for official business. A line of hose had been kept +playing on the vaults of the County Savings Bank all night, and about +ten o’clock they were opened. A great cloud of smoke poured out, but +the contents were intact, giving confidence to the other bank officials +that their securities were safe, which later proved true. To the +southeast the huge oil tanks still belched forth clouds of smoke and +flame, showing that here the fight was not yet over. + +The granite curbs that edged the streets were crumbled into little +piles of sand and gravel, and in the entire area there was not enough +inflammable material to kindle a kitchen fire. So intense and searching +had been the heat that the telegraph poles in places were burned two +feet into the ground. Nowhere were there any ashes; they had all gone +with the gale. It was the most complete sweep that could be imagined; +hardly a brick wall stood, save those of public buildings. The sight +was like nothing so much as the skeleton of Pompeii, with the great +smoke clouds of the oil tanks to represent Vesuvius in eruption. The +cellars were often filled with glowing coals, with here and there a +darting flame and drifts of black smoke. + +The horror of the devastation thrilled the tingling nerves, and it all +seemed like a fearful dream until a sharp, “Halt! Who’s there?” from a +guard, brought back the reality of the thing. + +With the dawn the people of Chelsea got their first glimpse of the +burnt area, and began to realize what the fire demon had accomplished. +The work of over one hundred years had been destroyed in a few hours. +In every direction were the skeletons of what had been beautiful shade +trees that it had taken God fifty years to grow, and which “Hell’s +breath” had withered and killed in a few minutes. + +With the daylight people took courage; there was no weeping, and +the excited crowds of the day before were no more. Men who had lost +everything smiled and extended sympathy to others. The one thing that +impressed the observer was the matter-of-fact way in which all took +their losses. They kept their troubles to themselves and got to work +helping others. + +[Illustration: SHURTLEFF STREET BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FIREMEN + + +No set of men ever worked harder than the firemen. They put up as +gallant a fight as was ever fought on a battlefield. Old men, who had +spent their lives fighting the flames, admitted that it was the hottest +fire that they had ever seen. No amount of apparatus could have stopped +it after the second fire had got started. The way the gale swept the +flames along was beyond comprehension. + +The Chelsea firemen had been kept constantly on the jump for two +years previous to the fire in the performance of their duties, and +when this fire started they, like other citizens, thought it would be +extinguished, as many others had been in that district, without much +loss, but the second fire changed everything. + +At the meeting of the Fire Chiefs’ Club of Massachusetts, held at the +Hotel Cecil, Boston, on April 15, the sentiment expressed was that +no fire-fighter in the country could have done any better than Chief +Spencer, with such odds against him, and as a token of their sympathy +and esteem they elected him their president. They agreed, however, that +the fire was not handled systematically, but that this was through +no fault of Chief Spencer. If he had had a corps of deputies, there +would have been some one in authority to meet the out-of-town firemen +when they arrived. As it was, these companies had to rely on their own +judgment and get to work without making a report. + +[Illustration: + + COURTESY OF UTICA SATURDAY GLOBE + +CHIEF SPENCER DURING THE FIRE] + +And speaking of Chief Spencer, a good story is told at his expense. +During the fire a bundle of woman’s wearing apparel was left at the +Central Fire Station for safety. Shortly after Chief Spencer entered +the building and threw his hat down upon the bundle, and when he +left, hurriedly grabbed up a different hat. Later in the day the +Central Fire Station burned, and one of the firemen, assuming that +the chief had packed up his uniform in the bundle from the fact that +his hat was on top of it, with much difficulty carried the bundle to +a place of safety. The next day the man proudly went to his chief and +notified him that he had saved his uniform. The chief was greatly +surprised, but naturally pleased, and thanked him cordially, at which +the blushing fireman replied he was glad to have been of service to +him. The chief sent for the things, and notified his wife that he had +sent his uniform home and asked her to open the bundle and hang it up. +But it was up to the chief to explain, when his wife met him in the +front hall with indescribable articles of female wearing apparel and +demanded to know if they were a part of his uniform. + +Many firemen were injured or burned during the day; all suffered +terribly with their eyes, and men like Dr. W. S. Walkley (and there +were a lot of them), who went about among the firemen bathing their +eyes and putting cold cream on their burns, were a godsend and did much +good. + +A great many Chelsea firemen lost their homes, but even when it became +apparent that they were to be destroyed, they did not waver, but stuck +to their duty. They would enter a burning building with their hose and +stay there in an attempt to save it until their clothes were on fire, +enduring suffocating smoke and intense heat, and many times did not +leave their positions until their lines commenced to burn. In many +cases they stuck to their posts, playing streams of water on burning +oil tanks and buildings containing explosives, when at any moment they +were liable to be blown into eternity. Their courage and their loyalty +to their superior officers will always be a lesson to follow to those +who were among them. No criticisms have been made of their work; it +has been universally acknowledged that no human agency could have won +out against such odds on that day. + +The following letter, sent by Mayor Hibbard of Boston to Fire +Commissioner Parker, would apply to the firemen from any of the many +cities that gave aid to Chelsea. Each department was responsible for +checking the fire and saving some portion of the city. + + “April 15, 1908. + + “Samuel D. Parker, Esq., + + “Fire Commissioner: + + “My Dear Mr. Parker,--I congratulate you and the officers + and men of the Fire Department on behalf of the city for the + magnificent work done in the Chelsea and East Boston fires on + Sunday last. + + “The latter district owes its preservation to the courage and + ability of the Fire Department of the city of Boston. + + “Only those familiar with the conditions can appreciate how + magnificently the work was handled. + + “Let me add my personal thanks and congratulations to you and + your men. + + “Yours very truly, + + “G. A. HIBBARD, Mayor.” + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +THE EIGHTH COMPANY, COAST ARTILLERY, KEEPING BACK THE CROWD IN +WINNISIMMET SQUARE] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MILITIA + + +Troops arrived all night on April 12, coming from different parts of +the State. They were quartered in the electric cars stalled in Chelsea +Square, in Grand Army Hall, in stores, and in fact, about any place +where they happened to be. It mattered little, as very few men got a +chance to sleep. Headquarters were established at the Police Station +in the Court House, Colonel Charles P. Nutter taking command, being +relieved later by Colonel E. Leroy Sweetser. A very heavy sentry detail +was swung out during the night, forming a complete cordon around +the burned area and the houses on the edge, which were only partly +destroyed. Each man had ten rounds of ball cartridges issued him with +instructions to use them if his challenge was unheeded. Orders had +been issued to pass no one in or out of the burned area during the +night, but early in the morning orders were given to admit those with +passes. + +The following is the first general order issued in Chelsea:-- + + “Headquarters Provisional Battalion, + Chelsea, Mass, April 13, 1908. + + “General Orders No. 1: + + “1. The headquarters of this Battalion will be at police + headquarters until further orders. + + “2. Officers will be held strictly accountable for the safety + of all private property within their districts, and will allow + no one to disturb or carry away any private property from the + ruins without a permit signed by Herbert W. Stebbins, or upon + orders from the proper authorities. + + “3. Enlisted men will not leave the street to trespass upon + private property, nor will they touch any private property, + except to save it from loss, and then turn it over at once to + their company commanders. Sentinels will treat all persons + courteously in enforcing orders. + + “4. All officers and men will cooperate and assist the members + of the city government, the police department, and authorized + committees in their work. + + “5. Lieutenant Williams, assistant surgeon, Eighth Infantry, + will make an inspection of the sanitary conditions within the + city limits and report to these headquarters. + + “6. Captain Whitney, Fifth Infantry, will inspect and report + all walls that are unsafe within the burnt district. + + “By order of Colonel Sweetser, + + “HARRY F. BROWN, + “First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant, + “Acting Adjutant.” + +There were three forms of passes issued, a blue one, which admitted to +the lines, which was taken up; a white one, which permitted the bearer +to search among the ruins; and a special one, allowing the holder to +open a safe, which read as follows:-- + + “Permit to Enter upon Property. + + Good for this day only + + ---- has permission to enter upon ---- Street, previously + occupied by him, to examine premises, open safe and remove + property belonging to him, between the hours of 8 A.M. and 5 + P.M.,----April --, 1908. + + “GASPAR G. SHANNON, + “Chief of Police. + + “Use of Explosives Forbidden.” + +[Illustration: + + COPYRIGHT, JUDGE CO., 1908 + +TROOP A, FIRST SQUADRON OF CAVALRY] + +Many who had fled from the city when their homes were burned were +unable to get back without much trouble, having first to satisfy guards +on Chelsea Bridge and the highways leading to Everett and Revere that +they had a right to be in the city. After they got through these +outposts they could not get into the burned area without a pass from +Colonel Nutter, who was in command. During the early hours hundreds of +residents on the farther side of the fire desired to go to Boston and +other places to work, but could not do so on account of the cordon of +soldiers, until arrangements were made to gather the people together in +large groups and march them through. + +The police willingly gave in to the soldiers, and in no instance did a +clash occur. Every one was stopped at the picket line and only firemen, +policemen, and people with passes got by. Many people were indignant +when stopped, and commenced to abuse the soldiers, but as a rule the +reply, “Those are the orders, sir,” brought a smile and, “Well, I’m not +blaming you.” + +An incident of the military patrol of the ruins was an encounter +between the sentries and a gang of one hundred and fifty Italian +laborers, who failed to comprehend the fact that they could not pass +the guard lines without permits, although they had been sent to work +on the ruins. The gang tried to rush the lines and a hand-to-hand +tussle followed, in which some of the workmen were roughly handled. + +Another incident occurred on Broadway. A soldier ordered a chauffeur to +stop his machine. The man replied in an insulting manner and continued +on his way. He was placed under arrest and turned over to the civil +authorities. Judge Bossom sentenced him to six months in the House of +Correction, stating that his conduct was reprehensible, and that at +such a time every one should obey orders of those in charge and do +everything in his power to assist. + +There is no question that the militia did its duty; the men worked +hard, with practically no sleep and little food for days. They not only +did guard duty, but helped in the relief work, and volunteered for many +other duties. + +Soldiers were detailed to search among the ruins for bodies; and when +one was found, a guard was placed over it and was obliged to stay +there, sometimes for hours, until the coroner could be found. They +kept people away from the threatening walls and guarded what property +was left. They acted as messengers and stood for six to eight hours +at a stretch on guard. The rations consisted of whatever could be got +together, always coffee and bread, with sometimes canned meats or +beans, which was very meager compared to the regulation field ration. + +It was unjust and contemptible for a certain Boston paper to come out +with big headlines to the effect that the soldiers were looting, and +the fact that this paper made an editorial apology the next day does +not excuse the city editor for allowing it to get in. In the first +place the soldiers had no time for looting, and in the second there +was nothing of value left to steal. The following article taken from +“Practical Politics” expresses the writer’s feelings very well:-- + + “Whoever framed up the story that there was looting by the + soldiers placed to guard people’s property as well as the + lives of the community, did the soldier boys a great wrong, + for the story went broadcast all over the country, to the + effect that they had been guilty of the most heinous offense, + either in times of war or peace, that of looting the dead and + the helpless people. The stories did a great injustice to the + marines and jackies from the Navy Yard, as well as to the State + forces, and that it was not true was very promptly shown by + the governor and the adjutant general, both of whom nailed + the story before it had traveled much. The harm was done when + the press associations, accepting it as a bonafide piece of + news, sent it to all parts of the world. One of the odd things + about the accusation is that two members of the Massachusetts + Legislature, Senator Tilton S. Bell and Representative J. B. + Ferber, were among the soldiers on guard at Chelsea during the + critical times, and they did not see or hear of any looting.” + +Editorials like the following appeared in many papers through the +State:-- + + “We have no hesitation in saying that the charge of looting + made against the militia on duty in Chelsea is wholly + unwarranted, and that even were some individual member of our + military force guilty of such unsoldierly conduct, his offense + is no excuse for wholesale accusations against the body. The + troops, national and State, on duty in the burnt district have + been doing splendid work; everybody who has watched their + course has spoken in the highest terms of their care, courtesy, + vigilance, and soldierly bearing; and their services have + been of great value to the afflicted community in preserving + peace and property and facilitating the humanitarian work the + occasion demanded. + + “We have every confidence in the discipline, efficiency, + integrity, and fidelity to duty of our troops; and if any + individual militiaman has deflected from the standards of + conduct expected and enforced, we may confidently count on his + punishment for his offense and his expulsion from the body. + Accusations against our troops are in bad taste and should not + be indulged in unless backed by the best evidence.” + +Upon the withdrawal of the State troops from Chelsea, Mayor Beck sent +the following letter to Adjutant General Brigham:-- + + “William M. Brigham, Adjutant General: + + “Dear Sir,--As mayor of the city of Chelsea, I desire to + tender this official recognition of the prompt, efficient, and + valuable services rendered by the militia under your command, + detailed to preserve order and protect life and property in + Chelsea during and since the great conflagration. + + “Order was maintained by your officers and troops under the + most trying circumstances, and no just criticism of their + conduct, other than that which is creditable, can exist. + + “I feel especially grateful to both Colonel Charles P. Nutter + and Colonel E. Leroy Sweetser for their harmonious cooperation + with the civil authorities during this period. + + “My grateful acknowledgment of obligation is also due to the + rank and file of each company, including the Fifth Company, + C. A. C., a large number of which, although their entire + possessions were lost and their families rendered homeless by + the fire, responded faithfully to the high call of military + duty without regard to their personal interests. + + “Respectfully yours, + + “JOHN E. BECK, Mayor.” + +[Illustration: GRANITE CRUMBLED TO GRAVEL UNDER THE HEAT] + + + + +CHAPTER X + +EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY + + +Before the fire was extinguished messages offering aid and sympathy +began to pour in. One of the first was a telegraphic despatch from +President Roosevelt as follows:-- + + “Mayor John E. Beck, Chelsea, Mass. + + “In company with all our people, I am inexpressibly shocked at + the tragedy that has befallen Chelsea. Is there anything the + national government can do, in connection with the Navy Yard + or with either the military or naval establishments at Boston, + which will be of service? + + “THEODORE ROOSEVELT.” + +to which Mayor Beck by the light of the fire wrote the following +despatch in reply:-- + + “President Roosevelt, + Washington, D. C. + + “Your telegram of sympathy and tender of service is deeply + appreciated by our people. The marines from the Navy Yard have + done yeoman service for us. In the hour of this sad affliction + the kind words of our sister cities and States have steeled + our arm. We will arise from the ashes and build a new city + that will show to the world the courage and fortitude of the + citizens of Chelsea. Respectfully, + + “JOHN E. BECK, Mayor.” + +The Massachusetts senators sent the following:-- + + “John E. Beck, Mayor, Chelsea, Mass. + + “We have learned with deep regret of the great misfortune which + has befallen Chelsea. If there is anything we can do to aid + you, please let us know at once. + + (Signed) “HENRY CABOT LODGE. + “WINTHROP MURRAY CRANE.” + +Congressman Roberts of Chelsea telegraphed: “Do you want me to +introduce a resolution in Congress for blankets?” + +Acting Governor Draper went to Chelsea as soon as he learned of the +catastrophe, and offered the aid and sympathy of the State. + +A cable was received at the State House from the Irish National Party +as follows:-- + + “Dublin, Ireland, April 13, 1908. + + “To Governor, State House, + Boston, Mass. + + “Irish National Party deeply sympathize with Boston in tragic + calamity. + + “(Signed) REDMOND.” + +to which the governor replied:-- + + “April 14, 1908. + + “Hon. John E. Redmond, M. P., + Dublin, Ireland. + + “Thanks for expression of sympathy. While great loss of + property and much suffering, our people have situation well in + hand. + + “(Signed) DRAPER, Acting Governor.” + +The following despatch was sent to Mayor Beck immediately after a +hurried meeting of the citizens of Brookline had been called:-- + + “In behalf of the town of Brookline, I send to you our deepest + sympathy for the calamity which has come to your city. + + “I authorize you to draw on the town of Brookline now for + the sum of $1000, and further steps will be taken to aid you + financially. I trust you will call upon me at the Brookline + Town Hall if there is any other assistance which our citizens + can render you at the present moment. We stand ready to help + you in whatever way we can. + + “Respectfully yours, + “WILLIAM CRAIG, + “Chairman Board of Selectmen.” + +General Booth of the Salvation Army cabled from London as follows:-- + + “Mayor, Chelsea: I mourn with you in this calamity. Sympathize + with sufferers and pray that God may be with them and comfort + them. + + “WILLIAM BOOTH.” + +Hundreds of similar messages were received from all parts of this +country and abroad, and the two telegraph stations, hurriedly +established, one on Charlestown Bridge, and the other at the Boston +and Maine railroad station, were kept busy. Hundreds of telegrams and +cables were received which could not be delivered as the people to whom +they had been addressed had been burned out and in many cases had left +the city. + +[Illustration: THE COURT HOUSE, USED AS CITY HALL AFTER THE FIRE] + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE RELIEF WORK + + +The work of relief started almost before the flames of the first +section destroyed had died away. Acting Governor Draper, who had +arrived in Chelsea about the middle of the afternoon, at once realized +the immediate need of assistance, turned about and had his chauffeur +take him speedily to his office at the State House. Here he got +into communication with the City Hall, and a meeting was arranged +at the mayor’s office. Mayor Hibbard, who was at his summer home in +Provincetown, arrived about six o’clock. The first move was to get +hospital service to the city and all available doctors, nurses, and +ambulances were sent to Chelsea. + +Messengers were despatched to bring many prominent citizens to a +citizens’ meeting, and among the first to arrive was Major Henry +L. Higginson of the firm of Lee, Higginson & Company, who at once +offered all immediate financial assistance necessary. Provisions for +the refugees were the first necessity, and the authorities in Boston +and Chelsea combined to secure them. Bakers, provision dealers, and +restaurant keepers readily volunteered to furnish them, and what is +more important, had them ready and delivered in Chelsea by midnight. + +Meanwhile, the residents of Chelsea had not been idle. While the fire +was at its height, J. Travis Roberts went to the junction of County +Road and the Boulevard, and stopped every motor car that came along, +courteously requesting the drivers to loan their cars to the city. In a +very short time about fifty cars had been secured, and their help was +of great value. + +Dr. Charles N. Cutler organized a rescue corps with motor cars to take +the needy people to the First Congregational Church on County Road, +where Mrs. Henry A. Tenney had charge, and was assisted by Mr. Herbert +Slade, Miss Florence H. Mitchell, and many others. H. P. McManus of +the firm of Atwood & McManus summoned all his teamsters and got out +ten double wagons, which he ordered into the burning district and put +at the disposal of the fleeing population. In this way a great many +families saved most of their belongings. He then secured ten bushels +of sandwiches to feed the fire fighters. All about the edge of the +fire luncheons were to be had for the asking. Mr. R. H. Grant made +and served many gallons of coffee. Dr. Charles Reeds went through the +burning district near his home, handing out food to the soldiers and +firemen. Every namable kind of relief sprang into action, and the +organized Relief Committee was relieved of a large proportion of its +duty. The National, American, and Adams Express companies put their +teams at the disposal of the Relief Committee and offered to transport +all relief supplies free. + +Mr. Albert Tenney, manager of the Suburban Electric Company of Malden, +placed five automobiles at the disposal of the committee, and ran one +himself for several days. + +The Chelsea Relief Committee, which was selected early in the evening, +set up headquarters in the High School building just outside the fire +lines. The first step was to open an information bureau, where the +homeless were directed to churches and other places open to receive +them, and where the missing could report and the lost get in touch with +their friends. + +The next morning there were organized a bureau of general information, +a committee for medical relief, and a housing and employment bureau. +The insurance companies also established a bureau of information. +In the basement a bakery and lunch counter was started, and great +four-horse loads of food were delivered at one door and distributed at +another. + +The Scenic Temple on Second Street, at the other end of the city, was +opened as a dispensary distributing station, in charge of George H. +Willie and George H. Dunham. Other places of refuge were the Salvation +Army Barracks in Chelsea Square, Saint Luke’s Parsonage, the Cary +Avenue Methodist Church, the First Congregational Church, the Soldiers’ +Home, and scores of other places where small numbers could be cared for. + +William E. McClintock, chairman of the Relief Committee, opened his +headquarters at his residence opposite the High School. The Young +Men’s Christian Association opened headquarters in the Review Club +next door. Voting booths were erected on the club’s tennis court for +the use of the city officials. Crowds gathered on the streets about +these buildings, and it took a large detail of soldiers to keep things +straightened out. In the High School, lines of young women were busy +making card catalogues of new addresses and telling the inquirers where +their friends and relatives were to be found. In the rooms off the +corridors, committees inquired into each case, and issued cards for +food and clothing. At every entrance stood sentries to keep out the +merely curious, and outside other soldiers kept the deserving crowd +in a line, which for days reached far down the street and turned the +corner. On the third floor were piled articles of clothing. At first +there was naturally a great confusion, but soon the committee got +things down to a system. + +[Illustration: + + BY WM. J. MCCLINTOCK + +THE BREAD LINE] + +The Massachusetts Chelsea Relief Committee issued the following +bulletin for information of fire sufferers and others:-- + + Executive Headquarters--Chamber of Commerce, Boston, Mass.; + telephone, Fort Hill 1834. Edmund Billings, executive + secretary, James J. Storrow, chairman. + + Treasurers--Lee, Higginson & Company, 44 State Street, Boston, + Mass. + + Chelsea Relief Committee--High School Building, Chelsea. + + Insurance Information--High School Building, Chelsea. + + Receiving Station--For supplies, except food, Keany Building, + 251 Causeway Street, Boston; telephone, Richmond 777. + + Registration for Lodgings--Municipal Building, 427 Blossom + Street, Boston; telephone, Haymarket 427. + + Registration for Volunteer Workers--Room 31, Charity Building, + Chardon Street, Boston; telephone, Haymarket 847. + + Automobiles--Owners who can loan their machines for use, + telephone Room 31, Charity Building; telephone, Haymarket 847. + + * * * * * + + All supplies (except food) should be sent to the Keany Square + Building, 251 Causeway Street, which is in charge of Miss + Katherine D. Loring of the Red Cross Society. + + From this point they are distributed on proper requisition to + the various points where the refugees are located. + + There is a great necessity for underclothing, men’s, women’s + and children’s, babies’ blankets, blankets, sheets, and pillow + cases. + + They cannot use anything that is dirty or torn, nor clothing + trimmed with lace, or evening dresses. + + Offers of food, milk, and other perishable supplies should + be made to Mr. Billings, the executive secretary. Chamber of + Commerce Building; telephone, Fort Hill 1834. + + * * * * * + + All persons who had any fire insurance and who had a fire loss + should apply to the Insurance Information Committee, High + School Building, Chelsea, Room 11. + + The fire insurance companies have established this committee + to furnish free information and advice to any person who was + insured and suffered any fire loss, whether their policies were + burned or not. + + There is a great need for automobiles to be used in moving the + sufferers and in distributing nurses, etc., both in Chelsea and + Boston. + + Owners who are willing to loan their cars for such use should + telephone to Room 31, Charity Building, Boston, Haymarket 847. + +The following relief stations were established by the committee:-- + +First District--High School Building, Crescent Avenue. + + Second District--Lincoln Hall, Second Street. + + Third District--First Congregational Church, County Road. + + Fourth District--880 Broadway. + + Fifth District--Spencer Avenue School Building. + +These were the only ones provided for by the committee in Chelsea, +although special interests looked out for their own people. Among them +were the following stations:-- + + Central Congregational Church--Washington Avenue opposite Heard + Street. + + Christian Science Church--Rear of 2 County Road. + + St. Luke’s Episcopal Church--Parish house, Washington Avenue, + corner Spruce Street. + + All denominations--Cary Avenue Methodist Church. + + Catholic--Old parochial residence, Crescent Avenue near + Broadway. + + Labor Unions--195 Broadway. + + Elks--Corner Williams Street and Broadway. + + Eagles--Broadway, opposite Court House. + + Foresters and Knights of Columbus--66 Williams Street. + + Red Men--Towne’s store, Broadway Square near Second Street. + + Hebrew Information Bureau--129 Winnisimmet Street. + + N. E. O. P.--371 Spruce Street. + + Masonic Bodies--136 Broadway. + + District Nurses--Lincoln Hall, Second Street. + + Knights of Columbus--Old Salvation Army building, Park Street. + + Christian Scientists--General distribution of relief supplies, + carriage house rear of Wilson estate, Carter Street off + Washington Avenue. + +The regular relief stations in Chelsea in one day distributed the +following supplies:-- + + FOOD + Milk, gallons 400 + Coffee, gallons 600 + Canned meat, cases 75 + Canned soup, cases 100 + Canned salmon, cases 50 + Dry codfish, large boxes 50 + Coffee, pounds 100 + Condensed milk, cans 1,200 + Granulated sugar, pounds 500 + Eggs, dozens 1,000 + CLOTHING + Boys’ suits 500 + Children’s underwear 500 + Men’s underwear 500 + Men’s trousers 250 + Men’s shoes, cases 25 + Women’s shoes, cases 25 + Women’s underwear, suits 100 + Hosiery, men and women, pairs 1,500 + Blankets 1,000 + Mattresses 500 + Pillows 500 + +[Illustration: EFFECT OF FIRE ON GRANITE WALLS AND CURBING] + +Among the Chelsea women who worked untiringly for days at the relief +stations were: Mrs. Grace D. Bancroft, Miss Mary Keen, Miss Alice +Dorkhann, Mrs. Charles Bourne, Mrs. Boyd Bartlett, Mrs. Andrew T. +Hunnewell, Miss Ethel F. Bourne, Mrs. C. Willis Gould, Miss Edith Bush, +Miss Margaret H. Ames (Naval Hospital), Miss Agnes Peck, Mrs. F. L. +Avery, Miss Abbie Tarrell, Mrs. E. Frank Guild. + +It was found after the second day that many applicants who crowded +into the relief stations were simply taking bundles of clothing and +supplies across to Boston and selling them for what they would bring. +It was learned that some of these people did not live in Chelsea at +all, being impostors from various quarters, who were fraudulently +obtaining places in the relief line, and it was found absolutely +necessary to have some kind of personal identification. The committee, +therefore, adopted the following identification card:-- + + SAVE TIME FOR YOURSELF + + and help the committee by having the attached card of + identification filled out and signed by your pastor, doctor, + or some business or professional man known to the committee. + With the identification card you will be served without delay. + Without the identification card you will go to Room -- and be + specially examined. + + Below is a blank, as follows:-- + + I am personally acquainted with ---- of No. -- ---- Street, and + know that he is worthy of aid. I recommend that he be given + ----, etc. + +An average of twelve thousand people a day were fed at the various +relief stations for weeks. H.P. Hood & Son sent wagon loads of fine +milk free of charge. Henry Siegel wired his Boston manager to establish +immediately a tent for the free distribution of soup, sandwiches, and +coffee, and the instructions were carried out. A. Shuman sent over one +thousand dollars’ worth of wearing apparel. + +A relief station was established at the Keany Square Building in Boston +and was under the charge of Miss Katherine Loring, who was assisted by +Miss Eleanor Sears, Miss Higginson, Miss Hunnewell, Miss Olive Ames, +Mrs. Arthur D. Cook, Miss Dorothy Forbes, and other young society +leaders of Boston. A detachment of ten signal corps men were placed +here under command of Lieutenant R. E. Blecher to guard the place and +help sort goods sent in. + +Mr. Herbert Norton, chairman of the Chelsea License Commission, +immediately canceled all licenses which had been issued in Chelsea and +Police Commissioner O’Meara of Boston issued the following order the +night of the fire:-- + + “City of Boston, Police Department. + “April 12, 1908. + + “Under the authority conferred upon me by sec. 19, chap. 291, + acts of 1906, I hereby suspend and make inoperative until + further notice all licenses to sell intoxicating liquors in + police division 7 (East Boston) and in that part of police + division 15 (Charlestown) lying between Mystic and Charles + rivers and the harbor on the north and east and southwest and + a line on the west drawn through Everett Street, extended to + Mystic River, Concord Street, Monument Square, Pleasant and + Devens streets, Rutherford Avenue and Arrow Street, extended + to the water, including both sides of said streets, square, and + avenue. + + “Sec. 19 provides further that:-- + + “Any licensee who personally or by his servants or agents + sells, furnishes, or delivers any intoxicating liquors during + such suspension shall be punished by a fine of $200 for said + offense, and his license shall become forfeited. + + “This suspension will be revoked as soon as it becomes evident + that public safety and order in the parts of the city specified + no longer require it. + + “(Signed) STEPHEN O’MEARA, + + “Police Commissioner of the City of Boston.” + +Nearly two hundred refugees were sent to the South Armory, and housed +in the quarters of Battery A, Field Artillery. Armorer George Thorpe +worked untiringly for their comfort. The Mellin’s Food Company sent to +Chelsea twenty-five cases of malted milk, the National Biscuit Company +two hundred boxes of Uneeda biscuits. The Horace Memorial Church on +Webster Avenue took care of two hundred people. The Magee Furnace +Company, the Revere Rubber Company, the Forbes Lithograph Company, and +many other big manufacturing plants, established relief stations for +their own employees. + +The rector of Saint Rose Catholic Church issued the following notice:-- + + “Chelsea, April 15, 1908. + + “The parish is fully covered by insurance and has no need of + assistance, and has a glorious future before it. We have no + need to think of that now. Provision will be made for masses + and everything of that kind. + + “What we are wholly intent on now is the relief of the poor. We + have three bureaus of supplies open day and night, and all may + come for relief. All who are in the city, whether of our faith + or not, will be gladly welcomed. We will supply them with food + and clothing, and will engage and furnish tenements in Boston + and elsewhere. We beg Chelsea people who have left the city, + and are temporarily with friends, but who cannot stay long + where they are, to come and let us provide for them. + + “Our depots are at the Spencer Avenue Catholic school, at the + old parochial residence, Broadway and Crescent Avenue, and at + the corner of Williams and Broadway. + + “THOMAS J. CUSICK, Rector.” + +The three banks which were destroyed secured temporary quarters in a +building near the Court House, and inside of twenty-four hours had +their securities out of the ruins, and were able to pay depositors who +needed money. + +The morning after the fire the Chelsea Post-office opened temporary +quarters in a pool room on Park Street. All mail that was in the burned +Post-office was saved by heroic work of the department, and three +deliveries were made during the day following the fire, although the +majority of people to whom mail was addressed could not be found. + +Congressman Roberts at once introduced a bill in the House of +Representatives appropriating $125,000 to provide for a new building. + +Furniture companies and other business concerns took immediate measures +to relieve their patrons. Instalment houses announced that their +customers having unsettled accounts need not worry about payment, as +all goods sold were insured. + +Major Walter E. Lombard made an appeal to the military organizations +throughout the State for funds to relieve the members of the Fifth +Company, Coast Artillery Corps, whose Armory had been destroyed, and +who had lost, not only their clothes, but in thirty-five cases their +homes. Over $1500 was contributed to this fund. + +The labor unions of Boston were prompt in coming to the aid of their +members who suffered in the fire. + +Hundreds of loaves of bread came over in the wagons of Ferguson, Fox, +and other bakers, while Cobb, Bates & Yerxa and S. S. Pierce & Company +had great four-horse wagons early on the scene, loaded with provisions +of all sorts. Supplies piled in from all sides. The Keany Square Relief +Station looked like a great warehouse. In one day the following gifts +were acknowledged by this station:-- + +A carload of clothing from the Phillips Brooks House, a carload of +suits from the Brookline relief committee, a box of clothing from +Mrs. Kennison, gifts from the First Presbyterian Church on Columbus +Avenue, clothing from boys of Phillips School, gifts from Shepard, +Norwell & Company, gifts from C. F. Hovey & Company, an express load of +packages from the city of Somerville, gifts from the King’s Daughters +of Cambridge, twelve barrels of gifts from the Salem Thought and +Work Club, gifts from W. S. Butler, fifteen mattresses from the New +York Mattress Company, three boxes of goods from the Jordan Marsh +Company, goods from James A. Houston & Company, goods from W. H. Brine +& Company, goods from High School at Dorchester Heights, goods from the +Friendly Society of the South Congregational Church, goods from the +Concord Woman’s Club, one hundred and seven dozen pairs of stockings +from the Star Theater Company, goods from the Women’s Guild of the +Church of the Good Shepherd, and gifts from G. B. H. Macomber. + +[Illustration: THE SHURTLEFF SCHOOL BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE] + +The spirit the citizens themselves showed, compelled admiration from +every outsider. They were courageous, to say the least, and the general +sentiment among them was not downheartedness, but determination to +relieve the suffering at once, and then to reestablish the municipality +on a better basis than formerly. + +The people fully appreciated the generosity shown them throughout the +State, and more than one, big, strong, able-bodied man felt a lump come +into his throat when he read of and saw the many things that were being +done by strangers outside of the city for its relief. + +Two days after the fire the city had hundreds of unemployed at work +clearing the streets. Judge Bossom announced that until conditions +were relieved he would deal stringently with drunkards and other law +breakers, and suiting his actions to his words, gave four men arrested +the night after the fire the full penalty allowed by the law. + +The prompt and systematic organization for relief gave assurance to +the people of the State that their funds would be wisely directed in +relieving the needs of the people and resulted in private purses being +opened in a most generous and liberal way. + +Lee, Higginson & Company received sums ranging from a few dollars up +to several thousand, aggregating in the neighborhood of $350,000. + +In spite of all that was done in the city there was not room for all, +and the surrounding towns and cities made Chelsea’s needs their own. +The Revere Town Hall was thrown open to the refugees, the Revere +Women’s Club taking care of one hundred and fifty at night and feeding +more during the day. + +In Malden Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, the First Baptist Church, the +Congregational, the Methodist, and the Catholic churches were thrown +open to the needy. + +Everett, Medford, and Winthrop also took care of many of the destitute. +The Civil Service House in Boston was opened from the beginning of the +trouble, and most of the lost children were sent there. The Boston +English High School opened its doors and took care of about one hundred +refugees as long as was necessary. + +A monster dramatic entertainment was held at the Boston Theater, and +all the actors playing in Boston at the time gave their services. The +entire proceeds were given to the relief fund. The best seats sold at +large premiums, and every seat and all standing room was taken. + +Mrs. Pelbouth of the Dennison House, offered the service of women +connected with that institution; the Wayfarers’ Lodge accommodated two +hundred men; the Bay State House on Hanover Street took care of from +thirty to forty; the Parker Memorial on Appleton Street offered the +use of its rooms; H. F. Denny of the Lakeshore Home, Sharon, took care +of fifty women and children; Sister Gabriel of the home for Destitute +Children offered shelter for children left homeless; about five hundred +people found shelter at the Salvation Army Palace; the Saint James +Hotel, Bowdoin Square, Boston, offered to take care of a number; the +Massachusetts General Hospital offered employment to five men and +agreed to take twenty to thirty sick people and supply nurses. + +The Animal Rescue League sent men to Chelsea to look out for the +homeless dogs and cats in the burned district. Those suffering from +injuries were at once chloroformed; the others were taken to the Carver +Street Home and held for owners to claim. + +Help of every description was offered to man and beast. It came quickly +and in abundance without being called for; and those who wondered +during the fire if there was a God, soon found him in the hearts of the +people of the Commonwealth. + +[Illustration: MAP SHOWING BURNED DISTRICT] + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CHELSEA’S FUTURE + + +In spite of the fact that no municipality in the State ever had such a +blow as Chelsea, which lost millions of taxable property and fully one +third of its population, the city has a glorious future before it. Of +this there is no doubt. It will be rebuilt, bigger and better in every +way. It will be a different kind of a city, however. The conservative +people, who have lived in their old houses year after year, although +the environment about them had changed, will in many cases rebuild in +different sections of the town. The old style of architecture will give +way to the new. There will be a relocation of schools and churches, and +the City Hall and other public buildings will be more conveniently +located. Streets will be widened and laid out differently in many +cases, and the old houses and buildings which had been remodeled into +stores along Broadway will be replaced by fine business blocks of brick +and concrete construction. Hardly had the smoke of the fire cleared +away when the people turned their thoughts towards rebuilding. + +[Illustration: COUNTY ROAD, IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION] + +Chelsea is the home of many able and influential people, representing +large manufacturing, banking, political, and professional interests. +These men, who had their business and property interests at stake, +decided that to secure confidence in the city and rapid rebuilding was +impossible under the existing city charter, but that if a board of five +competent men were appointed by the governor and given the power of +the mayor, Board of Aldermen and School Committee for five years, it +would be possible. The appointment of such a board or commission, it +was believed, would cut out all political strife. A bill was therefore +introduced and at a hearing held on April 28 at the State House nearly +all the prominent citizens were present. As a matter of record the +following speeches are of interest, showing, as they do, the general +feeling of the people. + + * * * * * + +Mayor John E. Beck spoke as follows:-- + + “We have come to the conclusion, regardless of everything else + in the city, that legislation is needed to promote the welfare + and future of our city. Nearly five hundred acres have been + destroyed by the fire, and now we are confronted with the task + of rebuilding the city. We have agreed, I believe, in the city + of Chelsea, almost to a man, that if we have Chelsea’s future + at heart, and we believe that her future must be protected, + that legislation of this kind is needed. Political ambition + and other things of that nature must be eliminated. We have + come to you as a unit from the city of Chelsea, to ask you + gentlemen of the committee to give us this bill. It will + then be in the hands of the governor to appoint whom he sees + fit, citizens, as the members of that commission, so long as + they are of our own citizenship. We can then bring back the + confidence that is desired, and build a more beautiful and + substantial Chelsea than before. The mayor or Board of Aldermen + lack the power to do what is now needed to accomplish this + work. The work of reconstruction must be carried on by a body, + independent in action, and as a citizen, I wish to further + those things which are of essential benefit to every inhabitant + of our city. This cannot be accomplished by politics. This is + my first year as mayor; I am willing to sacrifice that and all + my own political ambitions, that our city may prosper in this + year of progress and take its place among the leading cities of + the Commonwealth. A bill of this nature carries with it the one + thought, that we must have the best men possible; in order to + restore confidence and thus secure results which will insure + the future and best interest of the city.” + +Congressman Ernest W. Roberts said:-- + + “The little I have to say will be as a citizen of Chelsea, a + resident of that municipality for over forty years. Chelsea of + to-day is not a city of wealthy people. You have heard from the + city treasurer somewhat of the losses that we have sustained. + If our city is to be rehabilitated, if we are to become once + more a flourishing municipality, it is necessary in the first + instance to restore confidence, both in the people now living + in Chelsea and those who have been forced out of the city by + reason of this fire, and what is much more important, the + confidence in financial men in the future of that city. We + have got to have large amounts of money poured into the city + to rebuild it, and without that basic principle of confidence + in the future of the city we are not going to get the money. + I am not in favor of government by commission, but there are + times and conditions when it seems to me that the commission is + the only solution of the problem, and I firmly believe to-day + that the question confronting the people of Chelsea can only + be solved through a commission. Without a commission there + would be a lack of continuity of government, so essential for + the successful solution of the problem that now confronts the + people of Chelsea. Through a commission a comprehensive scheme + can be laid out and can be carried out, step by step. After + its conclusion and when the commission has done that work, + the government of the city can be turned back to its citizens + under its present plan, or such other plan as the conditions + then presented to the city and country may warrant. I am not + here to argue for every line in the bill, but I am in favor of + the basic idea of the bill, which is a commission which shall + have a fixed tenure of office in order that there may be given + to those men sufficient time to carry out their plans. If + your bill does not provide enough time, you are not going to + accomplish what we want, and that is the creation of confidence + among monied men. I would suggest for the consideration of the + committee one possible amendment, and that would be towards + fixing a definite sum of money which the commission could raise + by the issue of bonds. It would seem to be wise not to leave + the matter entirely open in the bill as it is to-day.” + +[Illustration: THE WENTWORTH RESIDENCE AMONG THE PLACES NOT DESTROYED] + +Hon. Willard Howland spoke as follows:-- + + “I think there has been wiped out no single complete ward. + The area of the city is fourteen hundred acres, and about + four hundred and ninety have been devastated. That is a strip + about six thousand feet long and one thousand feet wide. It is + estimated that about $8,000,000 of its taxable property has + been destroyed. This bill comes before you as the result, I + think, of a very great concerted action among all the citizens. + Necessarily, some one must take the lead. Shortly after the + fire, within a day or two, representatives of the financial + interests and the insurance interests, manufacturing and + other interests of the city, were called together by some few + representative men and others and discussed the prospective + needs of the city. The great problem is the one of to-morrow, + and it was believed that inasmuch as a very large proportion + of the property destroyed must be rebuilt by capital borrowed + for the purpose, the essential was a large degree of confidence + in the city’s ability to go forward and pay the debts which it + would be obliged to incur, a confidence which it was necessary + to reestablish, if it had been destroyed. Now it is true that + the fire passed through largely the residential portion of + the city, and on both sides of the fire-swept district remain + many business enterprises. I think there were thirty-seven of + the various institutions represented in the consideration of + this matter, for we have some manufacturers there who employ + a thousand men and whose payroll amounts from $10,000 to + $11,000 a week. The people’s opportunity for employment has not + been interrupted, but their homes have been destroyed. It is + intended to rebuild them, but the constitutional limitations + would prevent our asking for aid for the accomplishment of + that purpose. That must come through the confidence of private + investors in our ability to rebuild and maintain our city. + + “I think, however, it may be said that there are three + propositions on which we agree absolutely, and that is, that + there should be at this time a commission appointed to take + charge of financial affairs and administer the government for + the city. I think we are agreed that the commission should be + appointed by the governor with the advice of the council. + There is necessity for the State’s assistance to be rendered + in this emergency. We differ on some things which I think + are not so essential as those things upon which we agree. I + think that the appointment of the commission should be in the + hands of the governor, without the limitation as made. We are + not agreed as to the terms of the commission, that is, the + length of time that it should serve. My own opinion of that + is this, that we should appoint a commission for such term as + should be sufficient to warrant the opinion that some policy + could be defined and carried out. If the Legislature chooses + at some future time to change the situation, they can do so. + If any citizen desires a change, he, individually, or they, + collectively, can come to the Legislature and ask for a change. + If government by commission is to the satisfaction of all + citizens, it may continue without further legislation. The + necessity is apparent and I think nine tenths of the citizens + are in favor of the bill. You may feel that some of its + elements should be changed or limitations made, and, of course, + that is open to your consideration.” + +Others who appeared in favor of the commission were: Judge Albert D. +Bossom, Ex-Mayor Carter, Ex-Mayor Mitchell, A. B. Atwood, Rev. R. Perry +Bush, Hon. James Gould, William Martin, Hon. H. W. Pratt, Walter C. +Mitchell, Ex-Mayor Strahan, Benjamin F. Dodge, Colonel Moses, Councilor +Hoag, Charles G. Roberts, H. P. Sanborn, Royal S. Wentworth, C. Willis +Gould, John Duncan, William Prescott, George H. Buck, Reinhard E. +Bartels, Lorenzo D. Dixon, George H. Dunham, Hon. Eugene T. Endicott, +George B. Guild, Ralph W. E. Hopper, Andrew T. Hunnewell, Geo. E. +Morrill, Herbert L. Slade, Henry H. Stickney, Leonard A. Treat, Walter +Whittelsey, and James S. Wilson. + +The hearing was practically unanimous in favor of the bill as presented. + +The next day two other bills were put in, not greatly different, +and after a tiresome delay a combination of the three was made up by +the Committee on Metropolitan and City Affairs and put before the +Legislature. The bill quickly passed the Senate, only to be held up in +the House, but finally after a lengthy debate passed, to the general +satisfaction of all those who had the best interest of Chelsea at heart. + +It is pretty safe to say that any commission the governor appoints will +prohibit light and flimsy buildings. This will tend more than anything +else to drive out the undesirable citizens. + +This commission will not be prejudiced for or against any particular +ward, neither will the members have any constituents to care for to the +detriment of the city. + +Although Chelsea has an attractive residential district, which was not +destroyed by the fire, as can readily be seen by the illustrations, +it never again will be the residential city that it was fifty years +ago, as the area is too limited and the shipping facilities make it too +valuable for anything but manufacturing purposes. + +When the work of dredging, now in progress along the water front, is +completed the city will have a mile of valuable wharf property, which +is bound to bring more business into the city and to increase the +valuation. + +The shoe factories, which employ thousands of people, were just outside +the burned area, which was fortunate for the employees, who lost their +homes. Most of these people carried some insurance and can rebuild as +long as they are assured of employment. + +The Chelsea Trust Company proposes to erect a fine building entirely +for their own use. The Chelsea Savings Bank has bought additional +property, and in rebuilding will double the size of its former building. + +The city is assured of a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollar +Post-office. Ex-Mayor Strahan proposes to rebuild his beautiful home on +Bellingham Hill. + +The Frost Hospital drew $35,000 insurance, and as much more is assured +to build a new hospital. + +The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will certainly provide Chelsea with a +fine armory to replace the one destroyed. + +Most of the churches will at once start to rebuild; and when the city +gets its many buildings up, it will not be long before many new and +desirable people will locate in Chelsea. + +An attempt is to be made to get the Metropolitan Park Commission to +secure permission from the United States government and carry out the +plans originally made during Mayor Pratt’s administration for a Marine +Park along the Mystic River in front of the Naval Hospital. + +At that time John D. Long was Secretary of the Navy and was interested +to the extent of visiting Chelsea and inspecting the project. It was +found, however, that the cost of filling would be too great. + +Since then the government has appropriated money to dredge the Mystic +River, and the only expense would be to move the sea wall out several +hundred feet to the low-tide mark. The dredging could then be done by +the new hydraulic system, thus saving carting the dirt out to sea to be +dumped. + +This improvement would not only greatly help Chelsea, but would make +the hospital grounds and neighborhood much healthier. + +The residents of Chelsea are determined to drive out the Hebrew junk +dealers, and the insurance companies are helping by canceling all +policies on rag shops. The people of Chelsea have tolerated these +undesirable citizens as long as they propose to; fire after fire of +incendiary origin has taken place until there is no alternative,--they +have got to go. + +As terrible as the fire was, God saw it was for the best, and in a very +few years the people are going to look at it in the same way. The new +city which is about to spring up will take the place that the Chelsea +of the sixties held,--excelled by none, and better than most. + +[Illustration: RESIDENCE OF EX-MAYOR PRATT IN THE PRATTVILLE DISTRICT +ONE OF THE MANY ATTRACTIVE PLACES IN CHELSEA NOT BURNED] + + +THE END + + +Transcriber’s Notes. + +Italic text is indicated with _underscores_, bold text with =equals=. +Small/mixed capitals have been replaced with ALL CAPITALS. + +Evident typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected +silently. Inconsistent spelling/hyphenation has been normalised. + +Half-title pages have been discarded. + +To improve text flow, illustrations have been relocated between +paragraphs. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78708 *** |