Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1889 — LINN, MASS., IN RUINS. [ARTICLE]

LINN, MASS., IN RUINS.

THE GREAT SHOE TOWN DEVASTATED BY FLAMES. Fir* in Her Factories Causes a Loss of •10,000,000—Three Hundred Buildings Destroyed—Eight Thousaud Operatives Thrown Out of Work—Scenes of Destruction. [Lynn (Mass.) telegram.] By a conflagration on the afternoon of the 27th of November, millions of dollars’ worth of shoes and lumber went up in smohe from the business district of the biggest snoe town in the world, throwing out of work 8, ”00 operatives and rendering 164 families homeless. Eighty acres that were crowded with buildings a few hours ago are a mass of ruins. The scene of ruin and desolation is complete. Some idea of the devastation can be gained from the statement that 296 buildings were completely wiped out of existence, many others being more or less damaged. Among the burned buildings were forty-two brick structures, 142 business houses built of wood and 112 dwelling houses. One church, the Eastern railroad station, four banks and four newspapers were among the public concerns burned out. The fire spread with such frightful rapidity that the department was helpless, and the flames leaped from street to street with little opposition in the shape of water. The heat was so intense that the men could not approach near enough to use their streams to advantage, and. although, assistance was sent from Boston, Salem, Malden, Marblehead, Sangers, Everett and other places, the fire worked its way to the water front before it was subdued. The great bulk of the buildings were of wood, and in these the flames held high carnival. But even the brick blocks offered little resistance. They, too, were swept away like so much chaff in the whirlwind of fire. After the flames had gone beyond the control of the department a panic seemed to seize upon the firemen and citizens. The streets were filled with people shouting madly in their excitement. Operatives pokedjtheir heads out of the windows to see what caused the disturbance and saw a wall of fire coming down the street. It was in many instances a race for life. The men poured out of the buildings in a human stream, leaving everything behind. And they were none too soon, for in a twinkling great buildings were enwrapped in.flames and dissolved. It was a terrible sight even for the experienced eyes of firemen. The railroad track was jumped by the flames with ease, and the same mad rush was continued. The two military companies were called out to clear the streets, when more effective work could be accomplished. Early in the afternoon outside assistance began to arrive, but then there was a total of. only fifteen engines, and the fire was jumping in all directions, unchecked by the streams being thrown upon it Chief Engineer Moody became prostrated during the height of the conflagration, and Chief Webber of Boston took command. He massed the engines on Newhall street and stayed the progress of the fire toward wbat remained of the business district That alone saved Lynn from utter annihilation. After the business houses had been eaten up the fire let itself loose among the dwelling houses on Sagamore hill. Most of these were cheap structures, occupied by poor families. They burned like tinder, and the fire cut a wide path to the water. The last big building to go was the Central Congregational church. It was a brick structure and was one of the best in the city. It stood out from the rest of the buildings and afforded a magnificent spectacle to thousands of persons. The fire burned a long time before the windows were broken, the reflection from within being very picturesque. Then the flames burst simultaneously from the windows and the belfry, and the steeple swayed and fell with a crash into the street. It was a total loss. It is impossible yet to give individual losses but the aggregate is, according to careful estimates, not much short of $lO,- ( U”, 000. Mayor Newhall in an interview said: “Lynn has suffered the greatest calamity in its history. The business portion of the city is almost a wreck. Over 6,000 persons are thrown out of work and 200 families are homeless. The city of Lynn will be forced to issue an appeal for assistance. It it impossible to compute the loss, but it must reach somewhere in the vicinity of $10,000,000.” The Mayor makes a special appeal for clothing at once, as many occupants of the tenements burned lost everything. His honor has made a requisition on Gov. Ames for six companies of militia to do police and guard duty. The shoe industry of the place is almost entirely wiped out. Out of 170 manufacturers, large and small, less than two dozen remain. Among the heavy losses are these: Mower Bross 93,0C0 Bennett & Barnard 100.000 C. Pecker & Co.,shoe manufacturers. 45.000 William Porter & Sons, shoes 16,000 A. T. Goodwin, In Porter’s building.... 12,000 B. F. Spinney & C 0138,000 Estate of C. N. Stevens 20.000 A. Fuller and A. P. Tapley 22.000 Titus & Buckley 25,000 Consolidated Adjustable Shoe Co 20,000 Samuel J. Hollis, shoes 22,000 J. S. Bartlett & Co., shoes 72,000 Lynn Item, newspaper, Horace N. Hastings & Sons 50,000 D. C. and Charles E. Buffum, shoes.... 20,500 J. N. Smith, shoes 46,100 Joseph Davis Shoe Co 50,000 Luther S. Johnson - "" 37,000 Amos F. Breed 22,000 Houghton & Gedfrey 22,000 First National Bank Building 24,500 F. E. Abbott’s building 22,500 Central Congressional Society 40.000 Frank W. Breed 85,000 P. P. Tapley & Co., morocco manufacturers 52,540 Sawyer & Chase, carriage manufacturers 11,000 S. K. & A. H. Jones, shoes 57,000 S. N. Breed & Co., lumber 138,000 The losses are about half covered by insurance, and as the policies are widely distributed the manufacturers think they will be able to recover the insurance money. The factories were running on full time and there was a big stock on hand waiting for the opening of the spring trade. Everything was lost. The poor people will suffer greatly unless some assistance comes from outside. The city began immediately to prepare temporary houses for those who had not friendly shelter to eo to. and the houses were quicxly filled.