The New York Herald Newspaper, November 13, 1872, Page 3

: i i eee a ¥ ORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1872.—TRIPLE SHEET. as Rae ELE 1 "Maney and tetor. © The ram set in about eight fly ra te_authoriti \t_ we can certain! ong point which would show precisely | Jordon, Marsh & Co, on Saturday night the thioves, O'clock, and for upwards of cal da the aqueous eurtenen pap poet af lore the limit of the fire was, Up Frank eek mastering mm strong force, pore = on the estab- & - “fT guy our Honor, that you yourself saw a | the fire a, one building after another pouring | lishment. They were mess hapenee By the police Auld came dows in 8 pertect deluge. Its effect reat, deat ‘Of the hardship of bat with the | flame out of {te windows, and in a short time crum- | and cmployés and most of them circumvented, upom the blazes here and there was magical as " bling down anu giving to ite neighbor, by | nearly two hundred arrests bing made within a well, a8 providendal, and the firemen and | _ “Well, the Chief Bngineer of the Fire Department | that time fiercely The Pilot building short space of time, and many valuable packages ' — ‘ Wanted me to share with him the responsibility | seemed for along time destined to escape, and it | recovered. The loss of the firm from this source 1 the Deity seemed to combine for the salvation of | of the panied him in lis | was hoped that here a stay would be made, but | will be their heavicat, the unfortunate city. Everything now promises a | movements and ‘stood beride him in burning finally the fatal wood began to flicker, the | The sympathy that {a being so liberally extended Bostonian Pluck Rising Superior | ronucston ot ne sre, and tne citizens, exnansted | ing" whue he gave his orders, ‘he anxiety which anos, fry Marley ary by ttety tho AroGe’ | Boston papers ste animowt iS'tet thant to MA rest, | once rly sit ry > us ely thanks to ane rea, go to te ede wie fecling of se Tale SaPrecane Mi iesease: sag 2. masa scended aia the buiding was doomed, °°" {he cltda of the Hepaiite forthe manner in which the Great Calamity. curity. The only special event INTER! THE CHIEF ENGINEER. when umes of flame betwee! acted of need. _—— another cede iered core Among the many reasous ven Or the fearful | and Water streets were yy terrific in nega re is no feeling of despondency in Boston, byod con! tion of Saturday it the one you will | tude and appearance, for @ long time the Parker | but a disposition is everywhere manifested by our _ Boon at Summer street, near Hawley, which | most juently hear of in ton is the reputed | Block, in which was the Daring, business men to meet their reverses manfully and caused for the moment considerable excitement in | demoralization of the Fire Department and the geemed destined to eacape, but the blaze behind It eonquer them, 7 V the vicinity. A large opening in the street was the | ack of judgment shown by Chief Engineer 8. Dam- | was too terrible for but solia stone and Ata meeting of the Shoe and Leather Associa- Tz DEBRIS. RAPIDLY is Tell in withdrawing for several days past the horses | iron to withstand, out of the rear windows | tion to-day John Cummings President, a committee ‘ . Tesult of the explosion, but no casualties resultet. | from the engines and having them worked by | came the flames, to be spread through the edifice | was appointed to receive from the city govern- — oe — hand. Numerous charges have m brought | aud completely gut it. ment the Fort Bill property, now vacant of build- - MUNICIPAL MEASURES. inst the Chief, which are not confined to indt- The scenes in the Parker House through the | ings, on which to erect warehouses and resume viduals, they having found utterance in a number } night were of the utmost confusion. When the | business. Bankers Recovering Their Safes of prominent Which openiy | fransoript building went, and further up the Marl. | At & meeting of the Citizens) Aid Committee , . Mase of the Citizens Da assert that if. Finny Fire Department been prop- | borough Hotel was reported on fire, it was shongns pein 2 William arey, the chairman, read with great . d Tre Meeting Te-Day To | cry the fire would have been confined to | by many that it was merely 8 question of hours be- | emotion a despatch from Worth Dexter, chairman an jasures. Adept Resolutions Asking for Action | the bui in which it frst broke out, The fore ae, Farker, Howse shout d be consumed; and | of the Relief ociation of Culoage, ffauing that - the Governor and are=Th. tradictory rumors in connection wit jough scarce! mama 1¢ house was no: at body a fe jy ay by f is eee rare comers Soating around. Our | up viewing the acene, every room was visited | of Boston, and tendering ite osepeet sympathy in MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. Governor Washburn Calls a Special Session of the Legislature. “MAYOR GASTON’S VIEWS. ‘Chief Engineer Damrell on the Horrors of the Conflagration, SCENES IN THE CITY. Moral Cant and Rum Shaking Hands Over Misfortune. Business Men Determined to Fol- low Out the Golden Rule. Bosron, Nov. 12, 1872, A morning of cloudiness, with light rain occasion- ally, ushered in to-day. The throngs which were visible yesterday seemed in no wise diminished. From an early hour the streets surrounding the Fegion of the fire were visited by thousands of Sight-seers. The hotels report themselves filled ‘with guests, and in the vestibules and on the foot- * paths in front of them crowds of men gathered fm the interchange of information. and @peculation, There was naturally ® great deal of the former, in view of the fact “that men who have changed their business loca- » tions by force of fire are in great need of communt!- eating the fact to their commercial relations. Speculation is rife, too. It calculates, with all sorta of nicety, on the standing of firms and in- surance companies, and the probable action of the Legislatare in the matter of laying out the streets anew. “This consummation devoutly to be ‘wished”’ is commented on, with the latest informa- tion in its regard, in another part of this despatch. It will be a great good to the city if prosaic straight lines are substituted for the OURVED LINES OF BEAUTY, POETRY AND INCON- , VENIENOB which resulted from the haphazard’ policy. that ictated the building of this old civic parent of New England. In the burned district there was, of course, little change frem the appearance of yes- terday. The same evidences of destruction re- Mained in the same quarter. The tall, gaunt, Jagged pillars of brick and stone that remain stand- -/-fiag, like whims of the fire, were only @ day older; © the débris of stone blocks and bricks, that literally has not left a square yard of pavement visible throughout the heart of the district, was heaped and tumbled in the same profuceness of misery. THE MILITIA, ‘er volunteers, as they prefer being called, were out im fall force to-day, doing their part of the work with moderation, firmness and efficiency. Until @aybreak they were picketed all over the city, and gocontinue. They guard all the approaches to the fire region. A mistaken idea obtained circulation through the city that martial law had been pro- Claimed. This was not true, the fact being that an arrangement was entered into between Chief of Police Savage and Brigadier General J. 8, Burrill for the protection of the citi gens’ property. This plan, of course, has the spprobation of the Governor. A strict lookout was Kept for the thieves, who are here in large num- bers, no person being allowed to cross the lines unless provided with s printed pass, signed by Act- ing Adjutant General N, Moore and counter- signed by Brigadier General Burrill. To preserve its civic character it bears the stamp of the City Clerk. The work of + CLEARING ODT THE BUILDINGS has already commenced, but there is, as explained ‘elsewhere, 8 general reluctance to build until it is Known where the new street lines will be drawn. ‘This is the only feature that looks like a drawback tothe resumption of business in the old locality. ‘The local papers are filled with advertisements of the places where temporary offices have been them, they think of their folly in surmounting solid Btome edifices with inflammable material. It may be mentioned, also, that the masses, when they view the few standing ruins of granite fronts, looking ss though they were Temnants of some old decayed pillars which had of three thousand years, after night’s agony in the flames, begin to lose granite. The scenes on the All Boston and Boston’s The pretty girls in Boston marched in couples along Washington street, jostied by the crowa, but cheerful and piquant all the time, THE INFLUX OF OUTSIDE PEOPLE 4s I was passing slong Washington street among the crowd I noticed that there were some high walls standing which, if a strong wind arose, would assuredly fall. The crowd did not notice this, but the authorities sew it later, and ordered that portion of the street to be cleared. A rife in the hands of a militiaman went off about the same time and hurt @obody, The militiaman was the most frightened. About noon to-day a curious informal order was circulated from the Mayor, ordering all the bars to be closed. Asno bars are supposed to exist, un- er the Jaw, it is a curions commentary on CANT AND RUM STRIKING HANDS OVEB MISFORTUNE. ‘The burned-out newspapers share, if they do not Jead, the enterprise of the burned-out people. The Fransoript published to-day from the office of the flaily Gove. Pat Donahoe, of the Pilot, has secured s temporary office and started the next number of bie paper and the Emigrant Bank together. ‘The Saturday Bventng Gazette, the oldest weekly on the Vontinent, will aiso reissue. The Waverley Magasine, with the samo pluck, will publish as \poual its roll of fre-and-biood atories, of impossible love and outrageous daring, YHE SITUATION AT THE LATEST HOUR TO-KIGHT eahappy and promising one. A Boston charac- Jeristio rain storm has raged all the evening, and she smouldering embers which have been regarded with fear ond trembling are pow lomng their bril- Credit of Boston ter: the Alleviation of the Financial © Distress — Interviews with the Mayor and the Chief En- ginee: R the Burned Region and Re- suseltating thé Business of the Hub. Bosron, Nov. 12, 1872. The tetrible excitement that was raging in the ity on Sunday and Monday has at last reached a Pause, Everybody whom one meets has an appearance of calmness and composure which seems in comparison very singular and almost un- natural. Although the minds of the citizens have not yet recovered fully from the shock of the great calamity they seem now to be stunned into a strange quiet by the magnitude and intensity of the terror and horror, the remembrance of which is like that of a mad and distorted dream. The full extent of the lose is now beginning to be definitely realized, and when this is done the panic will in all Probability be renewed and will mount to its highest pitch. The dreadful view of thousands of individuals within and without the circle of the Dideous fire will be terribly apparent. PROFFERS OF HELP aRE POURING IN from all parta of the country, and this event Promisés to call forth greater exhibitions of sympathy and generosity. than even the devasta- tion of Chicago, which was more terrible in the destraction of human lives and of human habita- tions, People at @ distance seem more able to fully picture to themselves the sad results of the Joss of 80 many millions to those immediately inter- ested, and that need of succor which here is not yet felt in all its intense significance. The vision of the flery tempest just past is too palpably pres- ent to admit yet ofa genuine sense of the duller pains of grief and want which, soon enough, will follow on its track of ruin and ashes. The munici- Pal officers, however, seem fully AROUSED TO THE EXIGENCIES OP THE MOMENT, and are engaged in planning the best and most Proper meaus for alleviating the suffering and ruin. Evidently they have gone about the work with the most praiseworthy energy. To-day at eleven o'clock I walked through the shifting and eager throng that fills Court square hourly to the door of the City Hall, where I passed several groups of military and police oMcers en duty. The yard had beer made a bivouac for two nights by the detachment of militia that has been kept here on guard through the whole time of ex- citement end danger. I mounted the main stair- way, which, together with the corridors, is peopled with negro sentries and walked along the crowded halls, Arms are stacked on the mosaic pavement and the scene impresses one with a recollection of the time of battle and siege. The council room of the city fathers was filled with officials and many of the aldermen, who were discussing the one subject which isnow paramount even to that of the horrors of the flre—the means of resuscitating the prostrated business of Boston. Mayor Gaston was seated in his private room re- celving visitors as rapidly as possible, and I soon engaged him in conversation and remained as long as tue time at his disposal would permit. The Mayor's secretary was megnwhile busy READING AND. ANSWERING TELEGRAMS which are constantly received from other cities,, and which contained oars of-rehef for the busi- ness men and the ruinéd families of burned Boston. In response to my question, ‘“‘What are the meas- ures which you propose to take after the conse- quences of the fire?” he said:— “The first step has been to call a public mass meeting ia Tremont Temple to-day; but owing to some mistake in the advertising it will not now be held until twelve o'clock to-morrow.” “What will be done at this meeting?” “We shall pass resolutions favoring a special sea- sion of the Legislature, asking them to grant us authority to give the city credit to individuals who are great losers, to enable them to re-erect the buildings destroyed or to occupy the stores in the burnt district which are not entirely ruined.” “Isuppose the burned region will be built up somewhat differently than it was before the fire?” ‘Undoubtedly. _WE SHALL ASK THE LEGISLATURE to provide for new street improvements, s0 as to greatly better the topography of the city,” “The loss tothe holders of insurance risks must be such as to break down many corporations, is it not? “ft will ruin many of our local companies and greatly cripple others in adjoining States. We shall also ask for legislation to render aid to these to meet their liabilities, If most of them can pay fifty per cent of their policies I think that the majority of the rich houses who did bnsinesd in those finest streets of the city which were burned can pull through and survive the shock. But rain for some 1s now inevitable, although the generosity of our sister cities is already beginning to astonish us. Chicago sends us promise of about $200,000 already; and we have similar messages, propor- tionate in their value, of good cheer from Phila- Gelphia, Pittsburg, Providence, Cincinnati and hundreds of other cities and towns, The humanity of this age among the classes higher in morality is strangely contrasted with the brutality among the lower ones, and this is @ fact which was brought out mn sad prominence in the present instance. The ROWDIRS, CUTTHROATS, THIEVES AND RASCALS of all the festering spots of crime in our vicinity have flocked around us like hyenas, who laugh over the dead corpses which they devour in the desert when the storm has swept by with death-dealing breath. “What do you suppose is the number of danger- ous persons who have visited Boston since the be- ginning of the fire 1” “We can tell little about it except from reports, many of which, I think, are exaggerated. I do not believe there were 5,000 here, as was stated by some of the press, but there were probably several hundreds. They were a very ugly crowd, indeed, and but for the strong precautions that were taken last night by the soldiery and the police Ido not think we should bave escaped having a good many burglaries and fresh acts of incendiarism.”’ “What do you think of the manner in which the police and the military have managed the fire “They could not have performed their duty better and with nobler pertinacity and ceurage. We have been promptly supplied with reinforcements from other cities, and they have fought the flames side by side with our own men in the worst of the con- flagration, and have endured the terrible fatigue with a . MANLINESS WHICH CANNOT BE CRITICISED." “Do you think there will be as many cases of ab- solute ruin among the business men as there will be of partial financial disablement?” “No, I do not. In about a year I think the barnt istrict will be nearly all rebuilt, The streets, if the Legislature complies with our desire, will be laid out straighter and wider, and eventually Bos- ton will be much better off than before she was visited by this scourge of fire. It will, however, Seger tape mr 0 0 Foam ite ty vo reas ae apprehend any fresh ontbreak of the “No, I do not, although the danger occasioned by the prorance here of such a large number of thieves is thing Which may cause us more trouble yet. Ihave received. numerons ee of attempts to fire the 29, at different some of which must, I think, be false, and others I credit. However, the provisions are #9 complete now, under both the gentleman named Hartshorn, wita whom I con- versed, said had it not been for somgeenens he made relative to the is wahay, A of buildings, which were acted poe the Post Office and surroundi: structures would have veen engulphed. Gener: Bart, the Postmaster, claims that had it not been for him a similar calamity would have ensued, and Mayor Gaston, last of all, says he was the man whose advice preserved 80 @ portion of the city. It is felt more or less Kis parties that sub- stitution of manual for horse labor was the primary cause of the disater, Had the engines arrived in time the loss would undoubted! ave been very slight; out when @ smaH jorce of men had to drag heavy steam engines through THE PANIO-STRICKEN CROWDS the confusion and delay caused can easily be i ined. Among other causes which contributed to the work of destruction was the large number of Mansard roofs in the burned district. The houses were all high, most of them six stories, and they were supposed to be fire-proof, but the tinder boxes on the top offered no povecten against the sea of fire and they ignited like wooden boxes. In order to gather some definite information relative to the state of the Fire Department I made my way this morning through a platoon of negro soldiers who guarded the approaches to the City Hall, and gained an entrance to the APARTMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, Captain Damrell, by whomI was accorded the fol- lowing interview :— RTER—In what condition was the Fire De- partment on Saturday night ? Cnigr ENGINEER—The condition of the depart- ment was as ‘as ever it was, with the excep- fos, that the horses were not in good order, hav- og got the distemper. Inset 9 horse in_the depart- ment was aillicted on the night of the fire, REPORTER—You did not use the horses, then ? Ourer ENGINEER—NO, we were not using the horses. We organized a double force of men as soon as the disease appeared. The plan worked first rate, and we were not delayed in our work. The horses had been taken off one week before the fire, and no inconvenience was caused by this ac- tion, as the citizens volunteered all the assist- ance necessary to keep the machines running. REPORTER—Did you have many fires last week ? CHigY ENGINEER—Yes, quite & number; but the men were not exhausted. When the alarm was sounded two minutes did not elapse before three streams of water were playing on the burning buildings on Summer street. The engines were pulled to the scene of the conflagration by hand, REPORTER—Did you put on horses at any time during the night ? CHIEF ENGINEER—Yes, when THE THIRD ALARM WAS SOUNDED the engines which were farthest away were pulled by horges, which were procured in stables, The horses were only used on account of the extreme distance. Some of the engines not come and the men were able to drawthem. Those at a distance would require too much labor to bring them on, The Fire Department worked all through pe aan and all day on Sunday without being re- evi REPORTER—How do you account for the spread of the fire? Cu1er Lnaingfx—On account of Mangard roofs, which g stream could not reach. What is the use of building Ga ps houses six stories high, and then putting a tinder box on the top? The flames created a fearful draught, but the wind beiore the fire had got to be lurid was only an ordinary wind. There have never been any great fires in the dis- ps Antpis the fire originated up to last Satur- night, PORTER—It is stated that hundreds of men standing around the burning buildings were will- ing to serve as volunteers, but were not called upon to do se? Om1nF ENGINFER—It is false. The services of all who were willing to rendera helping hand were gladly accepted, and hundreds volunteered and «id good work, Besides thia we had plenty of assist- ance from all the neighboring villages immediately after the alarm was sounaed, and during the night many engines came in trom THE VARIOUS NEW ENGLAND TOWNS. REporTeR—How many’ engines and how many men have you in the department ? OuIEF ENGiNEER—We have twenty-two steam engines, seventeen hose carriages, carrying Lm won 6 ot Bs ed peck, poral hook and er vandles ree ex! isher engines, carr; twelve extinguishers mind 50) Moet’ oF linen hose each, The regularly organized force of the department is 684 men, who were all in service on Saturday night. I have alws been of opinion that Boston wus as liable to being burned up a8 Chicago on account of its Mansard roofs, Asthe Chief Engineer was extremely busy, be- sides Spee nearly prosptrated with rade he could not further converse with me. Before I le: &gentleman came in with a message from. Jordan, Marsh & Co. and a check for $10,000 for the relief of the members of the Fire Department, This makes in all $16,000 which has been sent by the leading firms in Boston for this particular wor! SCENES AND INCIDENTS. Boston, Nov. 12, 1872, Now that the excitement has in some measure died away, and the wild commotion caused by the fire in some measure subsided, many in- teresting stories are being told of hair- breadth escapes and daring ventures which transpired during the conflagration. In deeds of individual heroism the inhabitants of | Boston have shown themselves to be worthy of their ancient fame, and the fortitude with which they bear up against their overwhelming losses is exciting the admiration of the thousands of strangers from all parts of the country who are crowding the streets, gratifying their curiosity, as much as the sentries and soldiers will allow, ‘with a view of the still brightly burning ruins, Vithout gas and with only the flicker of candie- light to facilitate locomotion, the city presented a lonely and desolate appearance last evening. The streets were dark and sadly gloomy, and the ter- rible force of the calamity was brought nearer to the hearts of the people than it was when the fire was fiercest and hottest. Twelve hundred of the State militia, under the command of Brigadier General Burrell, were on duty all over the city throughout the night. They were the First battalion of cavalry, under Major Curtis, comprising the National Lancers; the Dragoons, the Prescott Light Guards and the Rox- bury Horse Guard; the Ninth regiment of infantry, | under Colonel Finan; First regiment of infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Proctor; the First battalion of infantry, four companies, under Major Lewis Gaul; the Independent Cadets, under Lieutenant Colonel Palfrey, and the First battalion of light artillery, and Batteries A and P, under Major Fol- lett. The battalion of the Institute of Technolo; volunteered its services, which were accepted. Every street in Boston was guarded by bayonets and the burnt district was encircled by a double line of soldiers. The tramp, tramp of the sentinels as they ne their lonely ita, and the dangerous Click of the gun locks as they challen; those who manifested 9 desire to encroach upon their domain, brought back the days of the war. Really, in fact, if not by public proclamation, Boston is literally under martial law. Here and there asquad of the horse patrol dashed th h the streets, in and out of the burned istrict and the dark bine coats and brass buttons of the ey Police were omnipresent. fon of this, by the , it is well enough say that nearly every police officer in Boston was on dut: last night. Orders from the central office direc’ that each ofticer's turn of duty shall be extended from seven to twelve hours. The division*into three squads remains the same, but each officer does duty during one-half of each twenty-four hours. ie secret service force was augmented last night, so that Ce Hd from thieves seemed almost impossible. In addition to this precaution the Ohief of Police, with wise beth nd commanded all keepers of barrooms to close thet) doors, so that rum could not rule and ruin tne night. There were, therefore, few exhibitions of rowdyism anywhere. The Common was desolate. Its walks and malls were patrolled by the boys in blue constantly, and Rei estrians were few and far between. Bromileld and Winter streets were roped off at the mn street end, and thousands of peop! ingress by the guard, Venn gusnas against the ropes for hours, curious watchers of the progress of the fire. Be- cause of the absence of there were no per- formances at the several theatres, and business generally was suspended, Many funny incidents occu by candle-light. Guests were furpished with bedroom candies, reminding them of days long since gone by, and “early to bed’ was made a necessity. THE PARKER HOUSE ON SATURDAY NIGHT, From the roof of the Parker House the view of the scene was uninterrupted and many availed ye 4 rtunity to witness the aw- ne. ime of our visit, near twelve o’olock, the aight was simply flame and dense clouds of smoke overhung the terrible, Sheets of whole southeastern prospect, and in the great whole it was 8 to” ajunguisn clearly and the occupants 101 to have their baggage removed and be ready to vacate on a mo- ment’s notice. Trunks and boxes were carted away and all the hacks were in constant motion carrying boarders away to safer quarters, The Rudersdorff concert troupe occupied rooms in the house, and Mme. Rudersdorff, Mile. Liebe and Miss Fairman had their tranks and boxes, containing their valuable wardrobes, jewels and music, re- moved to a house on Temple street for safety. The ladies of the troupe, although ex- cited, as was every one by such @ scene, preserved their coolness to a far greater degree than many, and Madame herself was especially grieved at the fate that had visited Boston, and expressed her sympathy warmly, Messrs, Parker and Mills were everywhere, and by their coolness in the face of danger gave strength to many weak ones, Their resources in the cultnary line were gladly given to the firemen, and the house was thrown open to all the noble workers who needed ‘refreshment, IN SOUTH BOSTON. During the whole of Saturday night nearly all the Men whose business interests had not called them to the city proper spent the weary, anxious hours in watching the Lag feng) of the destroyer, and in efforts to preserve their own and their nelghvors? property from ruin which threatened from the sea of sparks that deluged the outer portion of the peninsula. A MAGNIFICENT SCENE. Gazing cityward from any of the eminences, as the Blind Asylum Hill, Independence square and ny Hill, the sight was inexpressibiy, mag: nificently terrible, eyes were almost blinded by the seething, surging sea of flame, its hungry tongues leaping eagerly upward from their with- ering encounter h thelr prey, soaring to the zenith and thence away to the southeast Rrapped in densely rolling clouds of uri oke panei with myriads of vivid parks. @ ears were deafened with the steady horrible roar of the flames and the almost inces- sant crash of ceri walls. Showers of shining cinders fell thickly about—even blazing branas aslarge as one’s hand were wafted over by the breeze and threatened destruction to the wooden buildings with which this portion of the city is crowded. For an hour or more, about midnight, a Perfect rain of these incendiary fragments fell, and only the vigilance of the watchers prevented serious consequences from their lodging upon roofs, cor- nices and windows. SHOWERS OF FIREBRANDS, All South Boston east of H street, and particu- larly between I and L streets, was directly in the [ie of the Coch and brands, Flakes of granite some of the magnificent buildings destroyed, fragments of «late and even whole sheets of roofing tin were borne across the har- bor by strong currents of heated air and smoke and fell thickly upon the housetops and pavements, There were many narrow escapes from 4: by fire in the vicinity of City Point. One building near the gas house on K street, which was occupied by several families as a& dwelling house, was fired, but fortunately dis- cove! in time to be extinguished. Two or three firebrands a foot or more in length fell upon the roof of a house on Broadway, three or four doors be; and one on the roof nearest K, where it burned for several minutes, Both these roofs being slated no damage was done, though in the former case there was & narrow escape irom the ignition of the woodwork of several dormer windows. In both cases and among nearly all the residents in this vicinity the owners and occupants of dwellings sat through the night wrapped in rugs or blankets upon their roofs, with pails of water at hand, or patroliea the streets and yards watching the falling missiles and promptly extinguishing them as soon as possible. PREPARATIONS FOR THE WORST. Women, and, in some cases, children, sat up nearly all night watching the flames and smoke upon the sky and dreading leat ey might be com- Med to seek safety in fight before the jawn. Providentially these fears were not realized, but all through the long and dismal migne there was little rest or peace of mind in this section of the city. There was sufficient dan- er to apprehend from the lodgment of any fire in is almost wholly wood-built section, with no fire- men or Ly aot available, when even with the immense force at work in the vicinity of the great Sonia eer human efforts were so utterly power- less, . WAToHING THE CONFLAGRATION. Nearly al? night crowds occupied the places on the hills whence, through open spaces or cross atrostal views Of the fire could be obtained, and mournfully gazed at the destruction taking place. Even Sunday night many people occupied these points of observation, and watched with satisfac- tion the gradual deadening of the flames, The sight was @ peculiar one at this time. The fierce blaze, the wild flames leaping from building to buildin: and = wrapping stately blocks in a scarlet winding sheet were gone. In thelr place huge flelds of glowing ruins, covered with smouldering lambent. Lie) occasionally broken by piles of half-destroyed débris or standing walls, up which the blaze climbed and played, while over all hung a dense, murky pall of smoke, slowly float- ing to the southward in rolling, heaving billows, borne by the gentle breeze. THE VIEW FROM TELEGRAPH HILL. The progress of the great conflagration was anx- fously observed, not only from housetops, but from the elevated site of old Dorchester Heights, now generally known as Telegraph Hill. The latter place was visited during Saturday Bight and Sunday by hundreds of persons, who there obtained a grand view of the Lee catastrophe. The scene of the fire when at its height was most vivid and distinct, and left an impression which the beholders will never forget. The march of the fire in certain directions was clearly traced, and the brilliant skeletons of once magnificent structures came out fully in the back- ‘round, while the roaring of the flames, the whis- le of the steamers and the crash of the engines NA plainly heard and even penetrated every ‘ome, A BUSY SCENE. After ten o’clock Saturday night, and when it had become evident to Cape Mod in South Boston that a second Chicago calamity was im) ae | over the city proper, a busy scene commehced 1 Wards Seven and Twelve. The curious and =the cunlarlily Sinteresied began to throng on foot the streets lead! to the conflagration, while the South Boston horse cars were filled to their extreme Kye The streets (generally so free from vehicles at this hour) also began to ring with the clatter of carts and express we ofevery description, some of the drivers taking over teams belonging to firms in order to be ready to convey Sot if necessary, to a place ofsafety, while other expressmen had in view a prospect of reaping a rich harvest from panic rices. im THE SCENE FROM THE SUBURBS, From the suburban towns, the homes of many of the fe ina business men who are be ‘ed by the fire, the seene vas, indeed, grand an: rrible, Huge volumes of smoke rolled up from the burnin, buildings, while the horizon was as light as a midday. Occasionally the flames would throw themselves to a great height, and then the sight was in A magnificent. But there were few who could enloy the scene, there were too many anxious he: , too many fortunes at stake, the support of too families en- dangered. Those who were fortunate enough to secure transportation to the city were sur- sounded on their return by an anxious crowd of inquirers—none of whom could sleep, and only passed the night in gloomy eg ag Hundreds walke@? to ie city, and the thoroughfares and railroads were filled with pedestrians on Saturday night and all day Sunday, who were unable to reach the city by any other way. he of these returned Sunday only to announce to their families the fact that they were utterly ruined, their property all gone, the accumulations o! hrs | of earnest il and industry scat- red to the four winds of heaven in one single night. Others there were who returned with more cheerful tidings and were received their families with expressions of gladness, ose, however, who witnessed the am and terrible scenes of Saturday night from the subarbs will never forget it; the was, if al m: led by the distance, and the fearful rum which were momenta received raised the citement to its highest pitch. day dawned and the sun broke through the clouds ef smoke borne from the city, more definite reports were brought in and a clearer estimate of the pronrers of the flames asce . The oe per in of the business men left immediate! ir he city and were not seen at their homes all day Sunday. Their fe were in most cases ina state of suspense more terrible than a knowledge of the truth, even had the trutn been utter ruin. MINOR INCIDENTS. An inv tion of the condition of the Tran- script build a iy toe Ont tone ah the jam r cent, the heavy timbers of the aeper stories ‘aulng through the protective arches upon the nt doater nega tea Ne Ge eeaa jure ie extent Oo} ecatite panier arters of the “ts «tebe te mate i eine Gant the burne ict are two which read, “Removed Because of Intense Heat,’ and another, “Up and Dressed!” The work of rem the buildings on Wilson’s = gy extension of Devonshire H site noon. lag the removal of goods from the store of pe sl Lovie Saucered Chicago in her calamity. 01 appl 5 Robert Laird Collyer, of Cnleago, telegraphed that the Relief Committee of that city were on their way to Boston. Governor Perham, of Maine, was present and tendered the sympathy of that State with offers of ald from its citizens, “Numerous other cheering re- Ports were made, Naylor & Co., of Liverpool, sent in @ check for $5,000 through their Boston house. Jordan, Marsh &. Co donated $10,000 through Chief Damrell for the benefit of the firemen. It is understood that Postmaster Burt is endea- voring to make some arrangements with the trus- tees of the Old South church to allow it to be temporarily used as a Post Office until the new oMice on Devonshire street is completed. wane large dry goods houses burned out have already opened in new quarters. Among them Ordway, Blodgett & Co., who will pay their liabili- ties in full and recommence tmmediately, The work of ‘opening passages through the s‘reets of the burnt trict was renewed with vigor to- day, at least one thousand laborers being engaged. early all the fire engines have been withdrawn, ee those employed in cooling the ruins beneath which sates are buried, which are belug dug out all over the region swept bythe flames. The safes of the Hope Insurance Company and the heirs of the Simmons estate have been opened and the con- tents found in good condition. Exploring parties are at work in vartous locall- ties clearing away the ruins and searching for bodies of missing firemen. The members of Hook and Ladder company No. 4 are looking for the body of their assistant foreman, who disappeared Sunday morning, and a e of men are also at work among the ruins of Weeks & Polter’s atore in search of bodies of men supposed to be there. ‘The insurance companies at a meeting to-day ap- pointed a committee to wait on the Governor and request him to call an extra session of the Legis- lature, with a view of preserving their charters and keeping the insurance business at home. A meeting of the citizens of Boston at Tremont Tem- ple is called for noon to morrow. A table relating to insurance gives the number of companies doing business in Boston at ninety- five, which includes twenty companies admitted since tke publication of the report of the Insur- ance Commissioners. The total amount of capital of these companies is $38,025,000. The following list, obtained from other sources, etd approximate figures of the amounts at risk yy the companies name North American, Philadel) 1,209,000 Royal, Londo: 1,330,000 Franklin, Phi "450,000 Home, New York 750,000 Continental, New York. 600,000 Pennsylvania, Philadel, ‘500,000 State of Pennsylvania, 225,000 American, Philadelphia. 000 Black River, Watertown 87,000 Ningara, New York. 82/000 Germania, New Y. 400,000 Republic, New Yor 200,000 People’s,’ Worcester. + 700,000 The following oficial statement in regard to the Boston banks was forwarded to-day :— Boston, Nov. 12, 1872, Hon. Gronce 8, Bourweut, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. 0, :— Seven National Banks were burned out by the fire. All have recovered their cash assets and will immediatel resume business. I have met the Presidents of the lead- ing banks to-day. All agree that the total loss will not ¢ -half of their surplus of §! 000, An excel- lent feeling prevails, HN J. KNOX, Comptroller of the Currency. All is quies to-night. A strong military patrol uards all the approaches to the burned district. fhe city is still in darkness, gas not having been let on. The weather is thick, and rain is falling. The only pan that faus to settle at the Olear- ing House lay Was the Freétnan’s. The bonds, gold and money of this bank were found in thé aafé all right, but the notes were destroyed. This caused a temporary suspension, but the bank re- sumed business at noon to-day. A considerable Genet of rain fell last night and to-day. The night passed quietly. The theatres Were all closed. The strong military patrois were continued to-day, Fears are entertained that six 5 agers lost their lives by the falling walls of Weeks Potter's drug store on Sunday morning, four of them being fremen. Assistant fireman Wil'iam Ferry and D, Cochrane, of Hook and Ladder Gompany No. 4, are believed to be two of the number, as they have been missing since. Search will be made for the bodies to-day. The fact that incendiaries are about is manifest ty an attempt made last night to fire the le of orth & Foster, on Dudley street, Boston High- lands, The slabs were torn off the rear of the stable and hay stuffed between them and the ceil- ing and set on fire. Fortunately the fire was dis- covered before it made much headway and was extinguished. Another incendiary fire in the rear of dwelling house No. 27 Conant street was also put out with little damage. Early this morning William Tully was arrested by a marine, on suspicion of being one of a party attempting to fire a building near the Datly Globe office. Last evening several men and boys were dis- covered piling wood LS pee & wooden dwelling house in Prince street, ana had kindled a fire when the police arrived and arrested several of the ruffians—viz., William Lurton, James Brown, Thomas O'Connor, Henry McLaughlin, James Gilian and Henry Houghton. ‘Two-thirds of the number of the ringleaders escaped, but they are Well known to the police. At noon to-day all the barrooms were closed by order of the Mayor. The military guard forming a cordon around the burned district has been in- creased, and no person allowed to pass without a permit, as follows:— Boston, Nov. 12, 1872. Pass bearer within the lines. By command of Brigadier General J. 8. Burrill. H. MOORE, Acting Adjutant General. Military rule is @ precautionary measure by re- quest of the Mayor. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. Governor Washburn Calls the Council Together=A Special Session of the Leg! ture to be Called om Tuesday Next to Provide M of Relief. Boston, Nov. 12, 1872. Governor Washburn called a special session of the Executive Council this afternoon at three o'clock, for the purpose of considering what could best be done by the Commonwealth in regard to the calamity which has aMicted this capital city. Seven members, comprising all but three of the Council, were in attendance, and the interest manifested seemed to direct itself solely to the matter of relieving the present distress by such methods as legislative authority could furnish. Ex-Governor Claflin occupied a seat in the Council Chamber within the railing, beyond which none but distinguished guests dare to venture, and outside there were present delegations from the several Committees of the Shoe and Leather Association, Board of Trade, Citizens’ Commit- tee of ty, Cenvention of Insurance Companies and other relief associations which have been organized since the breakin, out of the fire. After the opening of the Counc! somebody from the southwestern section of the State suggested that Boston was abundantly able to take care of itself, whereupon there were ad- dresses nificant to the contrary from William Gray, Chairman of the Chi Relief Committee; wks Spooner and others, ir & discussion it ‘was decided to calla Tuesday next. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. Statement of Losses by the Principal As soe! me—The Insurance Adjusters in Council, Boston, Nov. 12, 1872, A careful investigation of the present condition of the Boston insurance offices shows that nearly every local compahy has found its losses to be too much for them; but New York, Hartiord and other foreign offices are generally expected to stand the shock and pay all losses in full, The number of companies now doing business in this city is Binety-five, which includes twenty companies ad- mitted since the publication of the report of the Insurance Commissioner. The total amount of capital of these companies is $38,025,000, The companies having @ small amount at risk and last admitted will pay the amount of their policies in fall, The Boston companies generally will pay from twenty to one hundred per cent, or an aver- age of fifty per cent of the jount of their risks. The American, the India tual, the Mercantile, Marine and the Massachusetts Mutual, of this city, fortunately did not have many risks in the burned district, and report themselves able to “100 gente on ‘the dollar.” The Firemen’s and the e Legislature on Mutual Benefit Fire will make the assessments allowed by law, and trust that means pay their losses. The Washington had amounting to $1,000,000 and Dope to pay ninety per 3 Licetenilacat"s "Fhe Boston weed $1,806,000 and have asses $f'4100,000, Worcester daateler tells me that the People’s Fire Insurance Company lost $140,000 by ae y is fire, and has lost over $500,000 by this ire, an directors have voted to call in o for cancellation and_ will pana discontinue business. The First National Insurance Company lost $50,000, which will be raised by assessment ite i yr state $200,000, and have suspended e tate have ‘ani e for the present. ‘The Merchants’ and Farmers? Mutual lose over $400,000, but will continue busl- ess as usual. None of the other Western. ¢om~ panies lose very heavily. The Citizens’ office, with & capital of $800,000, lose $40,000, and have voted to assess five per cent on the capital stock ta cover their loss. The Providence Insurance Company lose a ilarge Cig but it ig understood that it will not ll to pay its losses in full, and will continue business as usual, Despatches from the several insurance: offices in California who have risks say that they rfectly solvent, and will pay in full. The eld Boylston Insurance Company, of this city, have started again, under the title of Boylston Insurance Association, with a capital of oe, andare joking risks. The old Washington has also started wit! 5300, bscribed, and has commenced business. MEFTING OF INSURANCE ADJUSTERS. A preliminary meeting of the insurance ad- justers connected with the leading companies out- side of the city was held at the Revere House this evening. There were thirty-six companies repre- sented, incinding nearly all ot the prominent American and English corporations, The meeting was organized by the choice of E. J. Bassett, of the tna, of Hartford, as chairman and H. &. Bowers, of ee North British American Company, as pec- Tetary. The meeting was private—all reporters being ex~ cluded—but the representatives present submitted ye projects, which resulted in nothing being ecided. ) No definite action was taken, and the meeting Was adjourned subject to the call of the Chairman. It is proposed to a appoint a committee to settie all the various classes of risks, ADDITIONAL INSURANCE LOSSES, CoLuMeaus, 0., Nov. 12, 1872. The general agent of the Home Insurance Com- pany of this city telegraphs here to-night that the total loss to the company by the Boston fire is $47,600. The company has $6,000 reinsured, which makes the actual loss $42,500, The losses will be paid promptly. ‘ GLENS FALLs, N, Y., Nov. 12, 1872 . The Secretary of the Glens Falis Insurance Com-’ pany reports its Boston loss will be much less han was estimated. Some of its risks su} ~ ale be burned were not. It will pay its loss surplus of over $350,000 besides its capital, New Haven, Ct., Nov. 12, 1572. The Secretary of the Meriden Fire ig Company states that his company will lose about, $40,000 by the Boston fire, and the loss will not re- yalr the capital. He pronounces the statement in tue myproing papers of a loss of $150,000 incorrect. PRESIDENT GRANT AND THE BOSTON FIRE. WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov, 12, 1872, ‘The following telegram was to-day sent from the Treasury Department :— Wastineton, D. C., Nov. 12, 1872. ‘To General B. F. BUTLER and THOMAS RUSSELL, Cow lector, Boston, Maga. :— } The President authorizes me to say that every ossible means of relief and ald will be afforded to he citizens of Boston by the government, and should the circumstances appear to demand —— y. by Congress such action will be reco! Secretary of the Treasury. him, GEORGE 8. BOUT! PHILADELPHIA SYMPATHIZING WITH THE SUFFERERS, PHILADELPHIA, Nov 12, 1872, In pursuance of a call of the Mayor a meeting of citizens was held to-day, to take appropriate, action in reference to the great calamity, which has befallen Boston. It was resolved that the Mayor of the city be requested to communicate to the people of Boston, through the gg of thak city, our deep sense of the severity of their great misfortune and assure them of our profound sym- pathy and earnest desire to extend them our ald; hat @ committee of thirty citizens be appointed by the Mayor, to whom the proper ste] be taken shall be referred, which commit authorized to adopt such measures aa found to be necessary to collect such funds as be required for the of the suifering our sister city. , BALTIMORE EXPRESSES HER SYMPATHY. “Paurmons, Nov. 12, 1872, At a meeting of citizens to-day, called by the Mayor to take action in aid of the sufferers by the! Boston fire, a committee was appointed to ascer- tain in what manner such aid can be most em- ciently rendered, and to collect, if need be, such) material assistance 6 may be necessary. Resolu- tions were adopted expressing profound sympathy, with the people of Boston. RUBINSTEIN IN OHAMBER MUSIO. The experiment of Mr, Grau in introducing his two great artists in chamber music has not proved @ successful one, The very fanaamental principle of this branch of artis a nicety of balance in the ensemble a8 delicately poised as the scales of am apothecary. The slightest preponderance of one of the instruments over another destroys the en- tire character of an instrumental trio, quartet,’ p Selsiay &c, Rubinstein is essentially a per- former, and hag all the waywardness and uncon- trollable spirit of an Scon sonal pianist. But place. him among other artists, under circumstances, in which he is obliged to accommodate tis tone,| Pace ry and conception to lesser interpreters, and the result is as if Dexter or Goldsmith Maid were harnessed with steady, plodding Park steppers. First Rubinstein would kick in the traces, and again Wieniawski would get the bit between his teeth, There were three concerted fond in the programe, 4 trio in O minor, by Men- elssobn, a quartet in C minor, No, 4, Beethoven,; and Hummel’s septet in D minor. ‘The assistants of the two artists were well known favorites, and during the Thomas and Mason seasons they proved themselves excellent interpreters of chamber music; but on this occasion they were simply accompa- nists, They were Mr. George Matzka, violin; Mr. Goffrie, viola; Mr. Bergner, violoncello; Mr, "Reit- wel, flute; Mr. Ohleman, oboe; Mr. Lotze, horn; and Mr. Rueder, contrabass. ‘hey id thelr share of the work commendably, but they were so over- shadowed by the two soloiste—for soloists they must always be, under every circumstance—that the erformance could hardly be called chamber music. lle. Liebhart sung some of her characteristic en The second concert takes place this even- ing. be or] MUSIOAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES, Elmer Ruan Coates, the Quaker poet and dramatist, of Philadelphia, is making ments for the production of his comedy of “Biun- ders” in this city. Amateur performances seem to be becoming quite common this Winter. One is to be given at Robinson's Hall, in Sixteenth street, on Thursday evening, by the Knights of Pythias, and one at the Brooklyn Atheneum, on Monday evening, Novem- ber 25, for the benefit of the Homeopathic Asylum, Farces are, of course, the only performances to be attempted. ) Madame Pauline Lucca fs still obliged to keep her- self to her room, suffering from a sore throat, which has assumed a painful character. Acting on the advice of her physician, she will not sing this evening, and accordingly the management is obliged to call again upon Miss Kellogg to come to the rescue. But here a serious mistake is made. Instead of allowing the opera “Faust” to remain on the bills and giving the public an opportunity ot judging between the Marguerite of Madame Lucca and the impersonation of the same character by the American prima donna, Miss Kellogg, the manggement substitutes another opera and forces upon the latter artiste the rote of Violetta in “La Traviata.” We are promised “Le Nozze di Figaro” for Friday night and “Faust” for Satarday matinée, ; and it is to be hoped that Madame Lucca will have sufficiently recovered from her illness to un- dertake her rdles in both operas, YACHTING, The Cape May Challenge Cup. Mr. Rufus Hatch, of the schooner yacht Magic, B.Y.C., recently challenged Mr. A. B. Stockwell, of the schooner yacht Dreadnaught, N.Y.Y.C., to sail arace forthe Cape May Challenge Cup pre- sented tothe Club by the Commodore, which wag the Dreadnaught early last month, beating The schooner yacht Falmer, of the N.¥.¥.0., Me Hatch has received the following letter of accept- ance :— New Yous, Nov. 5, 1872, Captain Roros Hatom, Nacht Magic — Oak Bina ag 0 cknowledge the receipt of your’ challenge of the Zist uit. ior the Commodore’s Cu) be sailed next season from ly Hook ‘ip to Cape May Lightship and return. Taccept the same with pleasure and will name a day early next season. EN B. STOCKWELL, THE OOBNELL-ADELPHIA COLLISION. The Commissioners of Steamers yesterday held an investigation at their rooms, 23 Pine street, into the canse of the collision between the steamers techn Gams te icice rca the cause of ike dlassters ‘The committee will meet again to-morrow, when the inv will be, comtinued, perbaps con