Chapter 16

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Engine 3 was nearly burned up three times. The first time at the corner of Federal and Boston, next at the corner of Boston and Essex, and the last time at Broad and Flint, when she was backed over a pile of cannel coal to save her.

This last stand was a very hot one and the writer, while working under Capt. Remon, had two great stickers with him, namely Jack Callerly, chauffeur of Hose 2, Beverly, and Mr. Cheney, chauffeur for Dr. Phippen of Salem. The way they hung to their work was a caution. Later in Hathorne street, Irving Day, a volunteer stuck with us till about one A. M. working with us when his shop and tools were burning up over in Hazel street, helping make this stop which was spoken of as one of the best.

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A retired fire captain of Boston heard of the fire and came down with his son, not stopping to tell his wife where he had gone. Over around Peabody street, a blazing pole fell on him, knocking him unconscious. After they brought him to, he hustled for home, not telling his wife then where he had been, but two days after, she discovered the bruises on his shoulder and he had to confess.

John Cunningham, driver on Engine 3, though on his day off, came back and went to work. Capt. Lally of Boston, praised him for one job he did. At the time, he had the horse-drawn chemical and saved the house at the foot of Cedar street. Everything else here is burned up clean. Wrapping a blanket round his head and shoulders he worked on this house and the Hopkins’ factory, and to-day they are both standing. In many cities service of this nature bring a letter of thanks from the Board of Engineers and a day off to make up the one lost. Assisting Driver Cunningham were Joseph Pope, son of Capt. Pope, and William Carr.

Some fire engines had to shut down for

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lack of fuel, while others burned fence rails, soft coal, hard coal or anything they could get.

Driver DeGrandpe of Hose 2, Salem, went through some of the streets on the point, driving people out of the houses. In one house the woman was bound she would not leave. DeGrandpe pushed her out of the house, off of the steps and all the way down the walk to the street. When he got her to the street she was very indignant and told him she was going to report him.

Lieut. William Annable, retired, is in the fight at all fires that amount to anything, and this one was no exception. He extinguished fire at the Quaker church three times, but there was too much volume of flame behind it and later it burned. He went to Castle Hill and got the old hand reel, landed it in Hathorne street, laid two lines and did fine work here. One man from out of town with a fireman’s badge he wore some years ago, and a special policeman’s badge of more recent issue, made a good deal of extra work for our friend Annable. He insisted on taking the line to the roof against

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Annable’s advice, and would not be satisfied until with much tugging and straining they got it there only to find that at that height no water would leave the nozzle. Annable also piloted some out-of-town apparatus to proper positions.

The Salem boys who worked on the Lynn ladders in North Salem under Chief Chase’s orders, speak in the highest terms of this fire official.

Early Thursday afternoon the Paine furniture autos were sent to Salem to be of assistance in moving families.

Many automobiles did great work the day and night of the fire. Guy Folkins moved seventeen families with part of their belongings. At one place Folkins saw a man sitting in a big car with his head in his hands, apparently dazed. Jumping from his car Folkins shook the man up and told him to get to work. The man came up full of spirit, thanked Folkins and immediately got busy moving families.

A man paid a dollar for a dozen doughnuts the night of the fire, sandwiches could not be purchased at any price, and the drug-

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gists sold out everything drinkable even to vichey and apolinaris, the water being undrinkable.

It is said there were 1,000,000 people in Salem the night of June 25th and 400,000 on one or two of the busiest days.

Stephen Philips gave up his auto, one of the best in Salem, for relief work the night of the fire, and for ten days after it was in use by the police department, donated with the services of Patrick O’Hara, one of the finest chauffeurs round here, who in running errands turned over about fifteen hundred miles.

Engineer Dawkins, on a day off, came round, I am told, and lent a hand at many of the engines.

George Whelton, after working through the first of the fires in Boston street, took charge of the city spraying machine, and drawn by a pair of Sutherland’s horses first and street department horses later, made a tour of the entire city. This machine first worked in Orne square. The fire in coming from Phelps street ignited the roof of Cain Miller’s house in the rear of Hathorne street

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and jumped from there to the roof of Jas. Needham’s house at the corner of Winthrop and Prescott streets.

The sprayer extinguished fires on the roofs of three houses in Cedar street which were afterward swept away. All through Lafayette Street, Derby street by the hospital, over in North Salem, taking care of the buildings of Parsons, Stearns, Koen and Collins’ coal yard, also Dawson’s house on Mason street, working on this roof from the cross-trees of a telegraph pole and finally on Derby Wharf the sprayer did fine work.

A lighter belonging to the Beverly Wrecking Company, and having on it a derrick, diving equipment and other fittings caught fire while tied to Derby Wharf near the end. After midnight the hawser parted and she drifted out in the stream, finally beaching at the foot of East Gardner street.

The Now and Thens gave their celebration money, over $500.00, which was to be burned up on the Fourth, over to relief purposes.

The Father Matthews building was well equipped for taking care of the refugees,

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furnishing them mattresses at night. In the morning the floor was washed and the tables set for breakfast. There was plenty of food and the free use of the shower baths. Supt. J as. J. Welch and a number of the members gave their time.

A club known as the "Salem Fire Fighters" was formed and a spread laid. It is composed of Salem, Boston and New York newspaper men who "covered the fire." There will be a banquet in Salem next year on June z₅th. "Billy" Searles was elected the president.

Pickering’s coal pile and Ropes’s hay were still burning July 13th.

Three or four hundred boy scouts assisted in the relief work, having their headquarters at the Fraternity building on Central street.

Friday evening, June 26th, quite a large portion of the lighting was resumed, quite a feat under the conditions.

The familiar faces of Assistant-Superintendents Young and Joyce of the Prudential Insurance Company will be seen in the centre of the picture of the Barr and Buffum street ruins.

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The moving pictures taken in Salem, June 25th, were exhibited in Maiden and Medford on the second day of July.