was stopped only by the Mystic River at the East Boston line.
Almost the entire business section on Broadway was destroyed, the northern
boundary of the fire on Broadway being the Boston & Maine R. R. tracks,
and the southern boundary Chelsea Square. Between these two points on
Broadway almost all the retail business of the city was done. Among the
more prominent public buildings that were destroyed are the City Hall,
Y. M. C. A. Building, Odd Fellows Building, Chelsea Savings Bank and
County Trust Co. buildings. The number of buildings destroyed is estimated
at about 1500, while between 10,000 and 12,000 people were rendered
homeless.

No sooner had the awful havoc that the fire had wrought become known, than
relief funds were started all over the country, and many of the cities and
towns in Massachusetts gave substantial amounts for the relief of the
stricken city.

Within two weeks after the fire, Lee Higginson & Co., who were financial
agents for the official relief committee had received almost $300,000, and
many thousands of dollars more were given directly by employers of the
burnt-out families, and by fraternal organizations such as Knights of
Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Elks, Eagles and many others,
almost all of which established relief headquarters at once. The central
relief committee immediately opened relief stations at the new High School
building and at Lincoln Hall, and thousands were fed at these two places
daily.

By Tuesday, great quantities of clothing had been received for
distribution, and a receiving station was established at Keany Sq. Boston,
where contributions of clothing and household goods were received.

On Wednesday a large number of people were furnished with cooking utensils
and mattresses, and by the end of the week thousands of sets of
bed-clothing had been distributed.

In response to a call from the relief committee, hundreds of automobiles
offered their services in delivering goods to the homeless, and the work
of relief was greatly aided by this means.

[Illustration: Chelsea Square looking north up Broadway, showing Chelsea
Trust Co. Building in centre, and Odd Fellows Building at right.]

[Illustration: Stebbins Block, showing Knights of Columbus Hall, the
southern limit of the fire on Broadway.]

[Illustration: Looking up Broadway from Third Street. The heart of the
Business District.]

[Illustration: Everett Avenue from Broadway showing wh