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Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
Dec 27, 1909
Page
4
Ed Iverson and his family sought safety in an upper story opposite the dyke as the Chelsea Everett flood swept streets and stables. Rescue teams saved dozens including elderly residents and horses while fear of fires grew and aid stations opened at the armory and local halls.
Scenes of pathos surround a city flood rescue. Mr and Mrs Joseph W Harkins perish together in their kitchen while rescue teams save nine from East Locust street tenements. Aged 82 Hannah Buyer and 85 year old Grandmother Murry are among rescued. A two day old baby and two year old Ida Myerhoff are saved, and a man attempts suicide after fearing relatives were lost.
About 500 people, many in thin clothing and including women and children, displaced by the dyke flood and Chelsea fire, were sheltered under the State Armory roof. Mattresses and blankets were supplied to comfort the evacuees.
James J. Storrow announced a relief meeting to aid Chelsea fire sufferers at the Chamber of Commerce at 2 PM. He said $10,000 remains in the relief fund after $5,000 was turned over to the Board of Control, out of an original $15,000.
Chief of Police Shannon in Chelsea suspended Sunday laws to allow homeless flood sufferers to buy necessities at small shops. Fuel and power shortages worsened conditions, limiting access to basic goods and services.
In the evening crowds burned candies and kerosene lamps while lanterns hung at the police station. Drug stores refused hot drinks due to gas shortages and some shops closed after candles became unavailable.
William F E McClintock, chair of the Chelsea Board of Control, says 25300 homeless is conservative. He backs immediate dyke repairs after a full moon high tide caused flood damage. About 850 evacuees are housed in the armory as Gov. Draper orders aid to nearby towns.
Somerville armories will forward blankets and mattresses to flood victims. J. M. Riley of the Chelsea Gas Light Company refused to assign responsibility for the dyke breach, noting the company uses no water from the dyke and gains no benefit.
Patrolman James Dolan first spotted a large wall of water breaking the dyke and alerted Chief Shannon. Officers joined to warn residents while Donnelley and Fitzpatrick used a boat to rescue many from flooded homes near Second Street. The Chelsea ferry driveway was overtopped by the tide.
Firefighters battled flames in multiple rooms and extinguished furnaces below as smoke poured into the basement, ending the blaze.
Governor Draper acted swiftly after a Board of Control notice and ordered the Chelsea armory to house and feed the homeless. Supplies from Lynn Everett Somerville and other armories were sent to Chelsea, with Captain Renfrew in charge and E. K. Mann coordinating feeding arrangements.
Station agent Brownlie at Everett on the Boston and Maine alerted a washout half a mile below after the dyke broke. He stopped the Portsmouth express just 100 feet from the submerged track, preventing disaster as crews repaired the line and trains were rerouted via the outward bound track to Boston.
Floods from high tides inundated scores of Lynn streets and damaged the boulevard by about 50000 dollars. Homes were evacuated, one house on Fox Hill was swept away, a man rescued by boat. Nahant rail lines and multiple piers suffered damage. a storehouse fire caused ten thousand dollars in losses.
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