Chapter V: Under Control

By six o’clock the firemen were keeping the fire confined to the buildings already burned on the south. On the north they had succeeded in preventing its crossing the railroad tracks, and on the east and west it had burned itself out, while in East Boston the firemen seemed to be holding their own. It was not until one o’clock in the morning, however, that Commissioner Parker announced that all danger of its further spreading had passed.

Late in the afternoon the United States marines from the Navy Yard, who had been ordered to Chelsea by Admiral Swift, arrived in Chelsea Square. The detail consisted of one hundred and ten men under command of Captain C. S. Hill, Lieutenants Moses, Williams, and Judson, with rifles and ball cartridges, and they at once cleared the square and the surrounding streets, and assisted the firemen in many ways.

The good work done by this corps and their ability to carry out instructions is well illustrated by a story which went the rounds at the Puritan Club a few days later, at the expense of Harry Frothingham, one of the members.

It seems that the former Boston fire commissioner, “Ben” Wells, and Mr. Frothingham went over to Chelsea, arriving shortly after the marines had cleared the square. Mr. Wells’ fire badge admitted him through the lines, and although Mr. Frothingham had no badge, he got through at the same time. Reporters who recognized Mr. Wells joined him, anxious to get an interview from a man of so much experience in fires. A corporal of the guard who saw the crowd broke in with the remark, “Have you fellows all got badges?” Mr. Frothingham had none and the corporal ordered him out. The reporters could not stand for this, and one excitedly exclaimed, “Look here, what are you doing? That is Ex-Alderman Frothingham, and he is with Ex-Fire Commissioner Wells.” “I don’t care who he is or who he’s with; if he hasn’t got a badge, out he goes,” replied the corporal, and turning to one of his men he said, “Put that man out and keep him out. See!” and Mr. Frothingham went.