Fitzgerald News Bits

"THE GREAT FIRE" in St. John's, Newfoundland July 8,1892 by Rev. Moses Harvy {sic Harvey}

On Saturday morning, July 8,the newspapers of Boston contained the startling intelligence that the city of St. John's, Newfoundland, was swept by fire the previous night. On the following Sunday evening a number of Newfoundlanders met at America Hall, and after talking over the sad news and pledging their assistance, adjourned to meet on the following Thursday evening. Meanwhile every person present promised to interest himself in reaching Newfoundlanders living in outlying towns and cities, informing them of the meeting to be held, and, if possible, to secure their presence on that evening. As a result the largest body of Newfoundlander ever brought together at one meeting in the city of Boston met at America Hall, on Thursday evening, July 14.The permanent organization was as follows:
Chairman---Hon. William Taylor
Secretary---William Whittle
Treasurer---Edward T. Russell
Assistant Treasure---John G. Pike
Financial Secretary---Robert J. Druhan
Executive Committee.
Hon .William Taylor; William Whittle;Edward T Russell;John G Pike;Robert J Druhan;
John P McCormick;Rev. A. B. Hudson; M. M. Breen; Nicholas Sullivan
Thomas Kevin; Thomas Higgins;John W O' Ryan

Committees were appointed in the following cities and towns from among the
Newfoundlanders residing therein:

Brighton---Matthew Murphy, Chairman: William Cunningham, M.Rielly, M.M. Breen, J. Kennedy, John Foley, Michael Murphy.

Brockton---Alexander Morton, Chairman: Thomas Brein, Thomas J. Regan

Cambridgeport--- Dr. Jos .D. Couch

Charlestown---Michael Rogers, Chairman: F.Fleming, Garrett Dooley, James Dooley, James Britt, Michael Manning

Chelsea----Archibald Prior, chairman: John Power, Herbert Dowden, Thomas Parsons, Richard Parsons, Stephen Breaker.

East Boston----M.J. Crotty, Chairman; Daniel Kiley, Thomas Ryan, Nicholas J. Ryan, Edward Gardiner, Richard Power, Michael Fitzgerald.

East Cambridge--- John P. McCormick, Chairman; Peter Shortell, John Gleason

Everett----James Bolger, Chairman ;E.M. Archibald, Thomas Kenny, Charles Wilson, James McAuliffe, James W. Childs

Lynn---Robert Evans, Chairman; Harry Medws, P.J. Murphy, Joseph Pike

Malden--- William Barrett

Milville---Patrick Heneberry, Chairman; Charles Duffey, William Mountain, William Parnell, Robert Powell, Richard Glynn, Michael Ryan

Newton---Richard J. Morrissey, Chairman;M. Moore, P.J. Powers

North End---Edward Walsh, chairman; Thomas Kevin, P.J. Cody, Patrick Bowe, Peter Hogan, Thomas Fitzgerald, T .Lee

Old Cambridge---Gilbert Pynn, Chairman; W. Eastman, E. M. Phelan

Quincy---David Fitzgerald, Chairman;

Roxbury---John T . McCarthy, Chairman; John J. Hally, P.J. Brazil, John T. Kennedy, Andrew Hughes, Thomas Lanahan, James Smart

Somerville----Edward Pynn, Chairman; Joseph G. Gallishaw, Robert J. Druhan, John Cotter

South Boston---Dennis J. Cantwell, Chairman; P.J. Feehan, Louis J. Duchemin, James L. Fitzgerald, Thomas Burns, Michael J. Renison, John F. Dempsey.

South End----William Whittle, Chairman; P.J. Mansfield, M. W. Dooley, Thomas Mackay, Thomas Morrissey, D.J. Reddin

The committee went to work with a determination to realize a handsome sum for the suffers, and they succeeded admirably, having collected in money and clothing (new cloths alone entered into this estimate) the sum of $15,896.80 (in terms of 1992 dollars ,this would be about $300,000.) On Saturday afternoon Aug.6,the schooner CARITA sailed for St.Johns, chartered by the Executive Committee, and having on board a miscellaneous cargo of provisions and merchandise valued at $8,000.On October 18 the schooner ALTA was despatched. By her the Committee sent 625 barrels of flour and other breadstuffs. It should be said here that the $3,460 collected by Messrs. Stratton, Little,& Co. and Edward T. Russell was sent by them to St. Johns in cash.