72 



lives by the burning of a church in South Holyoke, Mass. A month 

 later the floods in the valley of the Garonne, in France, swept away 

 fifteen million dollars of property and many lives. In 1874 twenty- 

 three lives were lost in a burning mill at Fall River, Mass. The 

 Revere Railroad disaster in 1871 resulted in the loss of twenty-nine 

 lives, and the bruising and scalding of many others. The Mill River 

 (Mass.) flood of 1874 swept away one hundred and forty lives and 

 much valuable property. The history of these and many other dis- 

 asters of like character has been scattered broadcast by the fleet- 

 winged press, and awakened the sympathies of the world. But con- 

 sidering the extent of country and valuation drawn from, these loss- 

 es dwindle to modest dimensions compared with the fishing losses of 

 Gloucester. In a single year (1873) thirty-one of her vessels sailed 

 to return no more, and 174 of her fishermen were laid in an ocean 

 grave. In a single storm, " The Lord's Day Gale " of August 24 of 

 that year, nine Gloucester vessels went down before the dreadful 

 blast, and 128 Gloucester mariners met their doom. 



On the next page will be found a table showing the loss of life 

 and property annually in the Gloucester Fisheries since 1830. 



