History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

Chronological Table. 283
and fright of persons in the vicinity. And subsequently other explosions took place
inducing an appeal to the city authorities for protection.
Nickerson's oil clothing factory, in Swampscott, was burned, August 4. Miss
Emma Stone, employed in the establishment, lost her life, and the loss of property
amounted to about $9,000.
An extraordinary drought prevailed during the latter part of the summer. Most
of the crops about Lynn were absolutely ruined, the unripe fruit dropped from the
trees, and much of the shrubbery and many of the trees had the appearance of having
been exposed to fire blasts. Yet the springs and wells did not indicate any very
marked deficiency of moisture somewhat below the surface. We had an uncommonly
long succession of very warm days, with westerly winds and clear skies. And
the peculiar effect on vegetation was, no doubt, attributable rather to the burning sun
than the lack of moisture. The spring was backward by full two weeks, and the
weather was on the whole anomalous, most of the year.
The Ocean House, in Swampscott, a summer hotel of considerable note, was
destroyed by fire, on the evening of September 6. It was a large wooden building,
six stories in front and five in the rear. The loss was about $65,000.
In October, the fare to or from Boston was reduced to five cents on all the trains
of the Narrow-gauge Rail-road, and on a part of those of the PJastern.
Mayor Lovering was, on the 7th of November, elected a member of the U. S.
Congress — the second Lynn man ever chosen for that honorable position.
The morning sky for several weeks in October and November was adorned by a
splendid comet which rose two or three hours before the sun, in the south-east. A
very good representation of it, as seen from High Rock is here given. The steeple
of the Central church, in Silsbee street, is seen on the right of the picture, and
Phillips's Point, Swampscott, on the left.
Astronomers had wonderful stories to tell
of this comet — its inconceivable speed and partial disruption as if by some collision.
COMET OK 1882,
As seen from High Rock, Lynn.