Great Fire of 1872 occurs.

The fire breaks out just after 7 p.m. in the basement of a hoop-skirt factory at today’s 83 – 87 Summer Street. Thought to have been caused by the building’s steam engine-propelled elevator, the fire last four days, destroys 776 building, burns 65 acres from the Old South Meeting House to the harbor, and kills 9 firefighters and 21 others [2&18-BAR]. Efforts to fight the fire are hindered by low water pressure and a shortage of fire horses due to the recent epizootic flu. Some 450 people are jailed for looting, and another 300 arrested, including Rev. Phillips Brooks, who was only helping Mr. Shreve save some of his store’s jewelry. The destruction prompts Boston dry goods, trade, and shoe and leather industries to move toward today’s South Station and Chinatown, insurance companies to reorganize, and the city to adopt more stringent building code regulations.