The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-23
A Big Fire in the Heart Of Providence,
Rhode Island.
The Estimated Loss Between $780,
COO and 100000.
A Brisk Wind Assists the Flames in
their Destruction.
A Fireman Mistaken for a Burglar by
q Hotel Guest.


been reduced, but the city iremen are
hard at work. A Siamese nozzle il
still pouring deluge of water on the
ruins. The four granite walls OF the
Aldrich house are still standing, al
though the Eddy street wall is weak
ened and will probably fall. The flames
started in the northwest corner OF the
ground floor OF the building occupied
as an engine room by VIM. Staples
81 Co. On the same floor were the sash
and blind warehouses Of Z. A. French
and Edward Wheelhouse' sash factO-
ry. The second floor was occupied by
VIM. G. Goodland 8 Co., manufacturers
of jewelers. tools, and James A. Charm
lsy, jewelers. supplies, Hough 81 VII
third floor was occupied by VIM n.
Robinson q Co., manufacturer OF
watch chains, and Reed s. Hud-
son, jewellers. The fourth floor
was occupied by j. II. Thir-
ty, electro-plater, and others
In few minutes this building was
Quilted and with crash the walls foll.
In AN instant the Billings block, which
stood on the opposite side Of Worcester
street, was in flames. The immense
building was consumed like so much
finder, and in forty-ive minutes moth
ing but the blackened walls remained.
Upon the first floor Of this building
were Burk Bros, dealers in beer; VIM.
j. Matson s. Co., dealers In calico
prints. and H. G. Morrisey's bar-roOm.
In the second story were Isaac Hahn'S
brai shop and Smith & Provost, en-
gravers. The third and fourth floors
were used as ware-rooms. Upon the
fifth floor Isaac Case had just fitted up
rooms. at a cost of $40, 900, for the man
ufacture of bolt hooks. From this
point the fire extended to the Aldrich
through the roof. On the lower Aoor
of the hotel were the Offices of the Ma
tional Express company, +. j. FaVre,
matchmaker and jeweler; A. Barcom
Il. Il. Green's printing office. The next
building to succumb was that occu-
pied by Ethan Allen as a carriage re-
pository, which was totally destroyed,
most of the contents being saved.
Adjoining Mr.. Aliens building stood
the Exchange hotel, owned by Harriet
L. and George l.. Barns. 1t was soon
a prey to the devouring element.
Assistance had been summoned from
Pawtucket, East Providence, Johnston
and WoonsockeJ and the Boston de-
partment was asked to hold itself in
went rushing and tumbling before the
northwest gale across Westmin-
lister, Broad and Pine streets
and over Eddy and Richmond streets
big hot Goals dropping along the way.
Several other alarms were struck from
smaller fires set by the flying embers
and scores of the buildings were set on
fire. The Aldrich house burned slowly
and 1t was evident that II the flames
were not soon checked there wide path
would be cut through the heart Of the
retail business section. At a. m. the
fire was under control and the stout
granite walls of the Aldrich house had
served as bulwark to bar further pro-
gress of the flames. One guest was
located by the smoke. He
mistook the fireman for thief and
grappled with him. The following Is
the loss and the insurance as far as can
b ascertained: Aldrich house, loss eS-
timated at $50 900; insurance, S27 500;
loss on building, $40, 600; insurance,
5000; on furniture, loss $50, 600; in
surance, $4,000; Betting's building.
loss sos, 900; insurance, $50, GOO; Isaac
Hahn, loss S20, 600; insurance, SIT 600;
Allen building, loss estimated at &c.
600; insurance, 81, 600; Chance compa-
ny, loss $4,000; insurance, 5000;
Tubing dss and
ance. SIS, 900. To-day the whole
square is a mass Of smoking ruins ex-
cept the Aldrich house corner, where
the granite walls still stand in weak
condition.
DIED SUDDENLY.
JUNCTION CITY, Kas., Feb. 16.-H.
r. Crawford and j. N. Wager, two old
and respected citizens OF thus county
died very suddenly early this morn
ing.
THE ELMIRA FIRE.
ELMIRA, N. Y. Feb. 16.-The total
loss by fire in the Advertiser and other
buildings last night will reach fully
$3.50, 900, with insurance about one half.
The night was intensely cold, and in
few moments the flremen were ANNA
ted monuments of ice. Great masses
hung from the engines and the hose
was frozen to the ground. Charles
Bentley, the fireman who was hurt by
falling walls, is dying, and William F.
Nailor, of Bethel, Sullivan county, q
student in the Commercial college who
had rooms in the building, is missing.
A S150,0OO FIRE.
WESTERLY, II. l., Feb. IA fire
ragged for three hours this morning, de-
stroying several business buildings and
causing q loss of $3.50, 900. The fire was
discovered at 3 a. m. in confectionery
store in the .. ID. Wells building or
Broard streeG. The flames worked
their way into the Wells block and
from there into the Segar block, 9
ing. Turning the corner of High
street the Stillman building. three
story frame structure, the Bradford
block and bank building, the last a two
story brick building, we're burned. The
thermometer marked thirtY-four de
grees below zero and the firemen sui
fered severely from exposure.
WRECKED BY AN EXPLOSION.
MEANWHILE, Pa, Feb. l7.-BetweeI
nine and ten o'clock this morning al
explosion of natural gas wrecked the
house of Joseph Franklin, situated a
the outskirts of the city, and seriously
If not fatally inJuring Mrs. Franklin.
WAS TT MURDER OR SUICIDE?
PrTTsBURG, PA, Feb. 16.-The re
mains of an unknown man were foun'
near Homestead, Pa, on Monday morn
ing with q bullet hole through tn
head and pistol lying near the body
and IL was believed to have been . cas-
of suicide, but from Developments q
the coroner'S inquest there is q stron
suspicion that the man was murdered
The physicians are OF the opinion tina
the pistol was held some distance froT
the head when discharged, and sewers
witnesses testified at the inquest G
hearing screams and pistol shot o
the night preceding the finding OF tn
body. The county detectives will tai
charge of the case and endeaVor
clear up the mystery.
A DREAM CAUSES A SUICIDE.
HANNIBAL, Mo-. Feb. I6.-Snowde
Holmes, a farmer living near Madison
vile, Rails county, committed suiciC
Yesterday by cutting his throat fro
ear to ear just after finishing a hal
mornings work splitting rails. Z
had had bad dream Saturday nigl
which had so preyed upon his mir
hat his reason was dethroned.
Go Rack on Their Word.
CHICAGO, Feb. 16.-AIthough Il
eastern roads firmly resolved not
narficinata in the emf rntas Of the wa.