Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-03
DANnUnY,s pIsAsrnoUs FIRE.

Five or the Largest Blocks OF the Btsi- |
ness Censer OF she Town DESTROYED By |
Flames-The Losses Nearly $500, geo
and are ONLY covered by S2OO, 900 I'm.
surance-A Detail OF she Casualties.
DAxBURx, Conn, Feb. 2.-The most dis
astrous FIRE that ever visited this city, with
ono exception, that of Bsokerle & Co.,
In 1885, occurred early this morning on the
estate al the corner Of Liberty and Main
streets, owned by Charles Hull. Here there
stood last night ave large blocks; tonight
only q pile of smoking ruins marks the spot.
The buildings consumed fronted on Main
street and ran from Liberty street south.
The first three blocks from the corner were
constructed of wood and occupied by George
R. Stevens, art store. T. B. Hoyt & Co.,
groceries, and Sam Harris, olothisrs. The
next two were of brick and occupied AZ q
large house furnishing store by Hull &
Rogers. In the rear of the blocks and 'front.'
ing on Liberty street were q cluster of
wooden buildings adjoining one another and
really annexes to the blocks. All these were
swept away. The locality has always been
considered moet dangerous one for fire,
being in the busidess part Of the city.
Al 1890 q. m. the fire was discovered In
cellar beneath Sam Harris store, and from
the flames crept into the cellar of Hull &
Rogers. The firemen were quickly on the
spot and sxtinguished them, as was supposed.
They broke out again, however, In the rear
Of the cellar and worked up through Hull q
Rogers store to the top of the block. In the
meantime the flames had gained Roadway In
Harris store, and the wooden addition in the
rear in Liberty street, which was almost in
accessible, and the fremen's efforts from
that time counted for naught.
The blocks were soon level with the
ground, together with the ones occupied BY
Hoyt & Co. and Stevens, which had been at
tackled from the side and rear by the flames.
During the progress of the blaze there were
several explosions in Hull & Rogers estab-
lishment, as they had large stock of powder
and oils. One explosion Game with such force
as to blow out most of the windows In the
of the Are. Adjoining Hull & Rogers block
was four-story brick structure owned by
Henry Bernd and occupied on the first floor
by the Dsnbury One Price Clothing store,
with several Offices above. This block was
badly damaged by fire and water and the
goods Of the occupants ruined.
Besides the merchants In the blocks there
were about Fifty occupants of the offices and
flats. These occupants will suffer to the ex-
tent of their entire possessions in household
and Office effects, as nothing was saved, and
the same thing must be said Of the occupants
of the busiaess houses. Many people mar
rowly escaped with their lives. In several
instances the occupants were rescued from
their rooms almost suffooated by the smoke.
The total loss is about $500. 900, 10 follows:
On buildings, all of which belongs to G..
500, 900; Sam Harris, $40, 900; T. r. Hoyt,
Sd, 600; George R. Stevens, q, 900; Frederick
Hart, jewelry, $4,000; L. Klein, tailor,
2.000; T. AZ. King, tailor, 1000. The
losses of the other tenants will range from
8, 900 to %, 600. The insurance, as far si
learned, in ~ follows: q. Hull, so, 600
Hull and Rogers $40. 900; Sam Harris 5000.
The other losses are partly covered by insur-
ance.
Work will be Immediately commenced In
clearing away the debris and erecting now
hlocka