The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-31
AS WAS PREDICTED.
The Pew Building in Seneca, N, Y" Prove
Fire Trap.

SENECA FALLS, n. Y. July 3O.-The in
evitable has occurred. The Pew building,
against the erection of which three or four
Years ago such earnest protest was made,
fulfilled its mission as a fire trap this
morning and it Is feared that it has also
proven a death trap. a few minutes after
3 O'Clock this morning the building, which
Is directly opposite HOag's opera house
in Fall street was discovered to be burn
ing, in Sutherland q Sons restaurant. In
Il few minutes the entire structure was on
fire. Had naught but the shell suffered
there would have been tritling cause for
regret. but at o'clock the fairest
commercial portion OF the town was
in ashes or in flames The
Pew building was approached from but
one side and the atmosphere quickly be-
came so hot that tiremen could not endure
it. The Phoenix block, including the cleo
trio light plant, the electric railway plant,
the postotice, express office, the Revelier
printing establishment, the Courier, San
derson's furniture warerooms and Western
Union telegraph office, succumbed to the
flames and within four hours fifteen stores
10 the east of the stone block were ruined.
The flames Sprang across the street to
HOag's opera house before an hour had
passed and that was consumed with all of
Fall street on that side eas5 TO the Sheldon
block, while on the north side the Cooper
ative block was the limit.
The sufferers, with some approximate
losses on real property, are given below,
there probably being fair average
insurance: The Phoenix block, $50, 900;
electric light plant, $50 000, mot wholly &c
Stroyedl; Sylvester Pew, $50 600; Johnson
block, $4,000; Howe block, $4,000; Decky
block, $4,000; on Sheldon block, $1,000,
Hoag hotel damaged probably $4,000:
Hoag's opera house and block. $4,000;
Daniels block, $4,000; the Mirror block,
$4,000; Croweu block, $500; McCartins
block, $500; Miller block, 8. 600
In State street the fire Tapped
up the Hudson house and black
smith shop, Georges barber shop. harness
store, the Norcott block including Comb
er's liquor store, Halls cigar factory,
Hanna's second hand store. Chinese
laundry, Demons shoe shop, Kellogg's
livery stable and the two rear houses next
thereto, where the fire is limited All
three newspapers are burned out and the
telephone service suspended. The West
ern Union Is doing business at the railroad
station. The Gleason * Baly works
were on fire several times, but the flames
were kept down with but little injury.
The fire was under control at 9 o'clock
this morning but soon broke out anew in
Ledman q Gladiss' dry good store.
An area of nearly three acres was burned
over and many of the best business blocks
IN the village were wiped ont. Careful
estimated by insurance men and Others
place the loss at between $500. 900 and $780,
GOO. with insurance amounting only to
100000 The heaviest individual loss Is
that of the Thomas Houston Electric
company, being SI0O 900 with but $4,000
Insurance. Early in the morning PreSi-
Rumsey issued an order closing all the
saloons in the village and they will re-
main closed till tomorrow morning
PLACED AT 8. 100000.