The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-18
LEYELED BY FIRE.
Nearly S2,0O0,OOO Worth Of
Property Destroyed.
Entire Blocks in St. Louis and BROOKLYN
Reduced to Ashes.
Agricultural House, Wholesale Establish
mems and Planlng-Mll Burned.
One Life Probably Lest.
Erecial TO THE MORNING GALL

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1.-THE cold wave which
reached this city last evening was the
cause of one of the most disastrous fires
which has visited St Louis in many years.
One person was probably killed. four were
badly hurt and a million and half dollars
worth Of property has gone up In smoke.
The flames spread with almost inconceiv-
able rapidity, eating their way through
brick blocks as though they were pine.
cold westerly gale was blowing during
the time the FIRE was at its height, rendering
the work of the fremen extremely difficult,
and for time it almost seemed a hopeless
task. Water poured on the flames seemed
TO act like oil, instead of extinguishing
them. Store after store went down before
the fierce flames. and fears were enter
tanned for a time that a second Chicago dis
aster was imminent. The fire ragged from
4 80 o'clock in the morning until 10 before
it could be said to be fairly under control,
and Tonight the engines are still pouring
water on the smoking debris.
A BLOCK IN FLAMES.
The fire started in the furnace-room of
the large dry goods house of Penny &
Gentle, on the southwest corner of Broad
way and Franklin avenue. The watehman
Immediately turned in the alarm and then a
second ard third within ten minutes, but the
flames spread so rapidly that general
alarm was given, which brought out the en-
tire department; but before the engines ar
rived Penny e Gentle's dry-goOds store, the
Sonrenfeld Millinery Company's store and
the mammoth establishment of the Famous
Shoe and Clothing Company, occupying the
entire block of four-story buildings on
Broadway, between Franklin avenue and
Morgan street. were in flames and within
two hours all the walls had fallen and moth
Ing was left but ashes and bent and twisted
iron girders.
INTENSE HEAT.
Opposite is the immense dry-goods store
Of ID. {. Crawford Il Co. The heat was so
Intense that the whole front of Crawford's
store, Including the display windows and
all the showcases in the front part of the
store, from top to bottom. are badly dam
aged by the heat, causing probable loss of
$4,000
On Franklin avenue, opposite Penny &
Gentles, the whole row from Broadway to
tie alley was badly damaged
Adjoining CrawfOrd's, on Broadway the
following business houses were burned out:
Mcdonald Bros, hats; G. II. Clements,
shoes; Charles Silk, gents furnishing and
c'oaks; Mrs Tobin. millinery; f. Wendell
y Co., New York Millinery Company; tie
SS9uare-dealing Clothing Company and the
Weiman II use, the guests OF which safely
evacuated tie building.
SMOKE AND WATER.
On Franklin avenue, just west of Penny
d Gentle's. the general dry-goods store Of
Thomas HodsOn was damaged by smoke
and water to tie extent of $4,000; Insured.
The fire shortly alter 10 o'clock burned
Itself ont, and the fears that il would ey-
tend into Broadway were relieved
The fremen deserve great credit for their
noble work, considering the intensely cold
weather, which was increased teEfold by
heavy wind.
HEAVY LOSSES.
The fire throws about 1900 people out of
employment, the majority Of them employees
of the Famous Company" one of the
largest boot and shoe houses in the West.
One life was probably lost, Night Watch
man Jasper. employed by the Snnuenfeld
Millinery Company, not having been seen
to-day.
FIremen John Lynch and Alonzo Simon
were badly Injured by falling debris.
Michael COnnors, a roOmer at the Vein
man House, becoming alarmed at sight of
the FIRE, Jumped from window and broke
q leg.
a. 5. TAYLOR, newspaper man, received
a severe shock from an electric wire.
The losses are about as follows: The
Famous Shoe and Clothing Company.
100000; Penny d Gentle, $40. 600; Sonnen-
fed S245000. The minor losses Will az
eTegate $50, COO, with insurance Of about
tw0-thrds of the losses.
During the time this fire was burning the
handsome residence of Captain John A.
Scudder, In the aristocratc portion of the
city, was destroyed by fire, with a house
full of costly furniture The loss here will
exceed s75,0 fully insured.