The Helena independent., 1891-11-18
BIG FIRE IN St. LOUIS.
The Coming Of the Cold Wave Is
Followed by Disastrous
Conflagration.
Losses Aggregate a Million and a
Half and One Human
Life.
Tanned by a Furious Wind the Flames
Rapidly Made Hcadway Through
Great business Houses.

Sr, LOUIS Nov. 1I.-The cold wave,
which reached tho city last evening. was
the cause of ono of the most disastrous fires
which has sited st. Louis in many years.
One person was probably killed,
four men were badly hurt, and million
and half dollars worth of property went
up in smoke. Flames sprend with almost
inconcsivable 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 fremen extremely
difficult, and for time it almost seemed q
hopeless task. Water poured on this flames
seemed to act like oil instead of extinguish-
ing them. Store after store went down be-
fore the fierce flames and fears were enter
tanned for q time that second Chicago
disaster was imminent. The fire ragged
from 4:30 a. M. until ten o'clock before IT
could be said to be fairly under control
and tonight the engines are still pouring
water on the smoking debris. II started in
the furnace room Of the large dry gocds
house of Penny Il Gentles, on the south.
west corner OF Broadway and Franklin
avenue. The watchman Immediately
turned in an alarm and then
second and third within ten minutes. The
flames spread SO rapidly that general
alarm was given, which brought out the en-
tire department, but before the engines at
rived Penny l. Gsntles, Sonnenfeld's Mil
linery company, mammoth establishments
of shoes and clothing occupying the entire
four-story building on Broadway between
Franklin and Morgan street. were in flames
Within two hours all the walls had fallen
and nothing was left but ashes and bent
and twisted iron 9irders. Opposite is the
immense dry goods store of D. G. Crawford
Il Co. The heat was so intense shat the
whole front of Crawford & Co.'s store, in
cluding the display windows and all the
show cases in the front part OF the store.
from top to button, were badly damaged,
Franklin avenue, opposite Penny d Gsntles,
whole row, from Broadway to
the alley, arc badly damaged. Ad-
joining Crawford's, on Broadway,
the following business houses were
burned out: Mcdonald Bros. hats; g. II.
Clements, shoes; Chaa, sti1, gents furnish
ing and cloaks; Mrs. Tobin. millinery; F.
Wendell d Co., New York Millinery COM
pany, the Square Dealing Clothing COM
pany, and the Weiman house, the guests of
which safely escaped from the building on
Franklin avenue.
The FIRE throws about 1900 people out of
employment, tho majority of them being in
the service Of the Famous company, one OF
the largest boot and shoe houses in the
west. Nightwatchman Jasper, employed
BY the Sonnenfeld Millinery company, has
not been seen today. Firemen John Lynch
and >Alonzo Simon were badly injured by
ta4ing debris. Michael Connors, . roomer
at the Weiman house, becoming alarmed
at SIGHT of the fire jumped from window
man. reeisved severe shock from the cleo
tric wires. The losses are about as fol-
lows: Famous Shoe and Clothing COM
pany, 81, 165, 900; Penny & Gentles, $240, 900;
Sonnenfeld, $245000. Minor losses will
aggregate $35 900. Insurance. about two
thirds of the losses.