Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-11
FIRE WAS MASTER.
A Section Of Boston in the
Flames Grip.
BIG LOSS OF VALUABLE PROPERTY.

One Life. That of a Newspaper man, Sac
rificed-A Falling Wall brushes Ont His
Life and Injuries Several Firemen-The
Victims Body Found Under the Ruins
Property Worth Over LOCO, 900 De-
stroyed-List of the Injured and of the
Losing Firms.
Boston, Jan. I1.-Not since Thanksgiv-
Ing Day three years ago has Boston been
threatened with such fire as broke out
yesterday on Federal street 1t started in
large building occupied by Hecht Bros,
wool dealers, in the building numbered
BIZ which also faces on Atlantic avenue.
The cause is not definitely known, but the
fire is said to have originated in the explo-
sion of gasoline stove in the basement.
An alarm was quickly given followed by
second and third, calling all the downtown
engines. The fire quickly spread throu-h
the entire Hecht building, and when the
fremen arrived on the scene the whole in
terror was mass of flames
Spread to the Adjoining Buildings.
Adjoining Hecht Bros, in the same block,
were located Patterson Bros. and J. Kosch-
land & Co., wool dealers, and the fire rap
idly spread to their premises despite the
floods of water poured into the structures
The building is six stories high, of brick
Next south on Federal street We're several
old brick buildings occupied on the first
floor by Chris Carven. liquors; the Carroll
ton cafe, and McGarry Sc Murphy, liquors
These were wrecked in succession by the
flames. The structures were four stories
high. While the fire was sweeping the g
buildings it was also making rapid head
way in the other direction. 1t had COM
municated with an Old waterworks shed
and a four-story brick warehouse in The
rear of the Hecht building. both stored
with wool owned by Hecht Bros
Firemen Caught by Falling Wall.
Seven fremen were on the low roof of
the shed when the wall of the warehouse
fell over, injuring several of them and
others. This falling wall carried down
the roof of the sheds and the intense fire
resulting aided the progress of the fire
through to Summer street. The four
story iron building numbered 1859 to 173
Summer street adjoined the Hecht ware
house. This building quickly took fire
and was soon Quilted. It was occupied
by w. A. Stetson & Co. and G.. B. Clark
& Co., both leather dealer, on the street
floor, and above by the Corey Leaf her
company. Adjoining the iron front build
ing on the other side is the stone front
building occupied by Pfster & Vogel,
leather dealers, which was soon Quilted.
Firms Involved In the Ruin.
The following firms are involved in the
conhagration: Hecht Br os., big wool
house, 207 to 219 Federal street; loss on
building complete Patterson Bros, deal
ers In wool, tenants of Hecht Bros, two
y. lofts at 2l8 stored with as6 1888 pounds OF
WOOL, loss probably 800, 900; J. Koschland
e Co., 207 Federal street, ground floor and
one loft STORED with wool {; loss heavy. W.
A. Stetson & Co., G. B.-Clark &c Co., and
the Corey Leather company, leather deal
ers, 100 to 173 Sumner street; loss heavy by
fire and water. Pfister VOgle & Co., l6l
to 165 Sumner street, large wool house;
very heavy loss. George H. Goodhue &;
Co., wool, and White Bros, fancy leather,
115 to 1853 Sumner; heavy loss. Benjamin
F. Thompson & Co, leather, 1877 Sumr er:
loss heavy.
Loss Of Over a Million and Half
Baxter 81 Co., basement of Hecht Bros
New England Market, on the street floor
OF Hecht Bros; Frank Supee, wool, 1876
Summer street; Chris. Carven, liquor; The
Carollton Cafe; McGarry & Murphy,
liquors Cangle of trolley wires in front
OF the Hecht building was an element Of
great danger to the firemen and impeded
them very much in their work The to-al
loss by the fire as estimated by the firms
interested is 81 ,655,DOO.