The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-22
BURNED FIVE HOURS.
A S.. 900, 900 Fire DeVastates
the Business Portion of
Springfield, Mass.
FIRE CHIEF LRsHURE INJURED.
Engines From Adjoining Cities
Has'ened 10 The scsne--Flre-
men Powerl@ss to Stay
the Flames.


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Nov. %, 1898 1.-The
most destructive fire this city has ever
known broke ont shortly after midnight
in the block owned by j. K. Baxter and
Heury S. Dickinson. al No. SO Worthing-
ton strear. Before the flames were under
control over s2.oOo.oOO damage had bsen
done. TIE flames, when discovered.
had gained considerable hesdway. The
fire seemed to have started In The centre
of the building some time before it ap-
peared on the outside of the block, ana
the flames soon spread beyond the com
troll of the flremen.
John Doolan's block, next to the Dick
inson block. went next. and then the
Mayo block; thea Able block was then
attacked, and soon the Hotel Glendower
was com pletely surrounded by fire, and
speedily caught. The no ell burned rap
guests long before had packed their bag
gage and left the building. The attention
| of the Department was then turned to
saving the Fuller block.
FLAMES LEAP ACROSS THE STREET.
At six O'Clock this morning the great
fire had ragged over five hours. but had
been effectually checked at the Fuller
block on the south. On The east there
seemed to be no danger of its spreading
from the Webher block. When the
fronts of the Abbe and Worthy blocks
fell the flames seemed to leap across the
street. but fortunately the blocks OF
posite were low and exposed little
surface
The upper floor on the Wight block,
across Worthington street to the north,
just In the rear Of the Union editorial
ROOM. was a roaring furnace, and the
corner of the linton block took fire about
halt past i've o'clock.
from the roof of the Union block. aud 1t
looked as il the building was doomed.
The Wight block where the ire started
on the north side is not likely TO be saved.
The wind was apparently shifting TO the
east.
AS the flames crept out Of the windows
OF the Glendower Hotel on Main street at
four o'clock, having swept through the
whole interior. the scene on Main street
was lurid.
The front of Abbe's block looked like
a sort OF lattice work, high and inn
movable. yet 20 frail that a breath, as 1t
seemed. would topple it over into the
street. Behind his lattice OF brown
stones ragged the aery furnace.
WAVES OF FLAME SWEEP ALONG.
Dense clouds OF smoke were driven
down the street by the rising wind.
which came from the southeast. BY 4:30
o'clock it was evident that Fullar's block
might be saved from ruias sEA
The cloud OF Burning eindsrs sweeping
to the west caught q house son Bridge
street unawares, necassitatlng the divert
ing OF u line of hose from the main con-
tagratlon. Many Thought that the Var
Norman studio was In for another expert.
ence such AS tnst which IL la a snort
time ago, for the low fiat roof was now
smoking and steamiag st a great rate.
The wave of flame pulsatinR upward
and outward from the Glendower ha (,
meanwhile made the Wight blocks, GU
Worthington street, extremely hot. AL
$40 o'clock tongues of flame were seen to
push out along the caves and on the WIN
dows Of these structures.
One awning caught and burned rap
idly. Thea the WOODWORK around Tue
windows of the stockinet shop burst into
a fame Of ire. and soon as one or two
other places along this top story.
AS the crowd watched anxiously the
beginning OF the rain on these Wight
blocks. and noted the vain attempt OF the
iremen 10 reach IL with q stream OF
water, there was a sudden cry and the
crowd ipstinctively began an impulsIve
movement backward. Sa9
The eyes of all now turned back to
the Glendower. The building was one
| great white glow. The fire escapes hung
a tangled mass along It's side. In front
still poured forth the great bursts of
fire.
FIRE CHIEF LESHURE HURT.
The melting tin work soon fell to the
side walk with successive crashes, then
the floors began sinking, and thou came
The most thrilling scene Of all. The top
most line of the Glsndower's roof, on
Worthington street. began to trouble and
toss; a long rent in the wall was seen,
aud instantly a huge section dropped out
aud numbered into the street.
AS the debris from its great height
came down with a roar the flremsn Ia
the street ran backward rapidly. Chief
Leshure was struck on the head by a
falling missile but was not injured Sc
ri0usiy. No one else was found TO have
been hurt.
The falling walls disconnected the fire.
men only for u moment. And they turned
their attention especially to the second
Wight block on WorthinRton street.
which by five o'clock WAS. along its upper
story, already wrapped in faties.
The loss of James Mckeon & Co. is
placed ut. $50. 1000, Insured for two-tnirds
of It's value. A. N. Mayo places the
loss on his block at S2s, 600; fully in-
sured.
1t is reported that M. H. Barnett had
10000 cigars stored in the Able building.
The fire IN this block swept through
from the rear as soon as the falling walls
OF the Mayo block had given entranc e,
u MIR. Barnett's store was she first one
Quilted. He received sufficient warning,
however, to remove a QuAntity Of the
stock to M. j. u. Hutehin's music store.
N. ID. Dill said that a man with n
bucket OF water or one linz OF hose tn en-
upon The roof of his building half an hour
earlier would a Y prevented his loss Of
$50, 900.
Engines from Chicope, Worcester aud
Hartford were sent for and helped the
local firemen fight the flames.
WOMAN's MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.