Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-02-01
a CARNIVAL OF FIRE.


Bath. Me-. Swept by Terrible Gonna
grafton Entailing Loss Of HALF MIL
lion DoIlars-Severai Bl0cha of Bustnese
Buildings In Enthusiastically Of water
Makes the Fight Against the Flames =
= Hard One.
BATH, Me-, Jan. 29.-The most de-
structive fire in this city for half
century swept away yesterday q large
portion of the business section, block
after block succum bling to the flames,
and some of the best stores OF the city
were in few hours reduced to ashes
and valuable stocks destroyed. The
loss is placed at $500, 900.
The fire, apparently was small af--
fair when discovered at a. m. started
in the stable in the rear OF the
Sagadaco block. The fire department.
responded promptly, when, to the
amazement of the firemen and citizens,
it was discovered that the waterworks
was useless, a big break in the main
line having occurred Saturday night
When the alarm was given from box
As at the city hall the water pressure
in the street mains was only fourteen
pounds.
A second alarm was turned in, sum-
moning three steamers which were set
at the river, but before getting to-
work, the stable, where the fire started
was in flames, which was spreading ON
all sides. At the east OF the stable
and not three feet away was the Gran
tie block, four-story brick struct--
ure. fronting on Front street and
occupied On the ground floor by dry
goods and carpet store. To this store
the flames quickly spread. In few
minutes the Sagadaco house, cOntigu-
Gus to the Granite block on the south;
the Central house, next south OF the
stable; large tenement on the west~.
and a large storehouse on the north
were in flames. These buildings were
on the north side of Center and the
east side of Front street. In less than
an hour the fire crossed Front street.
attacking wooden and then brick
block. On the Center-street side the
firemen made determined stand and
saved the south side, but several blocks
were badly scorched.
Mayor Shaw sent away for aid half
an hour after the fire started, Bruins
wick responding with two hand en-
gines, Portland one steamer, Lewiston
were the first to arrive by special train,
which made the run of nine miles in
twelve minutes. The run from Port
land, thirty-five miles, was made in
fifty eight minutes, and from Lewiston
in thirty minutes.
The out-of-town fire engines were
placed at the river, and were at work
two hours after the fire started. It
was nearly 8 o'clock before the fire
was under control.
To protect property that had been
removed from stores near the fire and
to clear the crowd of sight-seers from
the streets, Mayor Shaw called out the
militia Co. G OF. the Second regiment
early, and subsequently the militia
received orders from Gov Cleaves to
patrol the streets last night. The
fire swept away the Sagadaco block, con-
tanning the largest hotel in the city;
the Sagadaco bank. the Marine bank,
book store, drug store, clothing and
barber shop; Granite block, occupied by
the largest dry goods house in the city,
knight of Pythias hall, and brokers'
Office; Union block occupied by q
crockery store; Redmen's hall, drug
store and an order of Foresters; Saw
ings bank block, occupied by the Peo-
pies savings bank, boot and shoe store,
doctors Office, book bindery, and edi-
torial rooms of the Bath Times; Full
er's block, occupied by drug store,
saloon and lawyers offices; Central
block, in which were the Central hotel.
two fruit stores and a barber shop.
One block containing cigar store
and book bindery, with dwelling on
the second floor; large tenement
house. occupied by six families; one
large stable and large storehouse;
Odd Fellows hall, Jackson's dry goods
store; Times newspaper office and sew
eral other firms were damaged by
water.
The total loss is estimated at $780,
600, on which there is about one-half
insurance.