San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-09
AN IMMENSE FIRE.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOST AND
TWO HUNDRED KILLED.
Fifty seven Insurance Companies
Suspend Payment-Nearly Ono
Hundred Thousand Persons
Rendered Homeless.

Just tWenCy-lOur years ago To-
day the City of Chicago was the
scene of one of the most destruc-
tive conflagrations of modern
times. There had been several I'M
usually large fires on previous
days, but on Sunday evening, Oc-
tober s, the great fire originated in
a small wooden barn in De KOven
street. The buildings in that
quarter were mostly of wood
through these the flames ragged
with great fury and were carried
across to the South Branch by the
strong westerly wind then prevail
ing, where the buildings were
principally brick, iron and stone
stores and warehouses, supposed
to be fire-proof. The fire continued
all day Monday and Monday night,
the last house being burned on
Tuesday morning. On Monday the
fire crossed the main channel of
the Chicago River and swept the
north division, occupied mostly by
dwellings. The area burned over,
including streets, amounted to
2,100 acres, or about three and one
third square miles. Buildings de-
stroyed, II, 450. Persons rendered
homeless, $500. Killed, about
200. Among the buildings burned
were the Court House, Custom
House, Post Office, Chamber of
Commerce, Gas Works, three rail-
way depots, nine daily newspaper
offices, thirty-two hotels, ten the
aires, eight public schools and
several branches, forty-one church.
es, five elevators containing 1872
600 bushels of grain, and all Ma
tional banks but one. The loss on
buildings amounted to $50, 0O0,000
on merchandise and personal prop
erty, $40, 600; on which $44,-
600, 600 was recovered in insurance.
The total loss was estimated, in
depreciation Of real estate
and loss to business, at over $780,
600, 1000. The total loss to insur-
ance companies was 500, 1913, 721, of
which 100000 was borne by for
eign companies. Fifty-seven of
these companies suspended pay
ment. OF those which stood the |
test and met their obligations in |
full, the most conspicuous Ameri-
can company was the PheniX In
surance Company of Brooklyn.
"a hours after the fire the |
stockholders of this company held |
a meeting and subscribed 81, 900, 900
to aid in the payment of losses.
4S hours after the flames |
were eXtinguished the PheniX be-
gan to settle its losses, and was the |
first company to pay any claim
from the great fire. The |
first payment was made to the |
firm of Hart, Asten & Co., in the |
sum of $4,000. A fac smile of the |
draft in payment of this loss may
be seen at the office of Campbell &
Conroy, the agents of the PheniX
in this city. Mr.. Asten, of Hart,
Asten & Co, afterwards came to
San Antonio and was in business
here for several years.
OhO vi ChS principal lGSSOuS
taught by this and other great fires
is the paramount Importance of
keeping insured in companies of
known standing and responsible
ty, with resources adequate for any
emergency. A list of the compa-
MES authorized to do business in
Texas, together with the official
reports of their financial status.
may be seen at the office of Messrs.
Campbell & Conroy, and will prove
interesting reading to those who
patrOniZe insurance companies.