The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-04
ToRONTO'S BIG FIRE.
Business Blocks Worth Nearly
$1,OOO,oOO Destroyed Yesterday.

TORONTO March 3.-At 1890 o'clock this
morning fire was discovered issuing from
Robert Simpsons six-story dry-goods store,
on the corner of Queens and Ionge streets-
BY the time the first jet or water was
thrown on the huge structure 1T was feit
that the building was doomed. The fire de-
partment, was utterly unable to cope with
such conflagration. The pressure from
the mains was insufficient to throw the
water high enough or in sufficient quanti-
ties to check the raging furnace. The fire
was driven across Queens street to the
:.orth side, and Jamieson's large tailoring
establishment was soon on fire. The flames
extended to the Eaton dry-goods establish
ment, a departmental store, facing on
Queens street, and from Jamiesons store
the fire extended north to Sutcliffe's store.
The Imperial Bank next caught but only
escaping. Milness hardware store, next
south of the Imperial building. was soon in
burned, while Duffields tailoring establish
ment and Blackhorse Hotel were gutted.
Next to simpsons, on the south, Waniess
west of Simpsons on Queens street, flames
communicated with Knox Church. one of
city, and the spire was destroyed, falling
with a crash. The main body OF the church
was only slightly damaged: At 3 O'Clock
the fire at it's worst. The north ana
east walls of Simpsons store had fallen,
and the flames mounted high, carrying
burning brands into the air, which fell
on the roofs of the adjoining houses. Mean
while the buildings on Yonge street north
of Queens were burning hercely. The ire
was raging on the east side of YOnge south
of Queens and a vast square OF stores
was doomed to destruction. Ffremen did
their best, but with the appliances at their
disposal their weakness was very percepti-
BILE. Fortunately, the night was calm.
Wind would have turned millon-doilar
into another Chicago conf1agration.
The watchman in Simpsons said he made
his rounds last night as usual. He was II
the packing room about IL, and all was
right, but upon his return, in half an hour,
there was a huge bonfire of the empty pack
ing cases and other infiammable material,
with the flames darting up the shaft. There
has been a strong feeling for some time
lore than suspected. The following are the
estimated losses and Insurance.:
r. Simpson, loss $3.50, 600, insurance $500,
000; j. Waness, loss $4,000, insurance. $41,
coo; Jameson, loss $4,000, fully insured;
Sutcliffe loss $4,000. insurance $4,000; Milne
Hotel, loss $4,000, insurance, $500; Knox
Church, loss $50,O00 insurance $20,0 In ad-
dition to this there are large unascertained
losses caused by smoke and water destruc-
tion of street-car tracks, and the tearing
down of trolley and light wires, estimated
at $25, ,0O0 making a total loss of $7S0,OO0,
with insurance of $4,000.
The insurance companies Which so far as
ascertaned are the heaviest losers are as
follows: The London, Liverpool and Globe,
Caledonian, $25, 900; Scottish Union, of Nor
wich, SOS. 600; Manchester, $4,000; London
and Lancashire, $4,000: British America,
$4,000; Norwich Union. $1,000; North
err, $25, 600; Sun, $1,000; Hand-in-H Hand $20-
Oe0: Commercial Union $50 600; London As
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