The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-04
TORONTO IS FLAME SWEPT
Business Portion Of the City Is Al
most Burned Away.
IMMENSE STORES DESTROYED
The Simpson Building Recently Com.
plcted at u Cost Of SIsO.OOO Entirely
Consumcd-Fanned by the Breeze,
the Flames Spread Rapidly.
BY the United Press.

BY the United Press.
Toronto, Ont, March 3.-The third
disastrous confiagration which has WIS.,
tied this fire-stricken city in less than
two months occurred this morning. and
the loss by today's disaster Is fully as
great as either of the two previous visi-
tations.
This time the fire originated in the
heart of the retail section of the city,
starting at 12.40 this morning In the
splendid new departmental store of
Robert Simpson, on the southwest COR
ner of Yonge and Queen streets. Simp-
sons building was an immense seven
story structure, completed only six
months ago at Il cost of $l5O,OOO. The
fire spread with such rapidity that with
in half an hour the whole building was
d mass of flames. The front wall fell
at | o'clock with terrific crash and
twenty minutes later the whole build
ing collapsed like an egg shell. Mean
time the fire had crossed Queen street
and the big clothing store of Philip
Jameson. on the northwest corner of
Yonge street, was quickly destroyed
with it's immense stock. The adjoining
dry goods house of Joseph Sutcliffe q
Sons, Immediately north and west OF
Jamieson's, fronting on Yonge street,
with an annex running through to
Queen street, was completely gutted,
and the stock is q total loss. Next
north was George McPherson's boot
and shoe store. This, too, was badly
gutted. South of Simpsons, on Yonge
street. the large jewelry store of John
a a IA t,,
the rear, but the front portion escaped
serious injury. Crossing Yonge street.
the fire next attacked the Henderson
block on the northeast corner of Queen
street, occupied by James Bonner gen.
tlemen's furnishings, and Miss NJ. r.
Brisley, millinery, both of whose stocks
were completely ruined. The roof of
the C. f. Adams & Co., house furnish
ings, next north, was burned through
and their valuable stock of furniture.
carpets, etc., was much damaged by
water.
Famed by the Wind.
A change of the wind caused the
flames to leap south across Queen
street, and the Imperial bank, at the
southeast corner of Yonge street, was
soon ablaZe. The lower fiat, occupied
by the Imperial bank as branch was
flooded, but escaped serious damage by
fire. The remainder of the building,
however occupied by j. +. Brown &
Co., as furniture and carpet ware
house, was less fortunate, and their
large stock is a total loss. The next
two stores to the south, fronting on
YOnge street, and occupied by James
Milnee & Co., hardware, and c. NJ.
Henderson, auctioneer, lost every
thing. South of these We're Dunfield a.
Co., gentlemen's furnishings, and the
fremont hotel, both of which were bad
ly gutted
Creeping east to Victoria street, the
fire found its way to the knights
of Pythias' hall, where it's progress in
this direction was finally arrested
| This hell was considerably damaged
and the Knights lost most of their
furniture and regalia. Just as the fire
was believed to be under control, a cry
went up from the crowd that the tall
steeple of the Knox Presbyterian
church, 200 feet high, on Queen street,
was on fire. Before long the steeple
burned and fell with a great crash.
The falling of the tower enabled the
firemen to reach the flames and they
were quickly got under control, not,
however, before the church had sus-
tanned great damage from water.
The Eaton Store Saved.
The great departmental store of the
II. Eaton & Co., was on fire several
times. and was only saved with much
difficulty. 1t would likely have gone
with the rest had 1t not been for the
excellent system of fire appliances
with which the big store is provided.
AS 1t was. the Queens street annex
was considerably damaged.
The firemen were greatly hampered
by the inextricable mass of fallen wires
and debris which filled the streets in the
vicinity. The fremen had several
marvellous escapes; three were some.
what seriously injured by falling walls
| Total loss, 81, 400, 900: insurance, $3.50, 600