The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-04
GREAT LOSS FOR TORONTO.
SHE SUFFERS FROM HER THIRD
 BIC FIRE TN TIVO MONTHS.

|
 in the Heart of the. RetniI Section ard
 SD cad With FrightfuI Rapidity. Toronto, Ont, March 3,-The thir6
 disastrous conflagration which has wis. ited this city in less than two months
 occurred this morning, and resulted in
 a loss fully as great as that caused by
 either of the two previous, vistations The fire originated in the heart of the
 retail section of the city, starting at
 12:40 this morning in the new depart
 mental stores of Robert Simpson, on the
 southwest corner of Yonge and Queen streets, Simpsons building was an inn
 nnense seven story structure, completed
 only six months ago at cost of S150, 900.
 The fire started in the rear of the
 southern annex and spread with such
 rapidity that within half an hour the
 whole building was mass of flames,
 A general alarm was turned in five min
 utes after the discovery of the fire, and
 the whole fire brigade was on the scene
 before 1 o'clock, but it's combined ef-
 forts to confine the fire to the Simpson
 building proved futile. The only steam fire engine in the city was brought into action to assist the streams from the hydrants, and although the water pres sure was fairly good the firemen were unable to throw stream to the upper stories of the Simpson building.
 The front wall fell at 1 o'clock with a terrific crash, and twenty minutes la ter the whole building collapsed like an eggshell, sending the sparks and cin- ders flying in all directions. Meanwhile the fire had crossed Queen street, and the big clothing store of Philip Jamison at the northwest corner of Yonge street, was quickly destroyed with It's immense stock. The adjoining dry house of Sutcllffe & Sons. north and west of Jamisons fronting on Yonge street with an annex running to Queen street, was completely gutted and the stock Is a total loss. Next north was George McPherson's boot ands shoe store. This, too. was badly gutted South of Simpsons, on Yonge street, the large jewelry store of John Wanless was damaged considerably in 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, occu- pied by James Bonner gentlemen's furnishings, and Miss M. P. Brlsley's, millinery, both of whose stocks were completely ruined. The roof of c. F.. Adams & Cot house furnishing store, next north, was burnsll through and the valuable stock of furniture, carpets, etc, was much damaged by water. A change in the direction of the wind caused the flames to leap south across Queen street and the Imperial bank building at the southeast corner of Yonge, was soon ablaze. The lower fiat occupied by the Imperial bank as branch, was flooded, but escaped, serl- ous damage by fire.
 The remainder of the building, how ever, occupied by J. F. Brown & Co.,, as' q furniture and carpet warehouse, was less fortunate and their immense stock Is a total loss. In the next two stores to the south, fronting on Yonge street and occupied by James Mine & Co.,, hardware, and c. M Henderson, auc- tioneers, everything was consumed
  furnishings, and the Ire mont hotel, both of which were badly gutted. Creeping east to Victoria street the fire found its way to the Knights of Pythlas hall, where its progress in this direction was finally arrested This hall 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 steeple of the Knox church 200 feet high, on Queen street, to the west of Slmpscn, was on fire, In vain did the firemen turn the most powerful streams upon the speck of fire. They could not reach half way up and before long the steeple burned through and fell with a great crash. The fire ate its way down into he bell tower and at o'clock the sell, whose deep tones had rung out 1t 6 o'clock every morning for half century fell into the basement of the over, where 1t lies buried under a mass of debris. The falling of the over enabled the firemen to reach the | lanes and they were quickly got under | control, not, however, before the church | lad sustained great damage from water. Knox church is one of the finest lnd probably the most historic of the | in the city
 The department store of the T. Eaton | Co. was on fire several times and was nly saved with much difficulty. It | would likely have gone with the rest lad it not been for the excellent sys- en1 of fire appliances with which the 'ig store is provided As it was, the queen street annex was considerably damaged.
 The news of the confiagration spread | apidYy through the city and by two clock thousands of excited spectators we're on the scene As it was Sunday o street cars were running and cabs a premium from business 1en anxious to learn the fate of their own-town property. The f1remen were really hampered by the inextricable 1ass of fallen wires and debris which lied the streets in the vicinity. Peo- le living blocks away became alarm d, having in mind the other recent big res, and excitedly tumbled their house. old effects into the streets, adding to ne general confusion. The firemen had everal marvellous escapes. Three were omewhat seriously injured by falling ralls, and Chief Graham sprained an nkle,
 sA..