Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-30
EXPLOSION OF GAS.
It Caused a Panic In the Streets
and Many Were Injured.
4 BIC FIRE At CLEVELAND. .,


CHICAGO, Dec. 24.-Fire broke out
shortly after four o'clock yesterday
afternoon in the basement OF the i've
story building at lo4 Madison street,
the first floor and basement OF which
we're occupied by the Tosetti Cafe \
Restaurant company and the second
floor by the billiard parlors OF Frank
Mussey. The blaze was insignificant
at first, and crowd Of people gath
cred on the sidewalk in front OF the
building to watch the work Of the fire.
men. About one dozen policemen were
busily engaged in pushing back the
throng. when a terrific explosion OF gas
took place. The building was badly
wrecked, the windows, window graf
ings, sidewalk, lights and manhole Gov
ers were hurled into the air and fell
among the crowd. Dozens OF people
were thrown from their feet and %
were more or less injured. The ex-
plosion caused wild panic in the
street, and in the frantic rush for safe
ty,which followed many people were
thrown down and trampled upon.
That many were not killed and many
more injured was little short OF a mir
acle. The burning building is within
so feet of the intersection OF Dearborn
and Madison streets, where the loops
of the west side and north side cable
lines intersect, and from the time the
fire broke out until after midnight
traffic was entirely suspended on both
lines. The loss is estimated ut $l25,'
600, of which 100000 will fall on the
Tosetti company, $4,000 on Mussey
and $4,000 on Morris Rosenfeld, the
owner of the building.
A BIG FIRE AT CLEVELAND.
CLEVELAND, O., Dec. "a Fire broke
out in the business center OF the city
at five o'clock yesterday Afternoon
and, famed by a high northwest wind
destroyed property worth more thar
$500, 900. The Power block, on Frank
fort street, owned by j. b. Perkins
six stories high and made of brick
was consumed above the second story
and the rear of the brick Wiltshire
block, six stories high, owned also b.
Mr.. Perkins, and fronting on Superio
street, was burned. The hr
started ty the explosion of
large can of benzine in the Autograph
ing establishment Of Johns 4 Co., i
the Power block. Windows were blow
out and several employees escaped wit
difficulty by the fire escapes and
bridge leading to the Wiltshire blocl
The loss of johnson & Go. is $780,
covered by insurance. The other occl
pants of the building were small mai
ufacturing concerns. The block wa
| worth about $500, 900. The roof of I'll
power house of the Century buildin
, was demolished by falling wall. III
/. j. l.. Hudson clothing house and tn
! offices in the Wiltshire building WEI
damaged somewhat by fire and to
greater extent by water. The WI
t shire building is damaged to the e.
tent of 100000 A large part of til
I stock of j. l.. Hudson, valued at $3.50
600, is damaged, but amply insured.
e DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CENTER, MO.
! Mexico, Mo-, Dec. 24.-Word CONF
/ from Center, q remote town in Raj
county, to the effect that brick bus
ness block in that town burne
! Wednesday night with the exceptic
of bank building. Loss, $4,000; Il
surance, $1,000. The business hous'
burned out were the post office, prin
lag office, X. of ?. hall, Smith & Clai
drugs; Epperson & Outerhout, clot
ing; William Clayton, grocery and
= dry goods store,