Evening journal., 1897-12-02
BIG FIRE IN ST.LOUIS
Several Buildings Damaged
by the Flames.
BLAZE STARTED IN PAPER FACTORY.
Scores of Girls Barely Escaped with
Their Lives Firemen Handicapped
by Narrow Streets and over
hanging Wires.

ST LOUIS. Dec. 2.-Fire was discov-
cred in the +. 0. Sawyer & co. paper
factory on Locust near Third street,
yesterday afternoon, and within an
hour the establishment was In ruins
and a number OF adjoining buildings
were badly damaged Tho general loss
is estimated at over $20O,00O Just how
the fire started is not known, the flames
suddenly bursting from the building. II
contained highly inhammable material
and was soon a roaring furnace.
within a few moments after the
flames We're discovered coming from
the second story of the Sawyer build
ing they leaped across the street to the
three-story building on the southeast
corner. The ground floor Of this build
ing is occupied by the Brown & Clark
Printing company. The second floor is
occupied by the Commercial Printing
company, and the Flammger & Graham
bookbindery occupies the third floor.
on the upper floors Of this building
We're over a score of girls. employed in
the bindery and printing Office and
these had barely time to put on their
wraps and run down the stairs, when
the flames and smoke rolled in through
the windows and broke through the
roof.
The fire started at 1886 o'clock, and
the larger part OF the block Of build
ings was in flames before o'clock, ev-
cry engine In the down town district
fighting the fire, with others coming in
every minute.
on both sides Of this street from Olive
to Locust are ink and paper houses
and job printing establishments On
the north side of Locust street is the
fourstory building occupied by the
Con r. Curran Railroad Printing COM
pany employing several hundred men
and girls. Simultaneous with the spread
of the flames TO the east side Of Third
street the flames jumped across to the
Curran building, and in an incredibly
short time the entire Locust street front
Of the building was in full flame. There
was a stampede among the employees
on the top floor. but fortunately all sue
ceeded in getting out without any in,
jury so far as could be learned
In the Sawyer Paper company there
were 500 girls. These were scattered all
over the neighborhood by the time tho
engines arrived. Many were in hys-
terics.
The building adjoining that of Saw
cident Insurance company and the FL
deity Casualty company Adjoining
this on the south is the five-story
structure occupied by the Woodward
Tiernan Printing company. The roof
of the insurance building caught fire,
and so did that Of the Woodward Tier
nan building.
For a time so rapid and fierce was
the progress of the flames that 1t look
ed as though both these large buildings
would DE destroyed with their entire
contents. The ffemen were handi-
capped in fighting the fire by reason OF
the narrowness of the streets and the
huge web Of telephone, telegraph and
electric light wires that were strung ir
front Of the upper parts of the build
ings.
At o'clock the flames were under
control The fire continued to burn al
night, however. feeding upon the
printers ink and paper. While run
ming to the fire a hose reel eollided with
street car. and Finley Bruce the
| driver, sustained three broken ribs.