The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-15
Incendiaries Try to Burn Up
Kansas City.
Fire Started at Several Sepa
rate Places Last Night.
SCARRITT BLOCK GOES
The Big Building Was a Total
Loss.
Times and World Newspapers
in Danger.

Kansas City, Mo, April 15.-Since 9
o'clock last night Kansas City seems to
have been at the mercy of a band of in
cendiaTieS Between 9 o clock last night
and 1 o'clock this morning, seven fires
broke out in the very business center of
the city At least four, and probably all
While majority of the blazes were ex-
tinguiShed in their incipiencY, two of
them resulted in heavy damage. The big
hve-Story Scarritt block on Walnut street
near Ninth street, was entirely destroy
ed and from this building the flames
spread 70 an adjoining structure on Main
street, also owned by the same estate and
occupied by the Campbell & Eaton Crock
The building on Main street was dam
aged $4,000, and the crockery stock suf-
fered an equal damage. Only by a, very
narrow margin were either adjoining
buildings saved. 1t was while this dam
gerouS fire was raging that the torch was
applied in various other parts of the bust
ness district. At Twelfth and Walnut
streets. fire was started in a pile of dry
goods boxes in an alley At Twelfth ana
Grand avenue, the torch was applied. be-
ing thrust into the hallway of a LODGING
house. AT Fifth and Delaware another
fire was started in the rear of the Ar
mour building. Another fire was started
near Loose Brothers Cracker Inanufac-
tory at Second and Main and still another
at Helms brewery in the east bottoms.
used by the incendiarie@.
At l O'Clock this morning when the
tered, and possibly somewhat demoraliz-
ed, fire was discovered in G. w. Love
>
Main Streets The fire mad gained such
great Roadway that the building was soon
enVeloped in flames and within short
time the planning MILL With all its valua-
BILE machinery and a big stock of manu-
IS heavy. That this fire and the fire in
the Scarritt block We're of incendiary
origin there is no direct proof, but all the
indications are that the Hrebugs are re-
sponsible. Nor are these fires the first of
the kind recently. About two weeks ago
three hreS were started within two days
at Twelfth and Walnut streets, but AL
We're exunguished without serious loss.
The fire in the Scarritt block was not
discovered until the flames burst through
the front windows in the third story,
spreading a glare over the whole street.
Though the firemen had to but run their
apparatus to the street, they seemed to
flames. as they could throw no water in
the third story, and to set pressure they
were obliged to wait some minutes for
steam. BY that time the fire was beyond
control and threatening an entire block
IN the very heart of the city. The big
six-story Hall building, extending south
Walnut to Ninth in which are the
Times and World newspapers, several
stores and many offices, seemed in great
danger, as it was soon on fire in the up
per story adjoining the Scarritt block.
The electric light wires soon went down,
and everybody left the building. The fire
burned ffercely from 9 o'clock until 30,
NAMED of the Scarritt block. The loss on
this building is 100000, insurance $50, 900.
show having just been held there. The
damage in the Hall building is not great.
lf8e ulScE<AllCdI department OIL TIE times
was shut down for nearly two hours but
the paper has suffered no material dam
age. The offices of the World were food
ed but the paper will be printed today as
usual
Outside of the scarritt building, the
most serious damage was done the build
ing occupied by the Campbell & Eaton
Croclery company, fronting on Main
street and running back to the rear end
of the Scarritt block.
The building occupied by the Campbell
Eaton company, which is also owned by
the Scarritt estate. is damaged to the
Campbell & Eaton's stock is probably
$4,000 more Not until midnight was the
fire in this building under control.