The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-05

NEW YORK, Dec. Ain binding
rain storm tonight. the massive block
Of buildings on Broadway, Nos 253 &c
$50 and included between Murray and
warren streets, was almost destroyed
by are. Within three hours more than
q million dollars worth of the property
waB destroyed. The fire began in the
hve story brick building occupied BY
the mems furnishing firm OF Rogers
Peet & Company, on the southwest corr
net OF Broadway and Warren streets.
Adjoining the Rogers, Peet building and
south Of #. was the magnificent white
building Of the Home Life Insurance
Company building, and next to this was
the brown stone building of the Postal
Telegraph Company, erected at the cost
Of millions only a few years ago.
Within a few minutes after the dis
covery OF the fire the Rogers-Peet build
ing was a roaring furnace and an alarm
had been turned In which brought more
than score OF engines to the scene. l;
was but a short time when the flames
had eaten through the wall of the Home
Life building and were roaring high
above that lofty structure. Thousands
OF people had gathered on the scene and
the binding glare of the flames lit up
the lower part of the city. Even in the
downpour the great crowds OF people
grew and the police reserves were called
out from many stations and kept the
people back for blocks. Great showers of
sparks we're carried in all directions by
the gale that blew sixty miles an hour.
It was picturesque fire.
The, Home Lie Insurance building
was occupied by that company and by
a large number Of prominent men OF
various lines OF business. Every etfort
was made to save the valuable papers
stored in some OF the Offices. but manV
Of them were lost. The Offices Of the
Rapid Transit Commission were on
the ninth floor of this building and It is
believed that all the plans and schemes
OF work with which the commission
have been working this many years,
have been destroyed. In the Postal
building, as well, there were many ser
lous losses of q private nature and when
the flames reached the operating room
OF this structure. which they did within
three lhllr5t Gat1te, outbreak the one or
two solitary operators who remained at
their posts were compelled to flee Tor
their lives leaving unsent messages al
the keyc.
The fire burned even more fiercelv In
the Home Life building owing to the
great height OF this structure and In an
Incredibly short time, the upper portion
Of this magnificent building was in
flames. The water towers in the street
were able to throw their heavy streams
only into the lower part OF the structure
and the firemen, though they worked
with great bravery and untiTing energy,
In the binding smoke and heat, could
do little in the face OF such II fierce
sweep OF flames and gale. It was only
a question OF time when the Postal
building, so far as the upper stories
were concerned, went the way OF the
others.
The estimate OF the losses By Chief
Bonner soon after midnight, was u
million dollars, with probability OF a
stllI further loss should the fire continue
10 make anything like rapid progress.
Al that hour, however, he believed that
he had the fire under control within
reasonable limits.
At 2 o'clock, however, It was still
burning flercely in front and although
not observable by the thousands of
spectators, was burning still more
fiercely and extending lower down in
the rear.