Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-08
SKISCRApERS BURN.
4 Fire Destroys Some Of the High
est Buildings in New York
THE Loss OVER A lILLIOy DOLLARS.
Manv v.in,bI~ Pap.r. stored In aone OF
the Once. Lost Telegraph a. orators
tOinu~iied 10 Lsav- Their Keys
and Flee Ter Their Lives.

New York, Dec. 5.-ln o binding
rainstorm last night the massive block
OF buildings on Broadway, Nos a53 Ia
$50, and included between Murray and
Warren streets was almost destroyed
by fire. Within three hours more than
q, 1000, 900 worth Of property was de-
stroyed. The fire began in the five.
story brick buldin Q occupied by the
mems furnishing firm Of Rogers, Peet
4 Co., on the southwest corner OF
Broadway and Warren streets. Ad-
joining the Ro,ers-Peet building, and
south OF 1t, was the magnificent white
building OF the HON. Life Insurance
company, and next to this was the
brown-stone building Of the Postal
Telegraph company erected at cost
Of millions only few years ago.
Within few minutes after the dis.
covery Of the fire the Rogers-Peet
building vas roaring furnace and
an alarm had been turned in which
brought more than score Of engines
to the scene. II was but short time
when the flames had eaten through
the wall OF the Home Life and were
roaring high above that lofty structure.
thousands Of people had gathered on
the scene and the binding glare OF
the flames III up the lower part Of the
city, ESen In the downpour the great
crowds u 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 90 miles an hour. 1t was a
picturesque fire.
The Home Lite Insurance building
was occupied BY that company and by
large number OF prominent men in
various lines OF business. Every effort
was inside to save the valuable papers
stored ID come OF the Offices, but many
Of there were lost.
The Offices OF the Rapid Transit com.
mission were on the ninth floor of this
building, and IL is believed that all the
plans and schemes OF work with which
the commission have been working
these lpeny years have been destroyed.
10 TIM Postal building as well there
were many serious losses Of private
HutMre, end when the flames reached
the operating room Of this structure,
which they did within three hours Of
the outbreak, the one or two solitary
operators who remained at their posts
we're compelled to fee for their lives,
leaving unsent messages OF the keys.
The fire burned even more fercely
In the Home Life building, owing to
the great height Of this structure, and
In an incredibly short time the
upper half Of this magnificent build.
Ing 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 hremen.
though they worked with great
bravery and untiring energy in the
binding smoke and heat, could do
little In the face Of such fierce sweep
Of flame and gale. twas only a ques-
ton Of time when the Postal building,
80 far as the upper stories were con-
cerned, went the way OF the Others
The estimate OF the losses by Chief
Bonner, after midnight, was 81, OOO, 900.
with probability Of still further
loss should the fire continue to make
anything like rapid progress At two
o'clock 1t was still burning fercely
In front and, although not observable
by the thousands Of spectators, was
burning still more fiercely and extend
ing lower down In the rear.
The fire started from three ex.
plosions. What caused the explosions
no one knows The firemen could not
find out. They thought gas had
escaped In some manner In the base
ment and so resulted in explosion and
fire. The Postal Telegraph officials
say that all their wires had been
burned out and that they had no con-
nections from their building.
The Home Life Insurance company's
building was one Of the handsomest
on Broadway and was supposed to be
absolutely fire-proof Its summit was
$50 feet above the sidewalk. Leading
architects Of the country submitted
plans for Its construction.
rANV MANANCDc NCDncCN