The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-12

started in the seven story building at
ia Nassau street and so rapidly did it
spread that the entire building was a
raging furnace within a few minutes.
A call for ambulances was sent out and
it was rumored at first that a number
| of firemen had been injured.
It looked as though the entire block
would go.
The building destroyed was Levi P.
MortOn's seven story building with
frontage on Nassau and Ann streets
and known as the Nassau Chambers
building.
The firemen had a hard battle, and
for three hours there was every pros
pect of a great conf1agration. Every
fire company in the city from Fifty
ninth street to the Battery was called
out.
The Derby Desk company occupied
both the Nassau and Ann streets stores
and the basement of the building, where
the fire originated, was occupied by the
Herald Cycle company.
From the Nassau Chambers the fire
spread to the four story building ad-
joining and the clothing store of Ma
durO Bros, on the ground floor, was
quickly in flames. The loss here also
was practically complete.
Several firemen were badly hurt by
flying glass and debris, but none seri-
OuSly injured.
The Murray stationery store occupied
a small frontage adjoining the Derby
Desk company on Nassau street and
the concern has very little If anything
left.
The upper part of the Nassau Cham
bers was occupied by lawyers as offices
and a number of manufacturing con-
Germs also had offices there. All of them
suffe cred severely from the fire.
The Bennett building, at the south
west corner of Nassau and Ann streets:
caught fire several times, but was ex-
tfnguiShed.
The loss is estimated at half a million
the largest share of which will be
borne by the Morton interests, although
it is stated that they are we'll insur-
ed.
The Derby Desk company and the
Maduro Bros. are mentioned as the next
heavy losers
The fire lines which were drawn
around the scenes of the Nassau street
fire last night, were not removed until
after 9 a. m. today. At that hour
tons of water were still being poured on
the smouldering embers.
About O'Clock this morning the
building at % Park row caught fire,
owing, it is supposed to the sparks
blown from the Nassau street fire. The
Caterer, a hotel publication was dam
aged to the extent of $4,000 and the Of
fees of VIM. Steinitz, proprietor of a
chess syndicate suffered in a similar
amount.
From a spectacular standpoint last
nights fire in the Nassau chambers was
remarkable. While the flames burned
most herCely caSca0eS OF sparks IeI IOE
blocks around. The shower was so
thick in City Hall park. two blocks
away from the burning building that
spectators there were driven to shelter.
Sparks were carried as far west as the
river In Broadway at one time the
falling sparks and dense smoke formed
a fiery veil that closed the street.
The crowds jammed every one of the
streets in the neighborhood of the fire
and the showers of sparks were more
effective in keeping paths clear for the
frenen and the constantly arriving
trucks and engines than scores Of po-
licemen.
On all sides of the burning structure
lowered the sky-scra pers in Nassau and
adjoining streets, and the cornices Of
these structures frequently were fired
by the great storm of sparks that filed
the air.
The blaze started in bicycle store
in the basement of the Nassau Chamb-
ers building and the entire structure
was destroyed. Internal revenue stamps
worth 100000 were burned.
Alarm after alarm was sent in as the
fire gained headway. Buildings in all
directions were at times burning on
cornices and roofs, where sparks and
chunks of flame had fallen. It was by