The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-12-11

The demolishing by fire of the Saxton
block. Saturday night is probably the
largest fire loss which has been sIs-
tanned by local business men within the
past decade. Such complete eannihilation
In fact, of a busiu ,ss block in this city.
has probably nGY"r before l-tn Wit
ness al. That rso'c S,pn'l'ng dis
Rster in the loss of lives, did not occur
Is most fort nI'a.
Dd''ng the entire evening, up to 10
o'clock, the store of Kenny Brothers
was alled with 1ar',r- j. os Customers.
However. at that hour the doors were
closed, the blinds drawn,and customers
eXclJi 4. The fra as ahcu. to PRE-
pare for it's annl,l Chris'tn Is display in
the north side :C0 n oc the store. The
clerks were requested TO remain short
time to assist in the removal of tables
and goods. A cry of fire" was heard,
and then there was a panicky, frenzied
rush of clerks for places of exit. Their
escape was miraculous, as within few
minutes afterward the interior of the
store was a mass of flame.
CLERK SENT IN THE ALARM.
A telephone message was sent by a
house. summoning the fire apparatus.
The sounding of the still alarm bell
was followed by call from box 35, on
the public square, and then box AZ, in
the central engine house, sounded a
general alarm. Four minutes later
ever available piece of fire apparatus in
the city was in the vicinity of the fire,
connections were being made and
streams of water were playing on the
flames.
The firemen realized that the building
was doomed, for the fire spread with
such rapidity that they were, from the
beginning, unable to gain control. The
fire communicated with the upper floors
so quickly and in such volume that 1t
seemed at once the entire block was
envelOped.
. a, NO MERCHANDISE SAVED.
:FyNo attempt was made to save any Of
the contents of the store or of the
block. 1t would have been impossible
to have done this, merely imperilins
the lives of those assisting as well as
the fircmen. The streams from the hose
were applied so as to prevent the flames
from communicating with adjoining
llIelllcll tHutdNOItu 10
keep the fire within the block. and they
were eminently successful in their her
culean efforts, even at the risk of their
lives.
Within two hours after the sounding
of the alarm, the walls of the Saxton
block swayed and tottered, and then
they We're crumbling mass of debris
The Eighth street and rear walls fell
almost simultaneously, then the Market
street, or front walls weakened and
fell. The flying brick caught several of
the firemen, although not fatally injur-
ing them.
ONLY RUINS AT MIDNIGHT.
One hour past midnight, all that re-
mained of the once substantial and
handsome building was the south wall
or portion formerly used as a postoffica,
but occupied by Kenny brothers as
their wrap and cloak department. a
small portion of the northeast corner
and the southwest corner of the build
ing also remained standing, though
swaying with every draught of the
strong wind.
About 2 o'clock Sunday morning Fire
Chief Mesnar concluded that the fire.
men had well done their duty, and he
dismissed all the companies except two, |
which with their compliments of men,
were instructed to remain on duty dur
Ing the night and early morning.