The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-05

NOR That the Whole Business
District Was in Danger-Spread of
the Flames Rapid, and for Time
the Work of the Firemen Entire
Iy Futile.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 4-Property to the es-
timated value Of 81, 100000 was burned
here today, parts of four blocks Of build
ings with their contents-between Third
and Sixth streets and Franklin avenue
and Morgan street, in the heart Of the re-
tail section-being destroyed One fire.
man was killed and nine others Of the
fire department were injured more or less
seriously. One of the injured f1remen
may die.
The loss on both buildings and stocks
of goods is approximately $1,5OO,0OO. Def
mite figures are hard to obtain. The fact
that it was Sunday and that neither pro-
prietors nor insurance adjusters were
at their places of business contributed to
this.
There are six retail concerns which
were heavy losers. The balance of the
loss is divided in varying proportions
ers or firms. Only two concerns suffered
losses Of over 100000, Penny & Gentles
and Schaper Bros. The building in which
the two concerns were located were own
ed by the Mary Knox estate and erected
at cost of s165,O0O. Penny & Gentles'
loss, which was covered entirely by in
surance, Is estimated at $135, 900. Schaper
Bros loss is estimated at 100000 These
two concerns occupied about half the
block on the west side of Broadway,
south from the corner of Franklin avenue.
the street is taken up by the building oc-
cupied by the Famous store.
OTHER LOSSES.
On Franklin avenue, just back of Pen
ny & GentPes', was the building occupied
by the Fuch Millinery and Cloak COM
pany. 1t is estimated that the loss on
the stock there is $40 900. -, sEs& ss
The store formerly occupied by D.
Crawford & Co., at the southeast corner
entirely burned Mr. Crawford said the
loss on the building, which is owned by
| him, Is $4,000. He says the stock was
valued at $1,000.
The Peoples House Furnishing COM
pany, at S14 North Broadway. just south
of the Crawford bull ling, is a complete
wreck. H. J. Nathan, representing the
company, said the loss to the company
would be between $4,000 and $kl,09C. It
is estimated that the building is dam
aged to the extent of $4,000.
Nayt do0r fo that concern was that Of
Deer Bros. Il North Broadway. 1t was
filed with a stock Of "5 and 10-cent"
goods. The loss on the building is $1,000.
The fire swept through the block from
broadway to Fourth street and burned
all the buildings from S27 to 500 North
Fourth street The buildings were old
three and four-story structures, some oc-
cupied as tenements above and stores be-
low, while others were vacant The st.
Louis Dressed Beef and Provision, Yueb
G. Prabst, commission merchants; A.
stauffer, barber; J. H. Rhode, mercan>
tile company, and the Schisler-Cornelize
& Co. occupied these buildings. Their
losses aggregate $4,000, while the losses
on buildings amount to fully s45,O00.
The list Of those killed and injured Is
as follows:
Dead-Charles w. Mebus, fireman, En-
gine Company No. 9.
Injured-Chief Swindley, blistered by
heat; John Judge. foreman, Engine Com
pany No. II, bruised about the legs. in
ternal injuries; John Hanmore, driver
Engess ana seeS eSmgahy brnsed E0 Mike IL g Haan e
man, No; Z, back bruised; Jam. James ~ a,
Karp, pipeman. Engine Company e.3o,il No H.
Harry Bridge foreman, Engine Company
No IL, shocked by electric wire, Assist,
ant Chief Hus Thirsy, shocked and burned
city lighting, blown into street by, con-
cussion of falling walls; James J. Schwet-
ger, Engine Company No. 23, hand cut;
disiocated; August Sober, pipeman, leg
broken.
ORIGIN OF FIRE.
The fire broke out in the hve-story brick
building at Broadway and Franklin ave-
nue. occupied by the dry goods firm OF
Penny & Gentles, and in few minutes
enveloped the entire structure. Sparks
and brands were blown In every direc-
ton by a strong northwest wind and the
destruction of adjoining property was
threatened A general alarm was turned
in and soon every engine In the city was
at the scene or on the way there.
On the south of Penny & Gentles' the
flames communicated with the building
occupied by Schaper Bros, dry goods, and
the Famous, dry goods. The burning area
increased minute by minute, the flames
gaining great headway and leaping across
to the east side of Broadway. In short
time large empty store building, on the
corner of Franklin avenue, was DESTROYED,
with those directly south, occupied by the
Peoples House Furnishing company, the
Marks millinery store, Dill's dental par
lors and Derr Bros five and ten-cent
store.
BY II o'clock the walls of the Penny g