Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
FIRE AT ST. LOUIS.
Portions of Three Blocks Were
Burned Over Yesterday.
ONE FIREMAN KILLED, EIGHT HURT.
The Walls of Deer Bros Five and Ten
Cent Store Fa1-Thousands of Specta-
tors Drawn to the Scene-LOss,
Nearly 100000.

tors Drawn to the Scene-LOss,
Nearly S2.OOO,OOO.
ST. Louis, Feb. 5.-Fire broke out
at nine o'clock yesterday morning in
the five-story brick building at Broad
way and Franklin avenue, occupied by
the dry goods firm of Penny e Gen
ties and in a few minutes enveloped
the entire structure. Sparks and
brands were blown in every direction
by a strong northwest wind and the
destruction of adjoining property WIS
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 & Gen
ties, the flames communicated with
the buildings occupied by Sharper
Bros, dry goods, and the Famous dry
goods. The burning area increased
minute by minute, the flames gaining
Roadway and leaping across to the
east side of Broadway. In a short
time large empty store building on
| the corner of Franklin avenue was
destroyed, with those directly south,
occupied by the Peoples House Fur
nishing company, the Marks Millinery
store, Dills' Dental parlors, and Deer
Bros five and ten cent store. By IL
o'clock, all the walls of Penny &
Gent1es and Schaper Bros, with the
exception of that on the west, had
fallen, and with the gale blowing it
became menace to the firemen. The
wall between Schaper Bros. and the
Famous fell, but the flames were
quenched before doing much destruc
ton in the latter establishment.
It was not long before the upper
floors and walls of the building OPP
posite Penny G Gentles on Broadway
began to fall. Casualties to firemen
were numerous. When the walls of
Deer Bros five and ten cent store
| collapsed several members of engine
company No. II were in the building.
| Four firemen were covered by the de-
bris and it was several hours before
they could be taken out. Charles
Mappes, a pipeman, had been crushed
to death and several others injured.
John Judge, foreman Of No. II, was
wedged in with debris. Across his
feet lay the body of Mappes, but
with cool head he directed the eff
forts of his comrades in their work of
rescue. When he was finally removed
ambulance, where several others of
the injured had been removed.
FromBroadway the flames eat their
way through to number of three
and four story structures occupied
| by numerous firms in various lines of
business. Heroic efforts were made
to keep the flames from the build
ing on the corner of Fourth and
Franklin avenues, occupied by the
German-American bank, and they
were successful. This and two build
ings adjoining on the south were
saved. Across on Fourth avenue and
extending through to Third avenue
were a row of old buildings occupied
by the Schisler-Cornelia Seed compa-
ny, the Plant Seed company, Kren-
nings Glassware and Crockery compa-
ny, Bassett Plumbing company, Muel-
| Textbook Commission company, Nell
son Disti1ling company, McLain &
| Alcom Commission company, Hake &
| Sons commission house, Baur Flour
company and William Books saloon.
| Here the fremen were able to stop
| the spread of the fire to the east,
but it was many hours before the
| flames were quenched, after tons of
water had been expended.
| The trolley wires along Broadway
and Franklin avenue We're source
of danger and until they were cut on
the mayors orders there were runner
Gus narrow escapes from electrocu-
ton.
District Superintendent Baumhoff,
of the United Railway company,
and a corps of men set about rescuing
a deraiIed citizens line car at Fourth
! and Morgan streets. Stretching a
long chain from Fourth street grip
car, the power of the cable was used
to haul it out of the way of the fire.
men. The gripman started lis car,
but did not release soon enough. The
derailed car bumped along over The
granite, crashed into a fire engine
| which was stationed on the corner
and crushed Fireman Hanmore. He
was carried into the corner cigar
store and given surgical aid and then
removed to the dispensary, where his
injuries We're pronounced fatal.
For hours after the fire broke out
| the scene of the fire was thronged
| with thousands of spectators wIp, had
| been drawn from churches and
| homes by the report that the city
was burning up. The loss was esti-
mated at between $4,000 anG 3d.
100000.
Damaging Fire at Norwich. Conn.