The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-28

. desperate stand 10 prevent the fire
from getting into Hsrtegsn's jswelry
store, which was In the next block.
A. the same time the flames wefe trav-
elling soutbw ard with az much fury as
ON the north Of the original fire. W.
I. Raes, jewelry store occupied the oor-
ner opposite Snyder's. Nothing was saved
here, although the valuable stock of jew
eIry, probably the largest in Newark. was
securely locked In the vaults of the huild-
Ing. Above the jswelry store the building
was occupied as offices. within an hour.
here was hardly brick Of the building
standing above Q few fest from the eide
walk. The rear end OF the Bee Hive dry
goods store, owned by l.. s. Plant & Co.,
was next TO 20, and here a large body Of
aremen concentrated and fought hard to
keep the fire from entering the main
building which was separated from the
rear portion by brick wall with iron
doors.
The fight was . stubborn one. The
doors became red hot and the task looked
hopeless. whils the flames were thus
eating ths heart out Of the most impor-
tsnt business on Broad street, the 1rs was
spreading westward along Cedar street
on both sides. On the south side OF this
street the IRE burned from No at the
rear Of Raes store 10 No. "a. These were
oil small stores, In buildings three and
four stories high. the upper floors be-
ing occupied largely az dwellings. In
this row was Biermsn's pawn shop
where many thousand dollars worth of
articles we're destroyed. On the north
side Of Cedar street. back Of Snyder's, the
fire attacked Q row Of II brownstone and
brick buildings used as Offices on the up
per floors and stores on the ground door.
All the police In tile city were on duty
at the fire except those absolutely needed
on post. The posts were doubled In
length tonight to enable - any men as
possible to be NJ the tire. A hundred
thousand persons gathered around the
fire and made the task Of the police
difficult one. The crowd had to be forced
back again and again as the advance Of
the flames caused the fremen TO shift po-
sition. -.
Despite the great heat and the rain of
sparks upon the crowd, IL insisted on
pushing forward and getting as near th .
scene Of the fire a. the police would al
low.
Binally orders were given to extend
there lines beyond the two blocks on
either side and the crowd was pushed
back and li3es stretched aoross the street
Woman tainted In the fearful crush.
Blows were exohang ed and clothing was
torn from backs in the crush.
Despite the cold the crowd insistef up
on remaining and stood for hours watch
ing the destruction Of million dollars
worth of property.
The heat cIoee to the fire was fearful
and the fremsn were driven back time
and again. Thay had 10 move their ap-
paratus many times.
Several times men handling hose had
to abandon IL and fiee from the flames
which threatened to ensulf them. They
were coatsd with ioe when they went a
few feet away from the fire and the next
moment would be almost roasted by the
heat as the fire advanced or when they
returned to do battle. The streets for
blocks were flooded and Ice covered as
the water flowed from the fire outside
the heated zone.
The fire was under control at 1880.
The man rescued from the Snyder build
ing proved to be Oscar D. Sohaelketon,
90 years OF age. He was superintendens
Of the store and making his usual
round Of inspection after the employees
had left when caught BY the fire. He
Ia badly burned.
Four firemen were buried under wall
at the rear Of Snyder's that fell with
terrific crash. Capt Walter Harrison
and Fireman Thomas Brown were taken
out unconscious and may be fatally In
jursd. The other two firemen were Sc
verely injured.
Although q lumber Of persons were be-
lieved to be in the Snyder store when the
fire broke out, no bodies have been found.
There are several persons unacoounted
for and 1t 10 not know whether they
escaped or were burned to death.
The principal losers are:
W. v. Snyder 81 Co, $500, 200.
Buildings, various owners, s275, 200.
]. NJ. Mantz, Lornstsin and l. S.Piant.
s1b, ,os0 each.
number OF firms are losers to the
extent Of from S. 900 to $40. 600 each.