The age-herald., 1900-06-23
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
 VISITS PITTSBURG Eight Buildings Burned With
 Loss of $250,000. FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY Fifty Students Barely Escaped from the Third Floor of One of the Build
 ings, and Greatest Ex-
 citement Prevailed
FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY

Pittsburg, Pa-, June 22.-Fire in one of the principal downtown business blocks today caused loss of s250,000, involving eight buildings, containing many office ten ants, The aggregate insurance will more than cover this amount The fire was first discovered in the rear of the Eichbaum Companys printing establishment, sup posedly caused by spontaneous combus- tion. The Eichbaum building fronts on Fifth avenue, few doors below Wood street. was six stories high and was ten anted by many office holders, among them being Duffs College, occupying the two upper floors, and the Holmes Electric Company, on the third floor.
 In an incredibly short time the entire building was a mass of flames, and before the firemen could do much effective work, had communicated to the Exchange Ma tonal Bank building, next door below, and from there to the Hussey building, ad- joining. Simultaneously the fire extended to James Piatts saloon and restaurant, and A M. Murdocks flower store, on the upper side.
 The conhagration was one of the most threatening scenes in Pittsburg for years, and for a time the block bounded by Fifth avenue, Wood, Diamond and Market streets seemed doomed to destruction. I'm mense firebrands were carried by the wind to buildings in all directions and numerous incipient blazes resulted. Fortunately, however the roofs of all the buildings in the district were soon manned by private fire brigades, who prevented the fire from spreading beyond the buildings named. The roof of the First National Bank, 25O feet away from the Eichbaum building and on the other side of the street, caught fire, but was soon extinguished without ma terial damage The new Western Union Telegraph office building, immediately op- poiste Eichbaum was saved by the extra precautionary measures adopted by the companys officials. The greatest excite ment prevailed in the rooms of Duffs busi- ness College, where fifty or more students were at work. The extension of the flames was so rapid that these people had to run for their lives. not having time to gather their belongings together.
 All the Students Escaped
 Reports were rife that several students had perished, but it is known tonight that all escaped unhurt The Eichbaum build ing was completely destroyed, and the Hus- Sey building mad the three upper stories burned and the lower floors flooded with water. Where the Eichbaum building had been gutted the wall of the "L' portion, which run in back of Piatt & Murdock s building, fell, crashing in the rear portions of the Wood street buildings, occupied by the American Express Company, Pauson Bros A. M. Buhl and Kurtz, Langbein 6 Swartz. Several firemen were caught in the debris on this wall, but none were hurt so badly as to keep them from their work
 The principal losses are: The Eichbaum building, owned by Whitney, Stephenson & Co.,, $5,000; Hussey building, owned by Mrs. Emma Alsop, S30000; Kurtz Langbein & Swartz; Artist Supply Company, $S00O; Duff's College, s15,00O; Pittsburg Coal Com pany, S,500; Piatts saloon, 5000; Paulson Bros, hatters $5,0O0 American Express Company, S, ,00O and Holmes Electric Com pany, $3,500. The other losers are distrib- uted among the office tenants, none of whom suffered to the extent of more than 5000.
 The Exchange National Bank did not suffer much damage except by water by reason of the fact that the building is only a two-story structure between the two big office buildings and the flames practically skipped over 1t.