The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-04
Loss by the Fire at jacksonville, Fla, Is Esti-
mated at ,OOO,OO0---l,3OO Houses
Burned.
At Least Seven Lives Were Lost, and It Is
Feared That There May Be
More.

Jacksonville, Fla, May 4.-Sunrise to-
day disclosed a devastated city. The
damage is enormous. One hundred and
forty EIGHT blocks were swept by the
flames, and as far as known seven per-
sons lost their lives.
A report was in circulation this morn
ing that party of twenty, driven to the
docks along the ST. Johns river, were
forced into the water, all attempts at
rescue by boats being futile The river
is being searched.
LawIessness Feared.
All the local companies of the state
militia have been on duty since mid
night and on order of Governor Jennings,
the military companies from four cities
are speeding to Jacksonville by special
trains. Many extra police have been
sworn in and every able bodied man, not
doing duty in some capacity in the fire.
swept district, is pressed into service.
The negroes have huddled in groups in
different parts of the city and the fear of
an attempt at lawlessness by them, al
though not openly expressed by the
whites, is the reason for the large mill
| tary force ordered here.
Fire companies from Savannah, Fer
nandina, Scala and other cities worked
the entire night, but soaking rain will
be necessary effectually to quench the
flames.
Two Miles of Ruins.
The losses will not be known for week.
The path of the flames was thirteen blocks
wide and nearly two miles long. Prac-
tically all old Jacksonville has been de-
stroyed, nothing being left but a few sub
urbs and Riverside, the most fashionable
part of the city.
1t is believed that the fire is the larg-
est on record in proportion to the size of
the city
Ten Thousand Homeless.
Many families lost libraries, pianos and
household goods after they had been
moved to supposed place of safety.
The street car service has been at a
complete standstill since yesterday after
noon All night the city was in darkness.
The electric light circuits were inter-
rupted and the gas plant destroyed.
conservative estimate places the num-
ber of homeless people in the city at
| TO- 900. Most of them spent the night in
the parks, on the docks and barges. Some
slept beside the few belongings they had
managed to save from the general wreck.
From $1O,OOO,OOO to s15,OOO,OOO.
Leading business men and insurance
agents estimate the total loss of property
at from 100000 900 to $4,000, 900. Mayor
at SIS, 900, 600.
Children Lost.
| DIR. R. H. Dean, a prominent physician,
to-day reported the loss of his two chill
dren-He1en and Francis. He thinks
Helen will be found. but he believes
Francis was burned to death in his office,
where they sought safety. DR.. Dean
tainted in the street after an all-night
search, and in falling he was seriously
! injured.
w. B. Barnett, president of the First
National bank Of Jacksonville, tainted
during the fire. He fell into smoldering
ruins, and was severely burned.
The strain and the warm weather are
| telling on many of those active in rescue
work A number of cases Of prostration
were reported to-day.
Fire Chief Haney, who was overcome
yesterday when the fire got beyond con-
| troll. is somewhat better.
Secretary of War Root to-day rendered
the use of the barracks at Fort Barran1
cas-, St. Augustine, for the refugees. st.