The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-05-09
IN NEED OF I'D
TIN THOUSAND PGoPLG HOME
LESS 40 A REsULT or TN
JAcksoNvlLLE riRE.
SUBURBS ALONE ESCAPED

y
and the Rss'dsress oeepplsd ny M
Poorer Glasses Dsstrsysd-Ne Lew
isssnsss Exlsss but Troops Frsn
jacksonville and elsewhere ousrd
the Burned District.
Jacksonville, Fla. Nay e.-sunrise
disclosed . devastated city. The IRE
which broks out Friday noon and wal
aided in its work by . southeast gale
spent its force by . o'clock at night
The damage 10 enormous. -,
One hundred and forty-eight blocks
we're swept by the flames and a. far ~
known seven persons lost their lives.
A report was In circulation during
the morning that . party Of 20 per
sons, driven to the docks along the st.
Johns river, were forced into the
water, all attempts at rescue by boats
being futile. The river 10 being
searched. -
All the local companies Of the state
militia have been on duty since mid
night and. on order Of Governor Jen-
nings, the military companies from
four cities are speeding to jackson
vile by special trains.
Many extra policemen have been
sworn in and every ablebodied man,
not doing duty in some capacity in the
fire swept district Is impressed into
in groups in different parts of the city
and the fear of an attempt at lawless-
ness by them, although not openly ex-
pressed by the whites, Is reason for
the large military force ordered here.
Fire companies from Savannah, Fer
nandino, Ocale and other cities worked
the entire night on the fire, but soak
ing rain will be necessary to effectual-
~ quench the flames. The losses BY
The path of the flames was IS blocks
wide and nearly two miles long.
Old Jacksonville Wiped Out.
!. Practically all old Jacksonville has
been destroyed, nothing left but a
few suburbs and Riverside, the most
fashionable part of the city.
It Is believed that the fire is the
largest on record in proportion to the
size of the city.
A feature of the confagration was
the loss by many families of 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 the fire
began. All night the city was in dark
ness. The electric light circuits were
interrupted and the gas plant de-
stroyed.
A conservative estimate places the
number Of homeless people in the
city at 10000. Most of these spent
the night in the parks, on the docks
and on barges, while some slept be-
side the few belongings they had man
aged to save from the general wreck.
The board of trade and other COM
mercial bodies held meetings at 1890
to take action leading to the alleviat
ing of the suffering. 1t is expected an
appeal to the people of the United
States calling for aid will be issued
during the day.
: Loss Is Above $1oooo,ooo.
Leading business men and insur-
ance agents estimate the total loss of
property at from $1O,O0O,OOO to $751;
100000.
Mayor Bowden said to the Associat-
ed Press:
Say to the world, please, that the
loss to Jacksonville is greater than
ever before inflicted by fire, upon a
city of the South, but her best wealth
survives in her people. estimate our
loss in property at $15,O0O,0 900.
There Is not a hirt of lawlessness;
our people of every rase and condi-
ton have shown the most helpful
spirit to each other and cP1not find
words of commentator stron~ enough
to express my admiration Of the work
done.
"The progress Of the fire was so rap
i'd and the heat so fierce that it was
only the helpfulness and obedience
shown that prevented terrible loss
of life. l have no doubt the relief
meeting called by municipal authori-
ties and board of trade will be largely
attended and steps will be taken to
deal with the situation in the most ef-
fective way"
At 1 a. m. Gordon composed of
militia men, deputy sheriffs and po-
1icemen was thrown around the entire
fire-swept district. The fire was still
burning f1ercely in many sections of
the ruins, but the exhausted firemen,
giving up the fight for the TINT being,
sought rest, leaving the fire to burn it.
self out.
Heat from the fire is intense and the
temperature Is 80.
Retail Section in Ruins.
The most important retail portion
of the city and the buildings the entire
length of Beaver street. have been
burned. This covers IA blocks. For
the same distance Ashley and Church
streets have both been completely
blotted out. - .... .,-G-. ~. .,
When the fire reached Bridge street
IN its eastward course, It enveloped in
flames three blocks, Duval, Monroe
and the north side Of Adams, burning
up the, north side Of Adams. destroy
A. st