The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-04
JACKSONVILLE
ALMOST DESTROYED
Best Part Of City Burned With
Loss Of $l5,OOO,OOO.
FIRE FIGHTERS POWERLESS
Over ThouSssd Bulldogs Burned 10000 OF
More People Homeless - Furious Shlh.
Ing Gale Scattered Fire 10
Every DlTseiIss.

/
most disastrous iire In the history OF
this city began yesterday shortly after
noon In a small factory. started by a
defective wire. according 20 the best
belief. and burned for nearly ten hours.
In that time loss estimated Of from
iio.ooo.OOO 10 iI5.O0O,OOO was caused.
According 10 the city map 100 blocks
were buraed. many OF ,hom In the heart
OF the busness aud residence section.
The estimate OF houses 10 the block Is
ten. hence 1909 Of them went up In
smoke. Many OF the finest public and
private buildings were destroyed. In
Guiding hotels. ,hea.ers churches and
residences.
The casualties cannot be accurately
estimated tonight. That there were
several seems to be well authenticated.
Among them was that Of the FIRE chief
who sustained n bad fall
The mayor ordered all saloons closed
and has impressed help TO clear away
the wrccka@ce. The mayor at a late
hour stated that he estimated the loss
at $4,000 and that from 10000 to $1,000
people were homeless.
The factory was a wooden she'll full
Of lnnammatory material and in few
moments II was n mass OF flames. The
wind, which was already blowing strong
from the southwest. seemed to be POS
scssel with sudden fury and soon
was carrying the destructive embers all
through the city. the falrest portion OF
which lay right IN the course Of the
wind. Some delay was experienced in
sounding the alarm and the engine at
the water works suffered n mlshap and
nothing more than ordinary pressure
could be obtained.
BY this time .he flames had swept 10
the Boston. huge furniture establish
ment belonging TO w. w Cleveland a.
Son. who were also the proprietors OF
the fiber factory. where the fire started
II leaped across Davis street and took
course right through a section on
which block after block OF frame build
inGs. mostly occupied by negroes. had
been erected. There is where the fire
department lost control. as simuhan-
cously In half dozen places. some Of
them six blocks rom the main fire.
roofs were seen 10 burst into flames.
The Wind. rising higher and higher.
set on fire whole rows OF buildings II
took just four hours for that resist.
less mass OF flames 10 consume every
building in its wake for space OF six
TO eight blocks from Davis street. near
where II started. to Hogan street,
distance OF over one and half miles.
and then. not satisfied with eating out
the heart OF the residence portion OF
the city II doubled back and came
roaring up the principal thoroughfare
Of trade, destroying everything In what
was originally the incorporation OF
Jacksonville. Blocks away from the
main FIRE other fires would break out.
Right into the heart OF the city the
flames swept. The Windsor and St |
James. both fine winter hotels. were |
consumed in an incredibly short time
The opera house suffered and then row |
upon row Of elegant residences went |
up. AZ the viaduct leading over the |
OF Hogan creek to jacksonville |
was reached 1t was plain that the limit
OF progress OF the flames westward had |
come. The hopes OF the people grew
strong that the worst was over, but |
as far as the money value OF the dam
age was concerned the worst was yet
to come.
Just as the material for the flames
was apparently consumed, shift in the
wind sent a roaring sea OF flames
southwark toward The river. Then It
was beginning to dawn upon the minds
of the unfortunates who had sought
refuge ut the river side that they were
In danger Of being cut off and being
suffocated. A rush was made for the
South Jacksonville ferry and hundreds
were carried over to the uther side.
Then came the most thrilling scene OF
the entire day. The flames caught the
freight warehouses on the Atlantic, VAL
icsta and Western railroad and began
from there on their march backward in
he wind. Slowly but surely the fire
lte It's way against the wind taking
either side OF Bay street until It reach
ID Jones boat yard. The wholesale
grocery store OF F. & II. Dowllrg &
the store of Muller & Com
pany and dozens OF smaller concerns
were slowly wiped up.
While the flames failed to cross upon
the space known as Jones boat yard
4 danger threatened. The flames swept
down in the rear Of the United States
hotel and II with the law exchange
was doomed. Meantime the county
,ourt house caught FIRE ana another |