The Portland daily press., 1901-01-24
Firemen Hampered by
Cold Weather.
Grand Trunk Buildings at One
Time in Danger.


disastrous tires from which this city
has evsr suffered. began at 8 O'Clock last
night, and notwithstsnding the heroic
efforts OF the entire fire department, the
progress or the flames was not checked
until ciook this morning.
| At l O'Clock the fire had destroyed
property valued at between 1000, 900 and
| u, ,O00, 900 and was Sill burning, though
the appearance was that the tiremen have
at last got It under control.
Inoluded in the property burne1 is
the splendid Board of Trade building,
which cost over half million dollars,
with over 100 tenants and half dozen
large firms and two scores OF smaller
concerns. The weather was cold and ths
tiramen were greatly hampsrei in this
respect.
Outside OF this Board Of Trads building
th sre was not n modern structure among
those burned.
Ih3 narrow street, antiquated build.
inRs ana tha intiammable nature OF the
stocks they contained made a combins-
tion of material against which ths de-
partment was powerless. 1hs ire prac-
tically burned until It came to open space
which gave this fremen an opportunity
for effective. work. For time 1t looked
rs IL tbs flames would spread along
Commissioner street to this Grand Trunk
ofiics building In tbs course of erection
thsr3.
Numerous crowds OF people iammed
the narrow streets, greatly impeding the
work of the firsmen. Women tainted,
their clothes were torn and few wer,
slightly Injured in rushss for safety.
Z The following ara estimates OF the
principal losses: Board OF Trade, se00. :
coo; Insurance, 100000; tenants. $780,
0Jo; SAKE s. Co. Wholesale clothlers, $75,-
900; IL. A. Nelson Sc Sons Co., fancy
goods, $l50,00O; Bear imors ~ Co tan
nsrs, 500, ,o0]; Siiverman, Bouiter 81 Co.,
hats. caps. etc. GOO; Corlstine s.
Co, furs. s30O.0O0; q. Seybold Sons s.
Co., $50, ZOO; Redmond, Grsenies s. Co.,
hats and furs, $4,000; II. Levy, Wooisns,
etc 100000; q. A. Chouillau s. Co..
commission merchants, $4,000; b. Levy
Il Go ,furs, $50, 900; Gilmour Bros. 81 Co !.
commission merchants, $50 600; La Porter
Martin & Co.. 5000; j. Coh,n & Co..
Wholesale cl,thiers, $4,000.
The fire started at % In the premises
Of NJ. Ssxe L. Sons, Wholesale clothiers,
ON the corner of Lemonine and st. Peter
streets. The firemen found the building,
three story stone structure, a solid mass
OF flames, the fire. having apparently
started In the basement and rushed up
the elevator snaft in the rear of ths
store. Second and third alarms were sent
in Immediately on the arrival OF the di-
vision chief. but before they came the
Il ames had ieaped across st. Peter street
to the big tlve story stone building occu-
pied by Ii. A. Nelson 81 sons company.
fancy goods, etc. Here 1t spread rauidly
and In almost an instant II seemed as IL
the entire building was roaring fur
mace.
The warehouse OF Beardmore s. Co.,
tanners, adjoining Nelson TO the south
was next attacked and from there the
flames communicated to the establish
ment OF Silverman, Boulter & Co.,
wholesale hatters and fufriers,
Continuing down ST. Peter street to
the corner OF st. Paul street. the
flames licked up the premises OF j..
Bordeau s. Co, hats. caps, etc. St.
Peter street for an entire block was now
q mass Of flames on either side.
In the meantime q great fight was
being made to save the hig board of trade
building. erected at cost of 500. 600 AMI
adjoining the Nelson building on the
north eide, But the flames soon reached
the big Wholesale fur establishment of
James Coristine and company next to
the beard of trade building ard the