The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-24
BLAZE in MONTREAL
Business District Of That City
In Ruins.
4 PROPERTY LOSS OF MILLIONS
ConhaEratiOn Broke Out Early Las
Evening and For Many Hours
Bafiied All Efforts Of the
Fire Department.


MONTREAL, Jan. PA fire of ap
palling proportions ragged all last night |,
the business district of this city. TIL
property loss will reach into the millions
but the exact amount cannot as yet b
determined. For hours the entire fir
fighting force of the city was unable Il
stay the progress Of the flames, whicl
leaped from building to building ant
across the street from where the Outbreal
occurred with startling rapidly.
The fire started at 500 in the premise
Of Nj. SAKE & Sons, wholesale clothiers
on the corner of Lemoine and st. Pete
streets. The streets in the locality weri
deserted at the time, and the fire appar
emily had a good Roadway before the frs
alarm was sent in. The fremen, on ar
rival, found the building, q three story
stone structure, solid mass of flames
the fire having apparently started in the
basement and rushed up the elevator
shaft In the rear Of the store.
Second and third alarms were sent II
Immediately on the arrival of the division
chief, but before the nearest REINFORCE
ments reached the scene the flames had
leaped across St. Peter street, which is
very narrow at this point, and attacked
the big five story stoae building occupied
by II. A. Nelson g. Sons company, fancy
goods, etc. Here 1t spread rapidly as II
had in the SAKE building. In almost an
instant 1t seemed as il the entire building
was a roaring furnace.
The warehouse Of Beardmore g. Co.,
-tapners, adjoining Nelson's to the south,
was next attacked, and from there the
flames communicated to the establish
ment of Silverman, Boulter & Co., whole
sale hatters and furriers.
Here another infammable stock added
zest to the flames.
In the meantime the flames had contin.
ned down st. Peter street on the side on
which II started to the corner of St. Paul
street, licking up the premises Of J. Bour.
deau q Co., hats, caps, etc. st. Peter
street for an entire block was mass Of
flames on either side.
3 In the meantime q great fight was be.
Ing made to save the big Board Of Trade
building. erected eight years ago at cost
OF 100000 and adjoining the Nelson
building on the north side.
\ For long time the efforts Of the bri.
gade were successful, plentiful supply
Of water keeping the exposed portions
cool. But the flames had extended along
the north side of st. Paul street, going
west from Slverman, Boulter & Co.,
licking up half dozen concerns in its
way, until it reached the big wholesale
fur establishment Of James Coristine Il
Go. This building extended all the way
from st. Paul street to the Board of
Trade building, and the flames appeared
to 60 through it like finder box.
When the rear wall of this building
fell, it was seen that the Board of Trade
would have to go too.
Solid sheets of flame sprang out and up
and seized hold Of the big building in q
dozen different places driving the tiremen
back.
The newer and more modern structure
burned more slowly than those which al.
ready had fallen prey to the flames, but
the iircmcn were apparently paralyzed
and could not stay the march Of the de-
yOurng element.
by this time every piece of fire fighting
apparatus the city possesses was in use.
Two water towers which had failed to
keep the blaze out of the Board of Trade |
were shifted around to St. Paul I
street, but here again they were too late.
The fire dashed across the narrow
street and attacked the premises Of
Thomas Davidson & Co., manufacturing
tinsmiths, then spreading both east and !
west.
The Board Of Trade building was fine
Blk story building constructed of red
in the form of a square. 1t
was built in 1891 and was regarded rs
one of the finest buildings In the city.
There were more than 900 tenants in it,
and their individual losses will be more
Or less heavy. 1t is impossible yet to OBJ.
tain any accurate estimate Of the losses,
but 1t is roughly estimated by the insur-
ance men that the losses will total I'D to
more than 100000. partially covered
by insurance.