The Forrest City times., 1902-02-07
THRE MILLIONS LOSS.
Four Acres of the Best Portion Of Waterbury, Conn.,, Now
 Mass of Ruins.
THE HEART OF TIE BUSINESS SECTION.
The City Practically Under Martial Law. National Guard Companie. Having Been Detailed to Protect Exposed Property-Hard stunt For the Bremen.

Waterbury, Conn. Feb. 4.-For len hours sunday night and Monday flames. famed by a high wind. held sway over the business portion Of this city causing a lo~S that will ex- ceed s3.ooo.ooo. The best business portion of the city. forming a trian- gle bounded on The north by Ex- change place. on the west by banks. on the south by Grand street and on the east by South Main street, was almost wiped out.
 The first fire. which started in rhe big store of the Reid & Hughes Dry Good O.. on Bank street. was nat considered under control until about >5,0oo.0e) worth If property had beer destroyed About the time rhe fire men supposed they had the flames under control second fire broke out in the Seoville heuSes 1he city.S leading hotel. remodeled nv the late Judge F. (. Lewis. few year, ago, at an expense If about s75.oo0. and the establishment was completely wrecked. The occupants Of the ho- tel were forced - seek the street in their night clothes.
 With the ringing of a second alarm the entire city was thrown into panic. There was fierce gale blow ing and sparks from the burning ho- tel were driven in showers over great area. The occupants nf buiii- ings located in the path of 1he wind prepared 10 leave. Although the Wa terbury fire department was rein forced from nearby cities. Y was for time impossible to stay the prog rcss of he flames. The fire. in is entirety. burned over four acres of the ci1y's best business section. Among the prominent buildings b. tally destroyed are the block occn- pied bY the Reid as Hughes Dry Goods Co. the plant of the Water bury American the Masonic temple. the Scoville and Franklin houses. the W. L. Douglas Shoe O.. tte Johnson block. line Salvation Army working men's home and scores of other buildings. h all. about 700 most prominent business houses are burned out
 Rarely have fremen been obliged to contend against worSG conditions than those which prevailed from first to last. in this disastroH, eoafagra- tion. The wind was blowing a gale. and the cold was intense. It seemed at one time as though every struc- ture in the heart of the city would be destroyed. In some instances the work of the fremen proved of avail. The Waterbury bank building. at the corner of Bank and Grand streets. was saved. although the New Eng land Engineering Cos S9o.06o buifd- ing. but few feet away. and the Masonic temple, oA the north side of the bank building, were wiped out of existence.
 During the night the mayor was in communication with Gov. Mclean. and the militia was called out. Com Panies \ and C, numbering about 20 men, were detailed about the fire dis triet. and are still on duty. The city k now practically under martial law. the blue uniforms of the national guardsmen appearing on every side. Details are changed every two hours. he armorv. the city hall. tho churches and other public places have been turned into temporary shelters. hundreds being rradered homeless. The moral effect of this fire upon Waterbury can not be oth- erwise than profound. \ press cor respondent asked Mayor Kilduf it he would call for financial aid iron, outside cities.
 The mayor responded quickly, say ing:
 Naterburx. although suffering grievous blow. will take care of her self, although extremely grateful for the expressions of sympathy that have poured sf .,n every side"
 There is ' strdng suspicion that the fire which destroyed the ScoviIle house, burning thousands of dollars worth of furniture appointments and personal effects. and imperilling many lives, was the work of an in- ecndiary.
 The fire originated in the pool and billiard room in the basement of the house on the further side from the burning district. The room was locked and no one was supposed to be there, nor was any fire kept in the room
 Manager Truman said al the police station, while the fire was still ra- ging, that he had not the slightest doubt it was of incendiary origin.
 Mme. Lillian Nordica III.
 San Francisco. Feb. 4.-Nme. Lil-