The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-23

The Most Notable Conhagrations Of
Recent Years in this Country.

The Most Notable CONGREGATIONS Of
Recent Years in this Country.
New York Times.
property loss. which Is at present rough
ly estimated ut "a. 000, 900. Is likely to rank
as one OF the great connagrations dur.
Ing the last hundred years In the United
New FORKS greatest IRE started on the
night Of December 1s 1896. and before
II was subdued by the blowing. up Of all
buildings In the path OF the flames. s74
buildings the tness IN the city, had IL Ie eea
but nobody was killed or seriously in
jured. The wind was 90 high that Il
carried burning embers across the East
River and caused several hres In Brook
house in Pearl Street. just below Wall
Street The hydrants frose, several
warehouses filled with saltpetre b'~v up
and at ono time the entire distrlo: be-
tween Maiden Lane and coentiss Slip.
The great Chicago fire began on Sun
day, October g. ISL, In wooden barn
on De Koven Street, in the west division
through these the flames ragged, leaping
across the stream before q strong west
eriy wind into the southern division,
which was closely built up with stores
anu WATcDOuSSb mo IRE 4COnUuucQ. All
the next day Monday, and crossed the
main channel Of the Chicago River into
the northern division, sweeping all be-
fore II. Massive stone blocks were con-
stunned as though they were finder.
The glare could be seen for hundreds
Of miles, over the prairie and the lake.
Tho river seemed to boil and mingle Its
stream with the smoke. Streets, bridges.
parks were gorged with panic-strtcken
throngs. Many persons were crazed with
terror. The horrors of the night .wers
uirttipiied by drunkenness, arson, burg
larry, and murder.
Not TIL Tuesday morning was the
u shs sarea DEBRIS on
miles were burned. 17.l50 buildings were
destroyed; $500 parsons rendered home
less and over go killed. The total direct
loss of property amounted to $50 200. 900.
Fffty-six insurance companies were
rendered insolvent by the fire.
The Boston fire started on November
., 1872, on the corner OF Kingston and
rapidlty east and north. and ragged with
little abatement till nearly noon the
next day. On that afternoon the flames
seemed to be under control, but an ex-
plosion OF gas about midnight set them
raging afresh. and much OF the follow
ing day was passed before they were
subdued. Ordinary appliances for fight
ing fires were Of no avail, and dynamite
Was used finally tS check the path .o OF
laid waste Fourteen dives were lost and
not far from 800 buildings were con-
stunned: with q property loss placed at
On April %, 1900 the Ottawa and Hull
confiagration occurred. The flames prac-
ticany destroyed the companion city Of
Hull. and, ieaptng across the Ottawa
River. burned part Of the Canadian cap
ital itself. The loss was 81. 100000. and
Mt leo nf nariQhad
On June 80 1900, fire started In some
cotton on the docks Of the North Ger
man Lloyd Steamship Company at Ho-
boken. N. j.. and before II was sub
erty and cost the lives Of over $50 per-
sons. many of whom were on board the
steamships Saaie and Main.
Jacksonvilie's great fire started on May
hours. The property loss was placed at
nearly s10.o00,0o0, and the burned district
was thirteen blocks wide and two miles
long. extending from the 1T. Johns River,
edge, to Catherine Street on the east.
Orange on the north. and Davis to the
west This immense area was swept
clear as floor.
Waterburys fire. which Is hardly his
tory. started on SUNDAY night of last
week and burned nine hours before 1t
was under control. The business district
of Waterbury was almost wiped out, with
a property loss OF nearly $2.5U0OO, and
an insurance loss of over 81 100000.
The year 1897 saw two great confiagra-
lions outside of the United States. On
November 20 OF that year fire started in
the Criuipegate District of London and
burned over four acres. occupied by large
six-story business houses lying eastward
OF Aldersgate and between that thor
oughfare and Red Cross Street. Prop
erty valued at nearly 100000 pounds
025. 900, 00O) was destroyed.
Two days later, in Melbourne. Austria
burned in a FIRE that started in the VIII
Hanson warehouse in the very heart of
the city. A strong wind was blowing
and in three hours all the buildings be-
Streets and Flinders Lane had gone.
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HhtlIrAx g. D.