Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-23
Same Block Destroyed Which Fell to
Planes Five Years Ago.
RELIEF ENGINES COVER MILE A MINUTE
chattanooga Responds with Help on Special
Train at Lightning Speed
coLlAPSNG WALLS STAY WILD FLAMES
Tears for Entire Downtown District
Are Generally Entertained TIL One
Structure CrumbIes and stops
Spreading COnHagratiOn.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 22.-The worst
hre which has ravaged the business portion
Of the city since the disastrous million dol
lar conhagration OF 1897 broke out at 4 80
this morning in a four-story building on
Commerce avenue, directly opposite the
Central 1re station and occupied by the
Knoxville Pants company.
In two hours buildings adjoining II on
Commerce avenue, occupied by Broyles, Nc
Clellan Luckey. agricultural implement
dealers; the David Commission company,
the immense establishment Of the Brown
Hardware company on Gay street; Shanklin
Grain company and the r. H. Chattee COM
pany building on the same streets, had been
completely gutted.
The six-story building of McTeer, Hood
& Co.. wholesale clothiers, and the three
story building OF the Davies Furniture COM
pany which were reported destroyed, with
stood the storm Of flying embers and were
but little damaged.
Brandau G. Kennedy, retail clothIers; w.
T. Newton, jeweler; the Whitle-Spencer
Trunk company and other retail stores on
Gay street, opposite the burning structures,
were considerably damaged
Conservative insurance men say the loss
will be between $400, 900 and $500 900. other
estimates place it much higher.
The McTeer and Davis buildings seemed
doomed, and, although they we're in flames
time and again. they we're saved with small
damage by the hard work on the part Of
the hremen. Several other structures were
on fire at times including the big estab-
lishment Of Gillespie, Shields & Co., whole
fale hatters, but they were protected.
blaze is Most Spectacular.
The fire was most spectacular and
attracted a crowd numbering into the thou
sands. II is a miracle that no one was
hurt with the showers Of falling glass and
the terrific explosions In the Brown Hard
ware company that scattered bricks, burn
Ing embers and all conceivable articles Of
merchandise.
Chattanooga was called on for aid when
the FIRE was at its height, and an engine
company had run by special train twenty
nine miles In twenty three minutes toward
this city when stopped by wire, the FIRE
being now under control.
The collapse of the Brown building saved
the business district from loss of 81, ,OOO, 900
at least, the flames being easily handled
after that structure had fallen
The heaviest loss is that OF the Brown
Hardware company, which carried a $3.50, 900
stock.
Partial estimates on the losses are as
follows: r. II. Chattee company, whole
sale liquors. stock and building. $4,000;
Knoxville Pants company. stock and build
ings, $4,000; Broyles. Mcclellan & Luckey
farming implements, stock and building
S25.00O; Shanklin Grain company. stock and
building, $4,000; David & Co., stock and
building. $4,000; Haynes & Henson, whole
sale shoes, $4,000; McTeer, Hood Co.,
wholesale clothing. $4,000; Davies Furniture
company, stock and buildings, $4,000 dam
age to other buildings and stocks, $4,000.
All the firms, except the David Commits
sion company were insured.