The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1902-02-07
BIG STORES IN ASHES.
Fire at Waterbury, Conn.,, Causes
a Loss Estimated al
100000.
HIGH WIND SPREADS FLAMES
Troops Called Out to Thwart Thieves
ard Look After Panic-Stricken
Citizens of the Town.

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hours flames famed by high wind
held sway over the business portion
of this city, causing a loss that will ex-
coed $3,000,000. The best business
portion of the city forming a triangle
bounded on the north by Exchange
place, on the west by Bank street, on
the south by Grand street and on the
east by South Main street, was almost
wiped out.
The first fire, which started in the
big store of the Reid q Hughes dry
goods company, on Bank street, was
not considered under control until
about $3.OO0,000 worth of property
had been destroyed. About the time
the firemen supposed they had the
flames under control second fire
broke out in the Scovil House, the
citys leading hotel. remodeled by the
late Judge Il. G. Lewis Il few years
ago at an expense OF about $4,000,
and the establishment was completely
wrecked.
City Thrown into Panic.
The occupants of the hotel were
compelled to seek the street i'm their
nightclothes. With the ringing Of a
second alarm the entire city was
thrown into panic. There was
fierce gale blowing and sparks from
the burning hotel were driven in iurid
showers over great area. The occu-
pants of buildings located In the path
of the wind prepared to leave. Al
though the Waterbury fire department
was reinforced from nearby cities, 1t
was for time impossible to stay the
progress of the flames. The fire, in its
entirety. burned over four acres of the
city's best business section. Among
the prominent buildings totally de-
stroyed are the block occupied by the
Reid & Hughes dry goods company, the
plant Of the Waterbury American, the
Masonic temple. the Scovil and Frank
lin houses. the w. l.. Douglas Shoe
company. the Jackson block, the Saliva
ton Army Workingmen's home and
scores of other buildings. In all about
100 most prominent business houses
are burned out.
Mind Blowing Gale.
Rarely have firemen been obliged &c
contend against worse conditions than
those which prevailed from first &c
last in this disastrous conflagration
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cold was intense. 1t seemed at one
time as though every structure In the
heart of the city would be destroyed
In some instances the work of the fire
men proved of avail. The Waterbury
bank building at the corner of Banl
and Grand streets was saved. although
the New England Engineering com
panys $4,000 building. but few fee
away. and the Masonic temple on thu
north side of the bank building were
wlped out Of existence. During tn
night the mayor was in communica
ton with Governor Mclean. and tn
militia was called out Companie
A and G.. numbering 100 men, wer
detailed about the fire district an'
are still on duty. The city is now praC
tically under martial law, the blu
uniforms of the national guardsme
appearing on every side.
Changed Every Two Hours.
Details are changed every tw
hours The armory, the city hall. tn
churches and other public places hav
been turned into temporary shelters
hundreds being rendered homeless
The moral effect of this fire upon wa
tcrburv cannot he otherwise than pre-
nounced. Mayor Kllduff was aske
if he would call for financial aid frol
outside cities. The mayor responde
quickly. saying:
waterbury, although suffering
grevious blow, will take care OF he
self. although extremely grateful ft
, the expressions Of sympathy that haN
poured in on every side
, At $40 n. m. the entire fire depar
nent was on duty. the danger bein
by no means passed. The Scov
House was still burning and adjoi
ing buildings were in danger. III
buildings I'm the track of the earle
fire were still burning. At $3.50 II
: fire was under control.