River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-02-06

Waterbury, Conn, Feb. 4.-For ten
hours Saturday night and Monday
morning flames famed by high wind
held SWAY over the business portion
of this city, causing loss that Will
exceed $4,000 00o The best business
portion of the city, forming triangle
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 & Hughes Dry
Goods company, on Bank street, was
not considered under control until
about So 100000 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 city's leading
hotel, remodeled by the late Judge +.
C. Lewis, few years ago, at an eX-
pense of $75, 900, and the establish
ment was completely wrecked. The
occupants of the hotel were forced to
SEEK UllC SUICCU III UlINIA - Nv
City in "a Panic.
With the ringing of a second alarm
the entire city was thrown into panic.
There was a fierce gale blowing, and
sparks from the burning hotel were
driven in lurid showers over a great
area. The occupants of buildings To-
Gated in the path of the wind prepared
to leave. Although the Waterbury fire
department was reinforced from near
by cities, it was for time impossible
to stay the progress of the flames.
The fire, in it's entirety, burned over
four acres of the city's best business
section. Among the prominent build
ings totally destroyed are the block
occupied by the Reid q Hughes Dry
Goods company, the plant of the Wa
terbury American, the Masonic temple,
the ScoviI and Franklin houses, the w.
T. Douglas Shoe company, the Johnson
block, the Salvation Army Working
mems home and scores of other build
ngs In all about 100 most prominent
business houses are burned out.
Firemen's Hard Fight.
Rarely have firemen been obliged
to contend against worse conditions
than those which prevailed from first
to last in this disastrous confagra-
ton The wind was blowing a gale,
and the cold was intense. It seemed
at one time as though every structure
in the heart of the city would be de-
stroyed. In some instances the work
of the firemen proved of avail. The
Waterbury bank building at the cor
ner of Bank and Grand streets, was
saved, although the New England En-
gineering company's $4,000 building
but few feet away, and the Masonic
temple on the north side of the bank
building, were wiped out Of exist
ence.
Militia Called Out.
During the night the mayor was in
communication with Gov. Mclean, and
the militia was called out. Companies
A and G, numbering about 120 men,
were detailed about the fire district,
and are still on duty. The city is now
practically under martial law, the blue
uniforms of the national guardsmen
appearing on every side. Details are
changed every hour. The armory, the
CITY hall, the churches and other pub
lie places, have been turned into tenn
porary shelters, hundreds being rem
dered homeless. The moral effect of
this fire upon Waterbury cannot be
Aotherwise than pronounced.
VIII Not Ask for Outside Aid.
A press correspondent asked Mayor
KiIduff if he would call for financial
aid from outside cities. The mayor re-
sponded quickly, saying:
Canterbury, although suffering a
grievous blow, will take care of her
self, although extremely grateful for
the expressions of sympathy that
have poured in on every side"
At $3.50 a. m, the entire fire depart
ment was on duty, the danger being by
no means passed. The Scovil house
is still burning, and adjoining build
ings are in danger. The buildings in
the track Of the earlier fire are still
burning.
1ncendinrfsm Suspected
The loss by burning of the Scovil
house will reach $15O,000. There are
rumors Of incendiarism in connection
with the burning of this property.
For a time the fire threatened to
spread from the Scovil house to the
city hall but that beautiful and cost
ly structure was saved.