The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-03
Hartford, New Haven and other
Nearby Cities.
STILL BURNING THIS MORNING
BUT WAS BELIEVED TO BE UNDER
CONTROL AT O'CLOCK.
RumOrs of Loss of Life Not Confirmed
Thieves mt WOrk-One Building
That Was FireprOOf.

WATERBURY. Conn, Feb. S-In the
hardest gale of the winter Waterbury
struggled last night with fire that de-
stroyed large area of the business section
Of the city and threatened TO wipe it out
completely. The blaze started in the up
holstery department on the third floor of
the store of Read & Hughes Dry Goods
Company, at 1OS-12O Bank street. and that
store and many adjoining buildings were
reduced i'm a few hours to smoldering en-
bers. An estimate of 100000 as the amount
of the property loss on buildings and con-
tents was considered conservative by in
surance men. The origin of the fire is un-
known and ii was undiscovered until IL
had gained tremendous headway. At 6:15
D. m three employees of the Read &
Hughes Company were in the store. and
when they left they noticed no odor OF
smoke about the main floor.
Fifteen minutes after the men had left
the store flames burst from the win
dows of the third floor and almost stimuli
taneousIy from the basement. Before any
body could ring in an alarm the whole in
terror of the building was ablaze. When
the department reached the scene flames
were issuing from every window OF the
building. and it was evident that the strue
ture was doomed and the entire business
section of the city imperiled.
SHRIVELED LIKE PAPER.
The wind. which was at first shifting,
settled towards the east and carried de-
struction with it. The first building to
catch from the Reid & Hughes Company's s
store was a tall structure occupied by the
Salvation Army barracks and a Turkish
bath. A moment or two later the flames
leaped across Bank street and wiped out
the Ryan &, ,Fftzmaurice block. Cannon &
Webster's drug store, Davis's cigar store
and the store of ]. B. Rulings & Sons. The
FIRE burned rapidly through to South Main
street and jumped across that street. shriv-
cling the buildings like paper. At the same
time the flames caught the Masonic Temple
and travelled from the Salvation Army
building to the rear of the Franklin House
on Grand street. and the entire block. con-
sisting OF seven eight handsome five
the large quarters OF the Waterbury Amer
lean, were i'm ruins before midnight
After o'clock the militia was called out
to preserve order. The fire was partially
under control at 1920 o'clock 1t had been
checked on South Main street. and indica-
tions were that IL would content itself on
Center street with burning out the long
block that contained the Franklin House
midnight. however, the fire broke out in
new places, and the efforts of the local
fremen combined with the aid given by
fire fighters and apparatus from Hartford
Bridgeport New Haven and Naugatuck
seemed powerless TO stay it's progress. The
blaze was wiping out the business portion
of the city all the fires being confined to
that section, though residential parts of
the city were in danger by sparks driven by
the furious wind.
NO ACCIDENTS REPORTED.
In the panic caused by the fire there were
many rumors Of accidents and fatalities
but at the Waterbury Hospital. at o'clock.
f. was said that accidents or deaths had
been reported there At that hour the fire
was sill burning. though as viewed from
the hospital which is on an eminence COM
that its vigor was abating Hope was ex-
pressed that the worst of the fire was
over, and that it would soon be under con-
troll At l O'Clock conservative estimates
placed the loss at 100000
In despair of being able TO subdue the
flames by the usual methods the use of
dynamite was suggested. but the idea was
afterward abandoned because it was feared
haf fba
explosion would carry the flames TO dis
tant sections Of the city.
1t was reported that numerous thieves
were operating in houses whose occupants
had left them to view the blaze. a number
arrests were made
rhe way in which the flames leaped from
&c building 10 another. and even across
the streets. terrified the spectators for ii
seemed that nothing could check them AS
the special train arrived. bringing assist
ence 10 the Waterbury department willing
hands unloaded the apparatus and hurried
Il 10 the scene or the fire. Several times
during the evening il looked as though the
fremen had finally confined the blaze to
certain district. but each time a cry of dis
appointment and warning went up from
the thousands OF throats as the fire was
seen breaking out elsewhere
The Waterbury Bank had a most remark
able escape both from fire and falling
debris. The bank building stands on the
corner OF Center and Bank streets and ad-
Joining buildings on both streets. Both
these structures were destroyed. but the
bank was literally fire proof
Some Of the losses are here given: w H.
Camp block. in which was located Reid 4.
hughes store. $1,000; Masonic Temple.
10000; o'Connor block. $1,000; Greenberg &
rgckner. $1,000; old American block. chas.