The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-02-07
BIG STORES IN ASHES.
Fire at Waterbury, Conn.,, Causes
a Loss Estimated ai
100000.
HIGH WIND SPREADS FLAKES
Troops Called Out to Thwart Thieves
and Look After Panic-Stric15cn
Citizens OF the Town.

y
hours flames famed by high wind
held sway over the business portion
Of this city, causing loss that will eX-
coed $3,000,O00. 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 & Hughes dry
goods company, on Bank street, was
not considered under control until
about $3,0O0,0O0 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
rate Judge f. c. Lewis a few years
ago at an expense of about $4,000,
and the establishment was completely
wrecked.
City Thrown into a Panic.
The occupants of the hotel were
nightcl0thes. With the ringing of q
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 q great area. The occu-
pants of buildings located in the path
Of the wind prepared to leave AL
though the Waterbury fire department
i3,fn oThVy (.if
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 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 Scoyil and Frank
lin houses. the w. l.. Douglas Shoe
company the Jackson block, the Saliva
ton Array Workingmen's home and
scores of other buildings. In all about
100 most prominent business houses
are burned out.
Wind Blowing Gale.
Rarely have firemen been obliged to
contend against worse conditions than
those which prevailed from first tC
last in this disastrous cOntiagratiOn
The wind was blowing gale, and the
cold was intense. It 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 Bank
and Grand streets was saved, although
the New England Engineering com
pany's $4,000 building. but a few feet
away, and the Masonic temple OH the
north side of the bank building were
wiped out of existence. During the
night the mayor was in cOmmunica
ton with Governor Mclean, and the
militia WNs called out. Companies
A and G. numbering 12O men, were
detailed about the fire district and
are still on duty. The city is now prac
tically under martial law, the blue
uniforms of the national guardsme1
appearing on every side.
Changed Every Two Hours.
Details are changed every two
hours. The armOry. the city hall, the
churches and other public places have
been turned into temporary shelters
hundreds being rendered homeless
The moral effect of this fire upon Wa
tcrbury cannot be otherwise than pro
nornced. Mayor Kilduff was asked
if he would call for financial aid from
outside cities. The mayor responded
quickly. saying:
waterbury. although suffering 8
grevious blow, will take care of her
self, although extremely grateful fol
the expressions of sympathy that have
poured in on every side"
At $50 a. m. the entire fire depart
ment was on duty. the danger beins
by no means passed. The Scovi
House was still burning and adjoin
ing buildings were in danger. The
buildings in the track Of the earlier
fire were still burning. At $50 the
fire was under control.