Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-02-14
A TEN MILLION BLAZE
Paterson, N. j., Desolated by
the Fire Fiend.
ONE THOUSAND FAMILIES HOMELESS.
Public Buildings Churches, Banks,
Newspaper Offices and business
Blocks In Ruins-Fire Fighters
of Many cities BaffIed.

"A EhSON, ". d., Il eD. lU-A STeit
fire has swept through Paterson, and
in its desolatc wake are the embers
and ashes of property valued in pre-
liminary estimates at $1O,0O0,OOO 1t
burned its way through the business
section of the city and claimed as its
own Il majority of the finer structures
devoted to commercial civic educa-
tional and religious use as well as
scores of houses. There was but small
tribute of life and injury to the con-
flagration, but hundreds were left
homeless and thousands without en-
ployment
The fire came Mt midnight and was
only checked after Il desperate fight
that lasted until late Sunday after
noon. Every city and town within
reach of Paterson sent firemen and APP
paratus to the relief of the threatened
city, and it took the united efforts of
them all to win the battle. \ northerly
gale gave the conflagration its impetus
and carried its burning brands 90 kim
die the blaze afresh ut other points.
The tirCmcn made stand after stand
before the wall of fire. but were repeat
edly driven back, and when victory
came to them they were grimcd and
exhausted
y partial list of the properties de-
stroyed is as follows:
Public Buildings.-City hall, Public
library, old city hall, police station, No
l engine house, patrol stables, high
school and school No. 10
Churches. - First Baptist. Second
Presbyterian, Park Avenue Baptist. ST
Marks Episcopal and st. Joseph's Ro-
man Catholic.
Banlls.-First National Second Ma
tional partially), Paterson National,
Silk City Trust Hamilton Trust and
Paterson Trust.
Clubhouses Young Mems Christian
association, Knights Of Columbus. Pro-
gress club, st, Joseph's hall and Ham
ilton club.
Office ldngS.-Romaine building,
Katz building Marshall x Balls. COIN
building, Old Town Clock. Old Kline
building and Stevenson building.
Telegraph Companios.-Westcrn In
lon and Postal Telegraph
Thcater.-The Garden.
NewpaperS.-The Evening News and
Sunday Chronicle.
Stores - Quackenbush Il Co.. dry
goods; Boston store. dry goods: Globe
store dry goods; National Clothing
company. Kent'S drug store Kinsilla's
drug store, NIuzzy's hardware and gen.
eral merchandise. Marshall & Ball,
clothiers; John Norwood, paints
Oberg's grocery, Wertendyke's grocery,
P. II. & w. G. Shields, grocers; "The
Paterson" dry goods; Jordan's piano
store, Sauter & Co., pianos: FEEDER &
McNair, shoes; Zendler's confectionery,
Lappin's tea store, Ragowski's mil
linery, Brohal & Mueller. shoes; c. E.
Beach, automobiles; Morehead & Son,
clothiers; Paterson Gas and Electric
company, Skye'S drug store and Mack
intOsh drug store
An estimate made from general in
spection of the smoldering ruins plac-
ed the number of dwellings and apart
ment houses destroyed at 800 and the
number of families left without shelter
at 1000
The fire began its work of far
reaching destruction at the power
house of the Jersey City, Hobollen and
Paterson Traction company, which
fronted on Broadway and extended a
block to the rear OH Van Houten street.
1t was in the car shed that it COM
menced, and it was burning fiercely
when one of the employees detected it.
What started the fire is not certain.
but it is thought one of the feed wires
running into the car barns was respon-
sible. From the ear barns the flames
leaped to other buildings close by and
these were burned before the first call
firemen reached the scene Inside of
two hours the fire reached Main street
This was the critical point of the fire
The hremen sought to hold it and
failed.