Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06
IN WOE
CONNECTICUT CITY SWEPT BY
FIRE FIEND.
MAY PROVE INCENpiARY
After Main Portion of Town Was De-
stroyed Flames Break Out IN
Closed Chamber in ScovilIe House
-Desolate Scenes Amid the Storm
Bound Streets.

Waterbury, Conn, Feb. 4.-Thefe is
very strong suspicion that the fire
which completely destroyed the SEQ
Vile house was the work OF an incen-
diary. 1t originated in a pool and
billiard room in the basement The
room was locked and no one
was supposed to be there.
No fire was kept in the
room, all the heat being supplied from
the boiler in another part of the build
ing. The fire came So close on the
heels of the big conflagration that
thousands of spectators who witnessed
it were thrown into more complete
panic than the original fire caused.
The flames had only begun to die
along Bank. Grand and South Main
streets when the flames leaped up
wards, as by magic, and people feared
the city was doomed after all. The
fire burned far into day and was not
extinguished entirely until evening.
The scene about the city yesterday
was only little less remarkable than
that of the previous evening. Thou
sands CT people stumbled around the
icy streets and with the greatest diff
ficulty were restrained by the militia
and police from venturing within the
danger lines. A tangled net work OF
wires on Bank and South Main streets
greatly hindered the work of eXtin-
gushing the last flames and clearing
away the wreckage.
A revised list of the losses and in
surance is very difficult to obtain.
Few know just what the loss was on
their buildings and stock. 1t is be-
lieved that when the truth is known
the figures telegraphed yesterday
morning of $4,000,000 will not bc far
from a correct estimate.
A remarkable feature of the fire was
there was no loss of life. Two men
who were asleep in the ScoYille
house were reported missing, but have
both been located. The rebuilding
of the ruined structures is only a
question of time. Temporary quar-
ters have been secured by all firms.
Many have already telegraphed for
new stock and will resume immedi-
ately
The American Publishing company
is among the heaviest losers, the
building being entirely ruined, but the
paper was issued in abbreviated form
last night There has been more or
less disorder about the streets, but
hn
is of great service in han4Iing the
crowds. The streets were piled with
household goods and strewn with
small articles thrown from windows.
Some of this property wa Onfiscated
by passers-by, but the amount of
thieving is small compared with the
opportunities offered by the confu-
sion. The number injured was very
small and in all but one or two cases
the injuries were slight. The streets
are rapidly being cleared.
Waterbury, Conn, Feb. 4.-For ten
hours Sunday night and yesterday
morning flames famed by high
wind held sway over the business por-
ton Of the city. causing a. loss to ex-
coed $4,000, 000. The best business
portion of the city covering an area
Of four ac"ls is almost entirely
wiped out
The fire started in the store Of Reid
& Hughes dry goods company and
was not considered under control until
nearly 100000 worth of property
was destroyed. About the time the
firemen supposed they had the flames
under control a second fire broke out
in the Scoyille hotel and the establish
ment was completely wrecked. The
occupants were forced to seek the
street in their night clothes. With
the ringing of the second alarm the
entire city was thrown into a panic.
There was a fierce gale blowing and
sparks from the burning hotel were
tossed over a great area. Although
the Waterbury fire department was re-
inforced from nearby cities it was for
time impossible to stay the progress
of the flames.