The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-03
Waterbury, Conn. Nearly Wiped
Out by Fire.
Four Acres of Best Business
District Burned Over.
FIRE RACED ALL NIGHT
Loss is Estimated at Upward OF
$3,OOO,OOO.
Waterbury American Plant aud
Masonic Temple Gone.

Waterbury, Conn, Feb 3.-For ten
hours last night and this morning
flames famed by a high wind held
sway over the business portion of TINS
city. causing a loss that will exceed
100000 The best 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
SO, 600 600 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 E. c.
Lewis few years ago at an expense
of about $4,000. and the establishment
was completely wrecked. The occu-
pants of the hotel were forced to seek
the street in their night clothes. With
the ringing of a second alarm the en-
tire city was thrown into panic.
There was a fierce gale blowing. and
sparks from the burning hotel were
driven in showers over a great area
The occupants of buildings located in
the path of the wind prepared to leave.
Although the Waterbury fire depart
ment was reinforced from nearby
cities, it was for a time impossible to
stay the progress of the flames.
BURNED OVER FOUR ACRES.
The fire, in it's entirety, burned over
four acres of the citys best business
section. Among the prominent build
ings totally destroyed are the block oc-
cupied by the Reid & Hughes Dry
Goods company. the plant of the Water
bury American, the Masonic temple,
the Scovil and Franklin houses, the w.
I. Douglass Shoe company, the John
son block, the Salvation Army work.
ing mems home, and scores of other
buildings. In all about one hundred of
the most prominent business houses
are burned out.
Rarely have fremen been obliged to
contend against worse conditions than
those which prevailed from first to last
in this disastrous confiagration. The
wind was blowing a gale and the cold
was intense. 1t seemed at one time
though every structure in the heart OF
the city would be destroyed. In some
instances the work of the firemen
proved of avail The Waterbury bank
building at the corner of Bank and
Grand streets was saved, although the
New England Engineering, conpany's
$4,000 building. but a few feet away,
and the Masonic temple, on the north
side of the bank building, We're wiped
out of existence. During the night the
mayor was in communication with
Governor Mclean, and the militia was
called out. Companies A and G, num-
bering about 120 men, were detailed
about the fire district, and are still on
duty. The city is now practically un-
der martial law. the blue uniforms of
the national guardsmen appearing on
every side. Details are changed every
two hours.
The arnory, the city hail. the church.
es and other public places have been
turned into temporary shelters hum
dreds being rendered homeless. The
moral effect of this fire upon Water
bury cannot be otherwise than pro
nounced- An Associated Press corre-
spondent asked Mayor Kilduff if he
would call for financial aid from out-
side cities. The mayor responded quick
ly, saying:
Waterbury, although SUFFERING
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 bv
no means passed The Scovil house is
still burning and adjoining buildings
are III udlSeF Inc buildings in the
track of the earlier fire are still b,1rn-
ing.
The fire broke out simultaneously on
the second and third floor of Reed &
Hughes store. The burning building was
located in the heart of the citY and
M1tnin view of many residences which
flank the city park or commons The
nrenen soon abandoned any attempt to
save the burning structure and turned
their attention to adjacent property. 1t
was OF no avail, however. Within 15
minutes the Salvation Army barracks To
the rear and westward were burning
From there the flames leaped across
Bank street and wiped out three places
OF business A few moments later the
fre again crossed Bank street and de-
stroyed the Masonic temple After AZ
minutes or time, il became evident that
Waterbury was to experience an nm
paralleled confiagration The wind vas
OF almost hurricane force Appeals for
help were wired to New Haven. Hart
ford, Bridgeport, Naugatucl and Win
sted. go
The arrival of help served to inspire
courage among Waterburyians but stiU
the fire continued its work of destrIIc
ton Meanwhile thieves took advantae ee
or deserted houses and it became neces-
sary TO order out the militia and two
companies of the Second regiment a
and @ were quickly on duty
At Z;S0 a m 20 handsome blocks oo
cupfed on lower floors by stores and ON
upper floors by tenements and offices
were In ruins. At a. m the firernen
seemed to be gaining control of the fire
an hour later, many citizens had with
drawn to their homes, only to be thrown
Into renewed panic by another outbresi-
this time in the Scovil House. adjacent
TO the city hail. The fire II Is stafa5