Arizona republican., 1902-05-01
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
Blaze At Midnight Estimated Loss
 Is 83O,0OO.

The worst fire Phoenix has had in years broke out last night shortly after midnight Tn point of damage though net in area. it was perhaps the worst fire the town has ever suffered. It's starting place was in the rear Of Rc.s' tailor shop. near the corner of Wash ing-on street and First avenue 1t was discovered by 1Ir. Pounds. book keeper 1o~ Buxton & O.. next door on the west. who was engaged in making out the monthly bills of the concern. The attention of others was attracted to it a. the came time and an alarm was turned in by the old method of dis charging revolvers. for the fire alarm system is not iE working order
 When the fire was first seen it had gained great headway and before inc department reached the scene it seern- ed that the entire collection of frame structures was doomed. and every building in the vicinity was threatened. The action against the fire was opened by the chemical engine It was entirely inadequate and before the hose could bo put in operation the fire had broken through the roo: and was spreading along the roofs of the adjacent build ir-s. There was an un2ccountGble da- lay in getting steam in the fire engine
 -E..c If Euntilhurs.'e iave1-.- store on the east side of the tailor shop Was broken open and the stock vac carried cut ic s t&Giy broken and dis arranged shape. The stock Of Nich- olson. trc tailor. two doors on the west. was also removed. The roofs Of all the buildings made fierce lake of fire. Iu the l3learliIno the fire engine vas started and the conhaSration began 10 ei,-a way before a powerful stream. 3ue it had broken through on the First avenuo side, where it ragged more fefca- ir lhan at any other point. U had ..lso broken through into the rear Of Bu-1- 1 tons store and at length the roof fell in. The main paYt of the stoc}. vas not 1 greatly damaged.
 l The efforts of tho department were then directed against the outbreak on First avenue and it was soon brought under subjettion, but the fire took a rcw start on the Washington street side l. was plain, though, that it was urGer control by this time, and that some of the f..2ina buildings could be saved.
 ! ' was impossible tc make more th<-! ! :, rough estimate O: the loss last night and little reliable information could be obtained about the insurance. Bux- tons stock ,,ss worth about 5000, Cn which there was an insurance of s, 300. V&ntilburs had a very large stock though nearly everything was saved, but there was considerable damage by water.
 The following is a list of those caught i4 the fire zone: S. VanHlburS, jewel ry; r. \. Ross, tailor; meat market; D. -li-ao!son, tailor; E. 2. Doll, saloon; :. . Gl.awold, bicycles: Chas. Rice, baroer shop; Jasy=r Dob5s. lightning delivery; Hammond, 2uctioneer; J. T. Dunlap, .l3l estate. Ine buildings occupied by the l:sl four named were practically destroyed.
 Ali estimate cf the loss to buildings by fire and 10 stock damaged by water Idnges between $-5,GG0 and $Sg,o eco.
 It is probable that the site covered
 by the tise will be occupied by brick
 buildings. The repairs required, even in the case Of the least damaged of the
 buildings. could net be made of frame
 wor-. under the city fire ordinance. All
 Cf the prCCerty OF the Washington
 street side, except the west fifty feet,
 is owned by Capt. J. L. F. Alexander
 Most of the property on the First ave
 ruc side is owned by nonresident ly tlc n"ma Cf Walker.
 BIC JEW E1L1tT FIRM.