The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-10

and the number of families left without
 shelter at one thousand. A re-estimate
 when order succeeds confusion may al i ter those figures either way.
 The fire began it's work of far-reach- l ing destruction at the power house of
 the Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson
 Traction company, which fronted on
 Broadway and extended a block to the
 rear on Van Houton street. It was in
 the car shed that it commenced, and it
 was burning fiercely when one of the
 employees detected it. It was leaping
 through the roof and the gale was lift
 ing it in forks and swirls when the fire
 apparatus came changing into Broad
 way, Main and Van Houten streets.
 The firemen tried to hem it in, but it
 speedily crossed Van Houten street in one direction, Main street in another, and gaining vigor as it went, burned
 unchecked down into the business dis trlct Every piece of fire mechanism in the city was called out, but fire and gale were masters. A great torch of flame rose high in the air, lighting up
 the country for many miles and carry
 ing threat and warning to the people
 and property in it's path. There were efforts to rescue furniture and stock, but the speed with which the fire nov ed gave the rescuers but little time. Property was often moved to place of presumed safety, only to be eventu- ally reached and destroyed. The warn ing to many was but brief and they were forced to flee, scantily clad into streets glazed over with ice and swept by the keen wind of vigorous winter
 Main street was soon arched over with a canopy of fire for block, and then for two blocks as the flames fastened themselves upon building after build ing The firemen fought with every resource of their craft and the impulse of desperation, but the flames found new avenues in Ellison and Market | streets and got beyond all control. Calls | for relief went out to every city in this | portion of the state and the jaded fire men labored on through the hours of | cent structure, surmounted by a great 1 clock tower, situated on Washington, Ellison and Market streets, finally caught, and with it went all of the splendid business structures which sur rounded it. They made great furnace of fire, which burned with fierce roar and the radiance of day.
 There was a series of explosions, and scores of walls fell when the fire left them strengthless. Flying fire brands carried the conhagration over some buildings and around others, and it therefore burned in an irregular course. These brands finally cleared the tracks If the Erie railroad and Ramapo ave- lue, and, alighting on Straight street, started another great area of fire in which the destruction and desolation wrought was nearly as great as in the ,ther
 This second great fire started at the yngle of Park avenue and Washington $ treet and swept almost unchecked un- i il on those two thoroughfares there vas no more fuel On the right hand ide of Market street 1t encountered 'andy Hill cemetery as barrier to heck it, but on the left hand side at \ ,arroll street, it claimed St. Joseph's hurch, a great classic stone building. t was on this second great fire that the [. olunteer firemen from the outside cities t id their most heroic and effective [ 7ork. They fell back only when they :. ad to and when the natural obstacle c they seized the chance and t topped the fire The final and one of the most des- a
 lContinued on Third Page.) u