The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-10

PATERSON, N. J., Feb "a great
fire swept through Paterson today, and
in its desolate wake are the embers and
ashes Of property valued in preliminary
estimate at $4,000, 900.
1t burned it's way through the business
section Of the city and claimed as it's
own majority of the finer structures
devoted to commercial, civic, educational
and religious use, as well as scores of
houses. There was but small tribute of
life and injury to the conhagration, but
hundreds were left homeless and thou
sands without employment. A relief
movement for the care of those unshel-
tered and unprovided for has already
been organized, and Mayor John Hench-
cliffe said tonight that Paterson would
be-able to care for her own without ap-
pealing to the charity of other communi-
ties and states. The great manufacturing
plants of the place are safe. and the COM
munity temporarily dazed by the calam-
ity has already commenced the work Of
reorganization and restoration.
HUNDREDS OF FIRENIEN
WORKED LIKE HEROES.
The fire started Saturday at midnight
and was only checked after a desperate
fight that lasted until late Sunday after
noon Every city and town within reach
of Paterson sent fremen and apparatus
to the relief of the threatened city, and
took the united efforts Of them all to win
the battle.
A northerly gale gave the confiagra-
ton it's impetus and carried its burning
brands to kindle the blaze afresh at
other points The firemen made stand
after stand before the wall of fire, but
were repeatedly driven back, and wheh
victory finally came to them they We're
grimed and exhausted.
LIST OF PRINCIPAL
BUILDINGS DESTROYER
A partial list of the properties destroy
= Pubiic b" Buildings-City hall, public Il
brary. old city hall. police station, NO
engine house. patrol stables, high school,
Ghurches--First Baptist, Second Pres
byterian, Park Avenue Baptist. st.
Marks Episcopal, st. Joseph's Roman
Banks-First National. Second Nation
al (partially), Paterson National Six
City Trust, Hamilton Trust, Paterson
Trust
Club Houges-Y. M, g. A.. Knights Of
Columbus, Progress club, st. Joseph )
hall. Hamilton club.
Office Notwithstanding building,
Katz building, Marshall & Balls, Kohn
building, Old Town Clock, Old Kline
building, Stevenson building.
Telegraph Companies-Western Union,
Postal Telegraph.
Theater-The Garden.
Newspapers-Th Evening News Sun
daV Chronicle.
Stores -Quackenbush & Co, Boston
store dry goods, Globe store, dry goods,
National Clothing Co., Kent's drug store,
kipsella's drug store, Muzzy's hardware
and general merchandise. Marshall &
Ball, clothiers. John Norwood, paints.
Il
P. H &, w. G. Shields, grocers, The
Paterson, dry goods, Jordan S piano
store, Sauter & Co, pianos, FEEDER & Nc
Nair shoes, Sendler's confectionery. Tap
Brchal & Mueller. shoes. c. E. Beach,
automobiles, Morehead & Son, clothiers,
Paterson Gas and Electric Co., Skye's
drug store, Macintosh drug store.
ONE THOUSAND
FAMILIES HOMELESS.
An estimate made from a general in
spection of the smoulderinG ruins placed
the number Of dwellings and apartment
houses destroyed at five hundred and the
number of families left without shelter
at one thousand. A re-estimate when
order succeeds confusion may alter those
figures.
The fire began its work of far-reaching
destruction at the power house of the
Jersey City, Hoboken & Paterson Trac-
tion company, which fronted on Broad
way and extended a block to the rear
on Van Houten street. 1t commenced in
the car shed and was burning fiercely
when one of the employees detected it.
1t was leaping through th> roof and the
gale was lifting it in forks and swirls
when the fire apparatus came Changing
into Broadway, Main and Van Houten
street in one direction, Main street in
another. and, gaining vigor as it went,
burned unchecked down into ~the busi-
ness district.
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
col ntry for many miles and carrying a
threat and warning to the people and
property in its path. There were efforts
to rescue furniture and stock but the
speed with which the fire moved gave
the rescuers little time. Property was
often moved to place of presumed safe
ty only to be eventually reached and de-
stroyed. The warning to many was brief
and they were forced to flee, scantily
clad, into streets glazed over with ice |
and swept by the keen wind.
CANOPY OF FIRE
OYERARCHED STREETS. |
Main street was soon arched over
with a canopy Of fire for block and
then for two blocks. as the flames fast |
ened themselves upon building after !
The hremen fought with every |
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 re-
lief went out to every city in this por- !
ton of the state and the jaded firemen !
labored on through the hopeless hours |
of the morning. The city hall, a mag
nificent structure, surmounted by a |
great clock tower, situated on Washing
ton, Ellison and Market streets, finally |
caught and with it went all Of the splen-
did business structures that surround 1t.
They made q great fIlrnaca Of fira that