Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-02-14
FLAMES SWEEP PROSPEROUS
NEW JERSEY CITY,.
Property Destroyed Paterson
J.-Area of Twenty-Five Business Blocks Burned Over
Fully 1000 Families Left Homeless.

IN 1JS ueSOlate wake are Une elnDerS
and ashes of property valued in pre-
Iiminary estimate at $10,000,000. 1t
burned it's way through the business
section of the city and claimed as it's
own a majority of the finer structures
devoted to commercial, civic, educa-
tional and religious use, as well as
scores of houses. There was but small
tribute of life and injury to the con-
flagration, but hundreds were left
homeless and thousands without em-
ployment. A relief movement for the
care of those unsheltered and unpro-
vided for has already been organized,
and Mayor John Henchcliffe said that
Paterson would be able to care for her
own without appealing to the charity
of other communities and states. The
great manufacturing plants of the
place are safe, and the community,
temporarily dazed by the calamity, has
already commenced the work of reor-
ganization and restoration.
The burned District.
The area of destruction foots up
roughly 25 city blocks. From Main
street to Paterson street, between Van
Houten and Market streets, there is
but little left. On the block bound
ed by Main, Ellison, Washington and
Market streets not single building
excepting that of the Paterson savings
institution stands. All along the west
side of Main street property is wiped
out, and on the east side also from
Market to Van Houten streets. Along
the south side of Broadway between
Washington and Church streets great
damage has been done. Van Houten
street is reduced to smouldering deb
ris, so far as buildings are concerned,
for some distance. Ellison street suf-
fered from the neighborhood of Pros
pect street, on its north side, as far as
Church street. On the south side OF
this street there is widespread ruin
from short distance west of Main
street to the parsonage of the Second
Presbyterian church, near Paterson
street. Market street is n pile of ru-
ins from Main street to the Market
street church on the north side and
on the south side. Nowhere was the
scene of devastation more marked
than north of the Erie railroad in the
district bounded by Sixteenth avenue
and Market street. There was simply
nothing but ashes left to tell that n
busy and populous section of the city
had ever existed. On Washington
street, between Broadway and Market
streets, there is practically nothing
left. Church street is wiped out on its
west side between Ellison and Market
streets, as it is on the east side.
Estimate May lie Too High.
The cost of the fire has not yet been
counted with any degree of accuracy,
and il will be several days before there
can be definite tabulation of losses
and insurance. In the confusion of
the day and the rigorous guarding OF
the burned districts at night, it was
impossible to locate majority of the
heaviest sufferers. The estimate OF
S1O,000OO0 will probably cover the de.
struction broadly, and group of city
officials who went over the city Sunday
evening were inclined to scale thai
figure down to between $7,5OO,OO0 anG
$s,000,000 for actual property losses
Their estimate made no calculation
for losses on account of suspension
of business.
Martial Law Established
Martial law is in force, with state
troops, police and deputy sheriff.
guarding the streets. No one was al
owed on the streets after seven o'clock
and the same rule will be enforced fol
everal days to come. Mayor Hinch
life and Sheriff Sturr are working il
.,armony for the ton of order
and joined in the proclamation of mar
tial law. Gov. Murphy has promised
all aid possible.
Fought Fire for Many Hours.
The fire came at midnight Saturda,
and was only checked after desper
ate fight that lasted until late Sunda,
afternoon. Every city and town with
in reach of Paterson sent firemen ant
apparatus to the relief of the threat
ened city, and it took the united eff
forts of them all to win the battle. 4
northerly gale gave the conflagratiol
its impetus and carried its burnin.
brands to kindle the blaze afresh a
other points. The firemen made stant
after stand before the wall of fire, bu
were repeatedly driven back, and whel
victory finally came to them they wer
grimed and exhausted.
Buildings Destroyed.
A partial list of the properties de
stroyed follows:
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.-City hall. pub
lie library old city hall, police station, M
engine house, patrol stables. high schoo
school No. 1.
CHURCHES. First Baptist. Secon
Presbyterian, Park Avenue Baptist, 81
Marks Episcopal, st. Joseph's Roma
Catholic.
BANKS.-First national. Second natiora
(partially), Paterson national. Silk Cit
trust Hamilton trust and Paterson trust
The Record Broken.