The age-herald., 1902-02-04
Bremen Fought Flames Under
 UnfaVOrab|e Conditions
LOSS IS OVER $3O,OOO,OOO
No One Seriously Injured In the Fire Which Swept the Connecticut Town-Thought to Have Been
 Work of lncendlary.

 sun rose this morning on blackened and smouldering mass of ruins whlch marked the main business section ot the city. There is a strong suspicion that the fire, which completely destroyed the Sco- vile House, burning thousands of dollars worth of furniture, apartments and per sonal effects, imperiling many lives, was the work of an incendiary. The re- building of ruined structures is only a question of time. Temporary quarters have been secured by all the firms Many have already telegraphed for new stock and will resume business immediately. There has been more or less disorder about the streets today but the police have been very active and the militia has been of great service in handling the crowds. The streets are piled with house. hold effects and strewn with small arti- cles thrown from the windows. Some of this property was confiscated by passers- by but the amount of thieving was small compared with the opportunities offered by the confusion. The number of injured was very small and in all but two cases the injuries were slight.
 Loss Over $3o,ooo,ooo.
 The loss Will exceed $3O0O0,000. The best business portion of the city, form Ing triangle bounded on the north by southeast 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 started in the big store of Reid x Hughes Dry Goods Co., on Bank street About the time the firemen sup posed they had the flames under control second fire broke out in the Scoville House the city's leading hotel remodel led by the late Judge E. c. Lewis a few years ago at an expense of about S75,OOo and the establishment was completely wrecked. The occupants of the hotel were forced to seek the street in their night clothes.
 With the ringing of a second alarm the ntire city was thrown in,o q panic. There was fierce gale blowing and sparks from The burning hotel were thrown in show FITS over a great area. The occupants of buildings located in the path of the wind prepared to leave. Although the Waterbury fire department was rein forced from nearby cities it was impos- sible for a time to stay the progress of the flames. The fire in its entirety burn ed over four acres of the citys best busi- ness section.
 Prominent Buildings Gone. Among the prominent buildings totally destroyed are the blocks occupied by the RejI G Hughes Dry Goods Company, the plant of the Waterbury American. the Masonic Temple the Scoville and Frank lin Houses the w. l.. Douglass Shoe Company, the Johnson block the Salva- tion Army Working Mems Home and scores or other buildings. In all about one hundred of the most prominent business houses are burned out
 Rarely have firemen been obliged to contend against worse conditions than those which prevailed from first to last in this disastrous conflagration. The wind was blowing a gale and the cold was in- tensc It seemed at one time as 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 Engin- eering Company's $7OOOO building. but a few feet away, and the Masonic Temple on the north side of the bank building were wiped out of existence.
 Needs No Outside Aid.
 An Associated Press correspondent asked Mayor Kulduf if he would call for financial aid from outside cities. The Mayor responded quickly. saying:
 ''Waterbury, although suffering a griev- ous blow, will take care of herself al though extremely grateful for the ex- pressions of sympathy that have poured in on every side
 Within an hour special trains from those cities were speeding toward Wa terbury with apparatus
 The arrival of help served to inspire courage among the Waterburyians. but stil. the fire continued its work of de- struction. Meanwhile thieves took ad- vantage of deserted houses and it be- came necessary to order out the militia, and Companies and G of the Second Regiment were quickly on duty. Before midnight more than a whole city block had been laid in ruins and there seemed to be no end to the work of havoc. Just as the fremen seemed about to stamp ont the fire it would break out again In another place.
 At a. m. the firemen seemed to be gaining control of the fire An hour later many of the citizens had withdrawn to their homes. only to be thrown into re- newed panic by another outbreak this time in the Scoville House adjacent to the city hall This fire. it is stated originated fin the billiard room and is surrounded by mystery In two hours the hotel with other nearby buildings had been gutted The fremen continued their work and at 6:30 had begun again to secure the up- per hand.
 It was not until 10 o'clock. however, that it was deiinitfly felt that the fire had been conquered. The Scovile and Franklin House ruins were still blaz- ing and in the ruined district volumes of smoke arose from the debris.