The Monticellonian., 1902-02-07
IHREE MILLIONS LOSS.
Four Acres of the Best Portion of Waterbury, Conn.,, Now a
 Mass of Ruins.
THE HEART OF TIE BUSINESS SECTION.
The City Practically Under u.rti,,
 Na'iohnl Guard Companies hhNine Been Detailed to Protect Exposed PFoperts-Hard stunt For the Eiremen.

"eeh Detailed to Protect
 EAP"Sed Properts-Hard stunt
 For the Eiremen.
 Waterbury. Conn. Feb For ten hours sunday night and Monday flames. famed by a high wind. held sway over the business portion of this city causing loss that will ex- eeed S3,0ae.0oo The best business portion of the city, forming q tfian- gle bounded on the north by Ex- change place, on the west by banks, on the south by Grand street and on the east by south Main street. was almost wiped out.
 The first fire. which started in the big store of the Reid X Hughes Dry Good Go., on Bank street. was not considered under control until about S5,0oo,ooo worth of property had been destroyed. Ahout the time the fire men supposed they had the flames under control, q second fire broke out in the SeoHille house, the eity's leading hotel, femodeled by the late Judge l.. (. Lewis, feNv years ago. at an expense of about $7j.000. and the establishment was completely wrecked. The occupants of the ho- tel were forced to seek the street in their night clothes.
 With the ringing of a second alarm the entire city was thrown into panic. There WIS fierce gale blow- ing and sparks from the burning ho- tel were driven in showers over a great area. The occupants of buld- ings located in the path of the wind prepared 10 leave. Although the Wa terburY fire department was rein forced from nearby cities, it was for time impossible to stay the prog ress of the flames. The fire. in it's entirety. burned over four acres of the eitHas best business section. Among the prominent buildings to- tally destroyed are the block oceu- pied by the Reid X Hughes Dry Goods Co, the plant of the Water- bury American, the Masonic temple, the Scoyille and Franklin houses. the W. l.. Douglas Shoe Co, the Johnson block, the Salvation Army working mems home and scores of other buildings. In all. about 100 most prominent business houses are burned out.
 Rarely have fremen been obliged to contend against worse conditions than those which prevailed, from first to last, in this disastrous confagra- ton. The wind was blowing q gale, and the cold was intense. It seemed at one time as though every strac- ture 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 Eng land Engineering Co.'S S10000 build- ing, but few feet away, and the Masonic temple, on the north side of the bank building, were wiped out of existence
 During the night the mayor was in communication with Gov. Mclean. and the militia was called out Com panies \ and q. numbering about l2o men, were detailed about the fire dis trict, and are still on duty. The city is now practically under martial law. the blue uniforms of the national guardsmen appearing on every side. Details are changed every two hours The armorv, the city hall, the churches and other public places have been turned into temporary shelters. hundreds being rendered homeless. The moral effect of this fire upon Waterbury can not be oth- erWise than profound. X press cor respondent asked Mayor Kilduff if he would call for financial aid from outside cities.
 The mayor responded quickly, say ing:
 Waterbury. although suffering grievous blow, will take care of her self, although extremely grateful for the expressions of sympathy that have poured in on every side
 At S:30 a. m., the entire fire depart ment was on duty, the danger being by no means passed. The Scoyill house was still burning and adjoining buildings were in danger. The bnld- ings in the track of the earlier fire ,Vat.p ltft1 ITIuipe.