The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-14

IRE swept InIOu6 IdlcISOH lOudI LII
in it's desolate wake are the ashes Of
property valued in preliminary esti-
mate at $40. 600, coo. It burned its way
through the business section of the city
and claimed as it's own a majority Of
the iner structures devoted to CONNER
cial, civic, educational and religious usa.
as well as scores of houses. There was
small tribute of life and injury TO the
confederation but hundreds were left
homeless and thousands without en-
ployment.
A relief movement for the care of
those unsheltered and u%nprovided for
has been organized and OH Hench-
eliffe said tonight that Paterson would
be able to care for her own without ap-
pealing to the charity of other commu-
mites and states. The great
turing plants Of the place are safe and
the community, temporarily dazed by
the calamity. already has commenced
the work of reorganization and restor-
alton.
The fire came at last midnight an I
was checked only after a desp fight
that lasted until late this afternoon.
Every city and town within reach
Of Paterson sent firemen and apparatus
to the relief of the threatened city, and
1t toe the united efforts Of them all to
win the battle. A %northerly ale gave
the conf1agration it's impetus and cat
ried its burning brands to k.ndle the
blaze afresh at other points. The fire
men made stand after stand before the
wall of fire, but were driven back re-
peatedly and when victory finally came
to them they were grimed and exhaust
ed. A partial list of the property de-
stroyed follows:
Public buildings: City hall. public
library. old city hall. police station No.
1 engine house, patrol stables, high
school and school.
Churches: First Baptist, Second Pres
byterian, Park Avenue BaIt st, st.
Marks Episcopal and st. Joseph's Ro-
man Catholic.
Ranks: First national, Second ma
tional, partially; Paterson National
Silk City Trust, Hamilton Trust. and
Paterson Trust.
Club houses: Young Mems Christia1
Association. Knights Of Columbus,
Progress Club, st. Joseph's hall and
Hamilton Club.
Office buildings: Romano building,
Katz building. Marshall & Ball; Coin
building. Old Town Clock, Old Kline
building and Stevenson building.
- go
and Postal telegraph
Theatres: The Garden.
Newspapers: The Evening News and
Sunday Chronicle.
Stores: Q~uackenbuch's dry goods:
Boston store, dry goods; Globe store,
dry goods: National Clothing Company;
Kent's drug store: KinSella's drug
store: Muzzy's hardware and general
merchandise; Marshall & Ball. cloth
iers; John Norwood, paints; Oberg'S
grocery; Wertendyke's grocery; p. II
& w. G. Shields. grocers? 1.-The Pater-
son., dry goods; Jordan's piano storH;
Sauten & Co. pianos: Federer & Nc
Nair. shoes: Zendler's confectionery
Pappin's tea store; Bagowski's mills.
merry: Brohal e Mueller. shoes; c. z
Beach. automobiles: Moreham & Son
clothiers: Paterson Gas & Electric Com.
pany: Skye's drug store and Mackin-
tosh's drug store.
An estimate from a general inspection
Of the ruins Of the residence district
place the number of people left without
shelter at 1000. A re-estimate, wher
order succeeds confusion may alter
those figures.
The fire began its work of far-reach-
i:g destruction at the power house 81
the Jersey City. Hoboken & Paterson
Traction Company. which fronted o.
Broadway and extended a block to tht
rear On Van Houten street. 1t com.
menced in the car sheds and was burn.
ing fercely when one of the emp oyes
detected 1t. 1t was coming from the
roof and a gale was blowing 1t in fork
and swirls when the fire apparatu
came changing into Broadway, Mar
and Van Houton streets. The firemer
tried to hem it in. but it speedily cross
ed a Houton street in enc diret ton
Main street in-another and gaining Wig.
$1,000 -41 1oNr
into the business district.
Paterson rests in a valley and the
conhagration was an imposing spec
tacle from the hills that wall it in. Col.
umns OF flames and smoke went higf
into the air and shed their light fol
miles. Hundreds of persons hurried
into the city before daylight to watch
the work of destruction at close rang'
With the crowd came thieves and loot
ers. but there was not much pillagina
Under orders from Governor frankie
Murphy. Companies A. G, K. and M, O
the Fifth national guard, assembled a
their armories and were held az a re-
serve force. The police, deputy sherifs
hundreds Of special watchmen n fire
men united in protecting property dur.
ing the day and vixen night came &
grim order clearing the streets was q.
sued by the city and county authori'
ties. Despite the ~precaution of the au.
thorities there was much confusion !
the streets at night. The destructi> I
OF wires left the city in darkness save
for the dull glow given of by the acres
of embers. The sale Of liquor was sus'
pended.
The area Of destruction foots II
roughly IS city blocks. From MaiE
street to Paterson street. between a
Houten Market streets. there ii
but little left. On the block ny
Main, Ellison, Washington and Marked
streets, not a signle building exceptins
that of the Paterson Savings institu'
ton. stands. All along the west side o.
Main street property Is wiped out and
on the east side also from Market Z
Van Houten streets. Along the soutf
side Of Broadway between washington
and Church streets great damage has
been done. Ellison street suffered from
the ~neighborhood Of Prospect street or
its north side. as far as Church street
On the south side Of this street there {:
widespread ruin from a short distance
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