Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-13
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
At PATERSON, N J.
Financial Loss is Estimated at
Eight Million Dollars.
TOTAL INSURANCE is NOT KNOWN
Casualty List is Remarkably
Small.


Paterson, N. j., Feb. 10-The fierce
contlagration which burned its way
through the business centre Of Pater-
son yesterday has completely spent its
force, and is quickly dying out in the
ashes and broken brick of its ruin.
The firemcn who hurried from other
cities TO save the endangered city have
gone back to their homes, and several
companies of the local department
have been ordered to their houses for
the rest and refreshment they so sorely
need.
Conservative opinion inclined today
to cut 81, 900, 600 from the aggregate of
SO, 900, 600 loss agreed upon yesterday,
and 10000 will probably be ac-
cepted finally as the actual cost of the
fire. No tabulation of individual
losses that can be accepted as reliable
has yet been made, and it will be sew
eral days before satisfactory figures can
he prepared. Equally incomplete is
the estimate Of insurance. II was
stated today that the insurance amounts
to between S4, 600, 600 and s., 600, 600,
hut what gave basis to the calculation
was not clear. Several Of the largest
losers said that they had not yet had
an opportunity to examine their
policies, and that meantime they could
not tell what amount they carried.
Probably no fire of equal magnitude
and widespread destructiveness ever
produced an equally small casualty list.
Dozens of tiremen and the volunteers
who labored with them were slightly
injured by falling bricks and timber,
burned by flying firebrands or tempo
rarily overcome by smoke, but only u
few of them needed either surgical or
medical attention. The small casualty
list is explained by the fact that the
people had ample warming and time to
abandon their homes before the flames
came upon them.
- FIREMEN EXHAUSTED.
The fire made no headway during
| the night. Famed by strong wind, ii
burned up fitfully in places during the
early hours of the morning: but wher-
ever it showed threatening strength,
| the firemen turned streams on it and
beat it down. The firemen were com
pletely exhausted after more than &c
hours continuous work, but remained
at their posts. There was comparatively
little suffering on the part of those
rendered homeless by the fire, and the
armory, churches and public shelters
opened their doors to but few appli.
cants during the night. Practically
every home that escaped the flames was
| thrown open in spirit Of broao
charity, and nearly every refugee founc
shelter at the home of some friend.
The declaration of Mayor Hinchliff'
that the city can care for its own il
not concurred in by everybody, anc
there may he an appeal later for outside
| help, Those who are organizing a plar
of relief will soon be able to reach ;
decision on the question of asking ait
from other communities.
With the emhers still aglow in tn,
business district, commercial Paterson
planned resumption and restoration
All of the banks burned out yesterda,
| opened for business in temporary quar-
tors today, and the officials of tn
banks expressed a determination to d.
their part in maintaining the financia
standing and credit of the city.
The First National Bank sccure'
temporary housing in the building O
the Paterson Savings institution.
received many offers of assistance, an
in acknowledgment President Edwar
4. Bell issued the following statement
"The officers and directors of the Firs
National Bank desire to express thei
thanks and profound appreciation t
all friends who have so generousl
rendered their sympathy, co-operatio
and aid in the terrible calamity whic
has befallen our city, "
The Paterson Safe Deposit and Trus
Co. rented new quarters at 100 Broad
way, and the Paterson National Ban
secured room in the same building.
The Hamilton Trust Go. made a,
rangements for quarters in the builc
ing of the Second National Bank, an
with the rest resumed business at til
usual banking hour. The Hamilto
Trust Co. announced that it would, q
soon as the ruins of its old buildin
became cool enough, commence tn
erection Of u new bank building t
cost 5000, 000
All of the banks and trust companit
acIounced that their safes and vault
had proved strong enough to preserl
the securities, moneys and recore
i locked in them at the close of busine:
on Saturday.
Many of those whose business place
and homes were destroyed were RUNE
financially and must give up, but Ii
majority will be able to start afresl
a | dIo courageous NplhhVn
) The underwriters and adjusters repr,
senting the insurance companies tn;
held the hundreds of risks affected h
the fire are hurrying here, and negot
> ations for the adjustment of losses hay
been commenced.
The militiamen remained on guar
today, and will be kept under arms an
} on duty as long as necessity for the
services exists. Much valuable pro-
3 erty is still exposed, and the author
t ties are determined to prevent lootir
or disorder in any form. Saloons thi
attempted to open after midnight we
promptly closed, and the sale of liqu'
e was prohibited until after dayligh
I The holiday crowds of yesterday ha
dispersed, and the city was very qui
4 today All of the dangerous walls th
= stand are to be torn down, and Il
streets now obstructed with fallen brio
d will be cleaned.
$ Fifteen hundred public school chi
dren and several hundred more who a
s tended ST. Mary's Parochial Scho
found themselves on enforced vacation
y today, but by the end of the week tn,
n will all be back at their tasks. ~
o High School pupils will divide Il
o quarters of the Normal School, wi
/ halliday sessions at the start.
If A bread and coffee famine was avert
}. by outside aid. A Newark bread col