The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-03

Cincinnati, February 26.-More than
one-half Of the best square in Cincin-
natl was destroyed by fire today. The
square, bounded by Vine, Fourth, Val
nut and Third streets, including the
Pike building and opera GUS was con-
ceded to be the most soIidly constructed
portion of the city. That half of the
north Of the Baker alley, with the ex-
ception Of the Carlisle building at the
southwestern corner of Fourth and
American Book Company's publication
house. the Woodrow Printing Works,
the Zumbriel Box Factory and other
concerns on the south side of Baker
alley, are also burned out.
The fire was discovered at 100 a. m.
and it was 1:30 p. m. before it was fully
under control, although the entire fire
department of this city and the fire de-
partments of surrounding towns were
constantly pouring in dozens of streams
on the confiagration. There are a scole
or more streams still pouring on the
smoking ruins tonight, and hey will
keep it up all night. While the proper
ty loss is the largest in the history Of
the city by fire, it Is believed there was
nc loss of life, although two men who
lodged in the Pike opera house building
are still missing tonight. John keenan,
and Joseph Schaefer, who were badly
hurt while escaping from burning build
ings, are reported tonight as resting
we'll. Several forces of firemen who
were caught on the roofs of burning
buildings, had narrow escapes, but all
were rescued by ladders.
Manager Hunt of the Pike opera
house secured Robinson's opera house
today, and will finish his bookings for
this season, commencing with Mrs.
Fiske next week. One Of the heaviest
losers is the Henrietta Crossman COM
pany, which was at the Pike this week
and lost everything, even the sare with
the receipts from a crowded house last
night. Their future is not determined,
but the company will not appear again
this week.
In some thirty law offices that were
burned, were documents that cannot be
replaced for pending litigation and
property rights. This fire was such
that few offices safes withstood 1t.
The total loss tonight is estimated at
from 81, 500, 600 to 81, coo, 900 which is d,s-
tributed among the occupants Of Jour
large office buildings and other struc-
lures.
The fire started in the celler of the
Georgia Joffees Grocery in the Pike
l,,;l1io- 49, N~,,r% -+,o@+ -+-rar yin
and Walnut. An hour later there was
an explosion, supposed to ccme from
liquors in storage and the flames soon
afterwards shot up through the roof
Of the six story stone front build
ing and from that time on
for several hours, the fire was
beyond control. The Pike building
was totally destroyed, including the
Office OF the United States Express CUM
pany, the Adams Express company,
Whites restaurant owned by Maynord
and Kerr, George Joffees grocery, John
Il. Martins restaurant, Empson's ON
fectionery, Henry Strauss Cigar store
and the offices of the Pike Theat: COM
! pany on the first floor, the Pike Thea
tire auditorium n green rooms and
other offices on the second floor and all
of the offices on the third. fourth and
fifth floors.
The S~easongood building, adjoining
the Pike building on the west at the
corner of Vine ana Fourth street. was
badly damaged. The FOsd:ck building
east of the Robert Clark COM
pany and Duhme Brothers and occu-
pied by the Norfolk and Western rail
road and others was badly damaged,
while the Carlisle building occupied by
he Southern Pacific Railroad company
and Smith & Sons and the Cincinnati
Trust company on the first floor and
| very rSny offices on the other five floors
vas damaged.
The front stone walls of the PIX
building and those Of adjoining struc-
lures owned by Robert Clark & Co,
and the Duhme Brothers jeweiry stC-e
| and Of the ~SeasongOod buildings with
| STOOD the heat and did not fall. The
| rear walls of these structures, however
which are Of brick, gave way with the
| falling floors.
The fire swept across the alley known
as Baker street and burned the large
| publishing house of the American Boob
| Company at the corner IF Baker stree
and other property along Baker stree
and did great damage to the telephone
building SO hat all telephones in tht
city were cut off for some time.
All the guests in the burned house or
Irvine street just across from the tele,
phone building were called out of Their
rooms as were those at the Gibson, tn.
Emery and Stag hotels which were il
close proximity to the fire. The Kan
II -@N->