The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-18

Fire which completely destroyed the
I warehouse Of the Phoenix Furniture Com
I pany. No. 1904 Pine street. and partially
| destroyed two residences and the Union
I Hotel. WAS discovered shortly after l.al
o'clock yesterday afternoon The total
/ damage IS estimated az about Sl00co.
II originated in the warehouse and the
/ first alarm was closely followed by a soc
ond and then By a general Nearly every
available engine in the city was ordered
To the IRE and It was not completely cN-
tinguished until nearly o'clock
The burning building made one OF the
most spectacular conlagrations that has
been seen in St Louis in several years
Fire and smoke poured through every
window and within twenty minutes after
the fire had been discovered the fvc-story
building was a seething mass OF flames.
GAINED HEADwAY RAPIDLY.
The fire offered stubborn resistance to
the efforts Of the fremen. and before the
engines reached the scene had gained a
headway that could not he overcome.
An elevator shaft allowed the flames 10
80 from floor 10 floor and caused draft
which added to the difficulties the fire.
men encountered.
On both sides were three-story buildings
less than half a. high as the warehouse.
By 2:i5 p. II. the two upper floors had
been gutted by the flames and, their sup
ports being destroyed. the walls fell
The east wall crashed through the roof
Of the building adjoining. No. 1902 Pine
street, carrying the three floors and their
contents to the basement The ground
floor Of this building was occupied by the
plumbing shop Of John G. Bluthardt,
which was almost a total loss. The build
ing, which was damaged about $s,oo0. be-
longed TO the Fullerton estate.
WALL FELL ON HOUSE.
The next building east is occupied by
the Union Hotel. All skylights and win
dows on the west side were broken and
the place flooded with water. II. c.
Lucas, proprietor OF the hotel. said that
ne thought the damage would amount TO
S50a. Lorenzo Gandolfo owns the build
ing, which is damaged S1.ooO.
The occupants OF the rooms above Blut-
Ihardt's shop were told OF their danger by
the firemen Immediately after the fire
started. and all left The building but Mrs.
Leslie, who Is an Invalid. Policemen car
ried her out.
For two hours seven streams played on
the fire, but, because Of the highly com
bustible nature Of the contents OF the
building. did not subdue the flames until
everything had been burned.
ORIGIN NOT KNOWN.
Henry Nathanson, president OF the Phoe-
nix Furniture Company. was unable to
say what the damage would be. He said
that the contents OF the building were COW
cred by insurance. The building was owned
by Thomas Dunn Of the Dunn Mercantile
and Loan Company.
Considerable trouble was experienced in
raising the water towers on account OF the
trolley wires. One OF these wires sagged
so low when a support was cut. that 1t
touched a horse hitched to the water tow
er from Engine-hoUse No. .. The horse
was knocked down. and did not recover
for several minutes.
The origin Of the fire is not known.
Many OF the employees Of the Phoenix Fur
niture Company were in the building at
the time the fire was discovered. Most
OF these are Of the opinion that crossed
electric light wires caused the fire