The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-28
MILLIONS EATEN
UP BY FIERCE FIRE
HalT a Block in Cincinnati
Falls in Ruin.
OUIOF THEJAWS OF DEAF H
Thrilling Escap. From Blazing Roof---8ravs
Telephone Girls Stand 10 Their Posts
Within Ring Of Roaring
Flames.

(By the Associated Press.)
Cincinnati. Ohio. Feb 26.-More than
one half of The best square in Cincinnati
was destroyed by fire today. The square,
bounded by Vine, Fourth, Walnut and
Third streets, including the Pike build
ing and Opera House was considered to
be the most solidly constructed portion
OF the city The half north of Baker,
Alley with the exception of the Carlisle
building at the southwestern corner of
Fourth and Walnut streets is in ruins,
while the American Book Company's pub
LEGATION house. the Woodrow Printing
Works the Zumbrial Box Factory and
other concerns on the south side Of
Baker Alley, arc also burned out.
The fire was discovered at 1 80 a. m,
and II was 1870 p. m. before 1t was I'm
ally under control although the entire
fire department of this city and the fire
departments of surrounding towns were
constantly pouring dense streams on the
conflagration. There are a score or more
streams still pouring on the smoking
ruins tonight and they will keep it up all
night.
While the property loss is the largest
in the history of the city by fire. it is
believed there was no loss of life, al
though two men who lodged in the
Pike Opera House building are still miss
ing tonight. John Keenan, and Joseph
Schaefer. who were badly hurt while es-
Gaping from burning buildings, are re-
ported tonight as resting well. Several
forces of firemen who were caught on
the roofs of burning buildings. had mar
rev escapes, but all were rescued By
ladders
The total loss tonight is estimated at
from sl.500.000 to $4,000, 000 which is dis
fributed along the occupants of four
large office buildings and other struc-
lures.
There were many narrow escapes
Night Waterman John Agin and Mat
Garrettson and Harry Richardson, door
keeper. saved six lives by entering the
building and forcing their way through
the smoke and rescuing dodgers Five
men were asleep in rear room of the
Pike building when they were rescued by
having their door broken in They were
John Mulvern. B. w. Zeigler, H. C.
Storey, J. r. Mcdonald and w. c. Askher.
All escaped in their 81 p clothes Agiu
Richardson and CalrafaaH proceeded
through the buildine the ala III
to al until they had a op helped 90.
? OF the structure then ives
DISCOVERY o. THE FIRE.
The fire was discovered in the cellar
OF George Joffe's grocery in the Pike
building on Fourth street, between Vine
and Walnut An hour later there was
an explosion supposed to come from
liquors in storage. and the flames soon
afterwards shot up through the roof of
the six-story stone front building 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
Company, the Adams Express Company.
Whites restaurant, owned by Maynard &
Kerr, George Joffes grocery, John B.
Martins restaurant. Empsons confection-
cry, Henry Strauss cigar store and the
offices of the Pike Theatre Company on
The first floor, the Pike Theatre audito-
rum and green rooms and other offices
on the second floor and all of the offices
on the third. fourth and fifth floors.
The Seasongood building adjoining the
Pike building on the west. at the corner
of Vine and 4th streets, was badly dam
aged. The building, owned by the
Harrison estate and occupied by the
Clark Company. publishers and others
IN the upper stories was totally destroyed.
The Fosdck building east of the Robert
Clarke Company and Duhme Bros. and
occupied by the Norfolk and Western
Railroad and others was badly damaged
while the Carlisle building, occupied by
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,
and Smith & Sons and The Cincinnati
Trust Company on the first floor and
very many offices on the other five floors
was damaged.
The front stone walls of the Pike
building and those of adjoining struC-
aures. owned by Robert Clarke Company,
and the Duhme Bros. iewelry store OF
the Seasongood buildings withstood 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 Book
COMPANY at the corner of Baker street
end other property along Baker street
and did great damage to the telephone
building so that eleven telephones in the
CITY were cut off for some time. All the
guests in the burned house on Vine
street. iust across from the telephone
building were called out of their rooms
as were those at the Gibson. the Emery
and stag hotels which were in close
proximity to the fire.
A THRILLING ESCAPE.
The escape of VIII Jones, the vel
known Cincinnati actor. just before the
roof of the Pike building fell. and hi;
rescue half dead from the top of Tho
building was thrilling and almost
miraculous one.
After hard rehearsal Jones went Il
the Pike building about midnight to ge
his valise which he had left in studio
of an artist friend on the fourth floor
After entering he was so tired he fel
asIecp in h chair When he awoke sud