The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-27
More Than Half Best Square
in City Destroyed.
THE LOSS OVER a MILLION
May be as High as Twice That Sun
There Was No Loss of Life So Far
as is Known Though Two Per-
sons Are Reported Missing.

fBy Associated Press.)

\
CINCINNATI. O., February 26.-More
clnnati was destroyed by fire to-day. The
square bounded by Vine. Fourth. Wal
nut and Third Streets. including the
Pike building and Opera House. was con-
ceded to DO the most sol!dly constructed
portion OF the city. That 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 Com
pany'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 1880 A. NJ,
and 1t was 1:3O P. NJ. before 1t was fully
under control, although the entire fire
department Of this city and the fre de-.
&partments OF surrounding towns were
constantly pouring dozens Of streams on
he conilagration. There arc score or
more streams still pouring on the smoking
ruins tonight, and they will keep It UP
ali night. While the property loss IS the
largest in the history of the city by fire,
II is believed there was no loss OF IRE,
although two men who lodged IN the
pike Opera House building are still miss
ING tonight. John keenan, and Joseph
Schnefer. who were badly hurt Winle
escaping from burning buildings. are re-
ported Tonight as resting we'll. Several
FORCES of f,remen who We're caught on the
roofs of burning buildings had narrow es-
capes, but all were rescued by LADDERS,
i Manager Hunt, of the Pike Opera'
House, secured Robinson's opera uouse
Today. and will finish his bookinGs LOT .ns
season commencing with Mrs. FlsKe' next
week. One OF the heaviest losers Is the
Henrietta Crossman Company, which was
at the Pike this week and lost every
thing, even the safe with the receipts from
q crowded house last night. Their fu-
ture Is not determined. but the company
WILL not appear againtthls Week
~ BIG PROPERTY.
In some of tho thirty law offices that
were burned were documents that can.
not be replaced. for pending litigation end
property rights. Tho fire was >such that
few office safes withstood It.
The total loss tonight Is estimated ct
from Sl.50O,O00 to 100000, which is dis
tributed among the occupants Of four
large offices, building and other struc-
lures. I55
The fire was discovered In the cellar
OF George Joffees grocery in the Pike
building on Fourth Street between Vine
and Walnut, An hour later there was an
explosion, supposed to come from II
uuors In storage and the flames soon af-
forwards shot UP through the roof of
tho six-story stone front building and
from that time on for several hours the
fire was beyond control. The Pike build
ing was totally destroyed. including the
office of the United States Express Com
pnny, tho Adams Express Company,
Whites restaurant, owned by Maynard
and Kerr. George Joffee's grocery; John
b. Martins Restaurant, Dmpsons com
foctlonery, Henry Strauss cigar store and
tho offices Of the Pike Theatre Com
pany on the first floor. the Pike Theatre
auditorium and green rooms and other
offices on the second floor and all of
the offices on the third, fourth and fifth
floors
I, The seasongood building, adjoining the
pike building on the west, at the corner
of Vine and Fourth Streets, was badly
damaged.
Z OTHER BUILDINGS.
The building adjoining the Pike build
Ing on the east, owned by j. B. Harrison
sslate. and occupied by the Robert Clarke
s,,'olnpany, publishers, and Duhme Broth
\ IRIS, jewelers., on the first floor, and 9th
hrs In the utpcr stories, was totally de-
ltroyed. 4,
The Fosdlck building, east Of the Rob-