The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-21
T0R0NT0'S BIG FIRE,
One Hundred and Twenty-tlIree
Buildings Burned.
LOSS OVER FIVE MILLIONS.

Desperate Fight Of the Firemen, Aid
ed BY Companies From Neishboring
Cities.
Toronto, Ont, April 81 The fire that
raged throughout the night and up to
an early hour in Toronto's wholesale
ana retail business district was
tile most disastrous in the history
Of the city. The total loss is conserya-
lively estimated at between five and
six million dollars. The principal ware
houses Of the city were reduced to
ashes and nearly $50 firms were put
out Of business.
The area covered BY the fire was
three blocks In length and varied from
| hair block TO two blocks IN width
Every building on Bay street, from
Melinda street southwark TO the Es-
planade at the water front, was wiped
out, and the fire spread on Wellington
and Front streets and the Esplanade,
along the water front, from their in
tersection with Bay street for dis
tances Of from a few hundred feet to
a whole block
The total number of buildings de
stroyed were: Bay street, east side.
20; west side, 80; Wellington street.
north side, IL; south side, Z; Front
street, north, %; south, n; Esplanade,
4; Piper street, 1
Early In the evening, when the fire
assumed alarming proportions, appeals
for assistance were sent to London,
Hamilton, Montreal and Buffalo. Spe-
cial trains were at once started from
/ these points, but ii was long after mid
night before the first Of them began
to arrive. and in the meantime the 10
cal firemen were having the fight Of
their lives. From the time the fire
started until ii burned itself out there
was not moment when the shift q
the wind to the north would not have
resulted ia the destruction of tbs
GREATER part % the city
Despite the crashing Of walls ai1e
the confusion. only one serious ACCT
dent occurred. Fire Chief Thompson
cot trapped by the flames and was
forced to jump from the top Of q build
ing. A network of wires broke hii
ram and saved his life RE ESCAPED
with d broken leg When the chic
made the leap for his life q trayeie
from Montreal was on the root VIII
him. and no trace of him has sine
been seen. 1t Is probable that be PSI
ished ID the flames.
Where the Fire Started.
E rhe fire started IN the elevator shat
I'll Tie rear of the Eurrie building q
wellington street from Curries th
danes spread across the street I
Brown Bros. and from there eas
ID Bay street The wind, which ha
. been brisk increased to q gale. A ger
eraI alarm was sounded, but befbr
Mi the force had reached the scene IL
FIRE had Ieaped to The high building
occupied by Ansley s Go. and Pugsiey
Dineman Il CO. Then Sucking s CO.
building, adjoining currie's on Il
east caught fire Almost simulta
neonsiy great forks Of flames began I
shoot out from the Brown building
ana the firemen were obliged to spli
their forces The roof Of Ding1nan
Moneypenny's building, on the noru
east corner Of Bay and Wellingto
streets was the next place to hurs
into flames. IN an incredibly shol
/ time Stockings, Currie's, Browns an
! bingham 4 Moneypenny's were all
mass Of danes and the streams Of WI
ter thrown into them had no anparen
effect
, The Gale Manufacturing company
immense plant in the rear Of Ansle
q 90. was the next to fall prey to th
fire and shortly afterward the flame
from the east side Of Dingman !
Aioneynenny's were carried across
the east side Of Bay street to the 0ftic
Speciality building
If was here that the fireInen unite
forces and made desperate stand
cheek the progress Of the flames nortl
t ward into the heart Of the city The
i won. but not until they had lost cor
E troll Of tile flames which were no'
sweeping down Bay street toward e
river front
: The fire cut its way through the rea
81 the Brown Bros. building, whic
faces on Front street. the first stree
south of wellington. In brief spae
IF time Front street on both sides wa
IKE d roaring furnace. For over hal
an hour the FIRE ia Front street burne
fiercely practically unchecked.
it then began to work Its way bae
up Bay street, Gordon Mackay & Co.
warehouse serving as choice fuel
few minutes before midnight I'll
Canada Rubber company's plant star
ed 10 burn. while tt lasted this furnish
cd the hottest and fiercest eonnagrs
ton of the night. The flames continue
north on Bay street until a eomplei
circle Of fire had formed around th
II Brock building on the southwest 90
ner Of Bay and wellington streets, ovc
which the danes had hurdled Ia the
frst dash south The building wa
soon in ashes
Queens Hotsls Marrow Escape.
1t was only the intervening park tbs
saved the Queens hotei one Of q
4s.aE I,,f,Aaf,.{ns "a 4bp nf4v So III