Oakes Republican., 1904-04-22
HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE
TEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH
OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
At TORONTO, ONT.


At TORONTO, ONT.
Flames Sweep Through the Wholesale
District and Get Beyond Control Of
the Local Fire Observation-Disclosures
for Aid to Several SURROUNDING cit.
les Promptly Responded to by the
Arrival Of Additional Apparatus.
Toronto, Ont. April 2O.-Fire swept
through section of Toronto's whole
sale district last night, causing loss
which will reach up to $4,000 900. The
fire started in a factory in Wellington
street about o'clock. In less than
an hour the flames had spread from
building to building on both sides of
the street until the whole block was a
mass of flames and the fire was utterly
beyond control of the local depart
ment. Appeals were sent to every sur
rounding city where fire apparatus
could be obtained asking for assist
ance. Montreal, London, Hamilton
and Buffalo at once responded.
1t was believed at II o'clock that the
fire was under control but sudden
shift in the wind again famed the
flames into roar and clouds Of
sparks and burning brands were car
ried down side streets until three en-
tire blocks were doomed.
Fire Chief Thompson and George
Dowkes of Montreal were cut off by
the flames while directing the work
Of f1reme1 from a roof Thompson
jumped six stories to the ground and
miraculously escaped with a broken
leg. A mass of tangled wires broke
his fall near the ground. Dowkes has
not been seen since and it is believed
he perished.
From the Currie warehouse on Well
ington street, where it originated, the
fire spread with astounding rapidity
to the west, destroying several build
ings and then made clean sweep up
Wellington street to the Queens hotel.
Flames stopped at Hotel.
The thick walls of the hotel and the
concentrated efforts of the fire fight
ers stopped the flames there, but in
the meantime the fire had swept across
the street and the block of buildings
from Bay street west to the National
club was wiped out.
At that time the firemen believed
the fire was under control but a shift
in the wind sent the flames roaring
down Bay street. destroying every
building on both sides of the street
from the National club to Front street
Nothing could resist the force of the
flames as they swept down Bay street
toward the lake and the firemen fought
back the fire from side streets, con-
f1ning the fire zone to the one thor.
| oughfare wherever possible.
Several frame buildings which
threatened to cause spread of the
fire were blown up with dynamite.
At 1870 Wednesday morning Bay
street was on fire from Wellington
street down to the lake front, but the
firemen were meeting with success in
their efforts to prevent further
spread and it is believed the fire will
burn itself out there.
At 3:15 a. M the fire was still burn.
ing f1ercely in the two blocks between
Wellington street on the north and the
water front, bounded on the west by
Yonge street and on the east by Bay
street. The f1remen have arrived from
London, Hamilton and Buffalo. The
acting fire chief said at that hour that
the fire was practically under control
but there is still danger of its spread.
ing further to the west. The total
loss is estimated at over $10,OOO,000.