The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-24
Nearly Two of Sioux City's Best
Business Blocks Burned.
One Man Lost His Life by Jump.
ing Four Stories.
ORIGIN IS IN DOUBT.
Started in the Basement of a
Big Department Store.
Was Crowded With Christmas
Shoppers at the Time.

Sioux City, Ia, Dec. 24.-Sioux City
awoke the day before Christmas with
two of its best business blocks in
ashes. causing a loss that may reach
two millions and a half, throwing
hundreds of people out of employment
and entailing the loss of at least one
life.
The fire had originated in the base
ment of the PelIetier Dry Goods COM
pany at Fourth and jackson streets,
one of the main corners of the city. A
strong wind was blowing from the
west and the fire soon spread from the
Massachusetts, building to the Toy
building across Jackson street, a seven
story structure. and then leaped across
Fourth street to the Metropolitan
block, which also was a seven-story
building. This building was only par
tally destroyed, but the Toy block and
fits annex on the east were entirely
burned.
The Massachusetts building, in
which the Pelletier Dr. Goods COM
pany was located, was soon destroyed
and the fire swept toward the west,
finally wiping out two of the blocks in
the center of the city between Jackson
street on the east, Pierce street on the
west, Fourth street on the north and
Third street on the south. Within this
territory the only buildings saved were
Fourth and Pierce streets and the
Tribune building on Pierce near Third.
Many tiEles the flames leaped across
Fourth Street, and plate glass windows
large stores
Three Hotels Burned.
Three hotels were burned, the West,
Leader, and Pullman All the guests
escaped in safety. The man who was
killed jumped from a fOurth-story win
dow in the Massac husetts building. He
struck a wire and missed the net be-
ing held by the firemen- Nobody has
been able to identify him. There was
no other serious casualty.
For several hours it was believed the
whole business section of the city
would be burned. Omaha, Council
fire apparatus, but the fire was under
control when they arrived.
The flames were finally checked ct
Pierce street after Seller Brothers
wholesale liquor establishment had been
destroyed. The Tribune building across
from the Seller building was on fire
several times and Davidson Brothers big
department store was saved only by
great effort. All of its plate glass win
dOws on Pierce street side were broken
by the heat. 1t was not until o'clock
this morning that the flames We're safe
iy under control. The Western Union
Telegraph company, whose entire plant
was destroyed. established a temporary
Office at the Chicago & Northwestern
mess at midnight. Today new equip
ment and telegraph apparatus arrived
from Omaha and other cities and will
be installed at once in a temporary To-
cation. The Postal company's loss was
less serious and it had its wires in
working order early in the day.
Most of the property destroyed was
reasonably we'll insured, and the re-
building of the burned buildings will be-
gin in most instances as soon as fire
losses are adjusted.
The Losers.
The following additional detailed loss
es are reported today:
Seller Brothers. liquor dealers, loss
SIS, Co., insurance $4,000.
Dow Clothing company, loss $65,00O
insurance S35,O0O
Other losses:
Higman, Skinner & Co., boots and
shoes. loss $4,000.
Weld Hardware company, $40, 900.
Davidson Brothers, $4,000.
Jonathan w. Brown, Bolton block,
$4,000.
Commercial block. $4,000.
Brown Block company building,
$4,000.
James Boutwell,, building, $4,000.
John Aronsen Clothing company,
stock S62, 900.
Gellett Hardware company, $23, 900.
Massachusetts Realty company,
Massachusetts building, 100000.
A large number of Christmas shop
pers crowded the Pelletier and other
stores and it was with difficulty that
all escaped from the burning building.
The flames enveloDed much of the
building before the fire departing nt ar
rived and was quite beyond control.