Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31
100000 Worth Of Property
Destroyed in Chicago.
FLAMES SPREAD FAST
NO ONE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
LOST IN RUINS.
Panic on Passing Elevated Railway
Trains - Narrow Escapes From
Death-Fireman Injured.

Chicago was visited by a 100000
fire this morning. 1t was in the
business district, and is said to have
made a more rapid headway than
any since the great fire of 1871. A
number of large buildings were de-
stroyed. Fortunately no lives we1e
lost.
There were a number of explo-
sions, and a fireman was injured by
falling bricks.
CHICAGO. December 81-A fire which
destroyed 100000 worth of property in
West Van Buren, street today started on
the second floor of the seven-stOry brick
building occupied by the Cash Buyers
Union. The building was entirely destroyed.
Spreading rapidly. the fire soon assumed
large proportions. Fearing that the whole
district was in danger, second alarm
was sent In closely followed by a series of
extra calls for additional men and appa-
ratus. When the fire penetrated to the
adjoining building, occupied by the Zeno
Manufa oturing Company. a four-story
SlTuCtuTe, lHo uTeUltu WtIc OiUcIcu W tLC
roofs of adjacent buildings TO fight the
flames.
Within a few minutes the flames had
gutted the structure and had spread TO
the Boston Rubber Paint Company. Then
the flames, cracking the brick walls of
the building, spread to 1902 West Van
Buren street, causing heavy damage TO The
Peninsular Stove Company which firm &C.
cupied the seven floors.
So fierce did the blaze become that burn
ing sparks carried by high gale were
driven far over the district, and buildings
blocks away caught fire.
Explosion Tore Up Street.
With detonation that was heard for
squares an explosion in the basement of
the Cash Buyers Union building tore up
the street and sidewalks. throwing firemen
into the air and tearing live wires of
the Van Buren, street electric car line down.
Fred Blocki, a fireman struck on
the head by falling bricks and severely
injured
Crushing down through the frail walls
OF the structure adjoining, the towering
walls Of the Peninsular Stove Company and
those OF the Cash Buyers Union tottered
and collapsed series of small explosions
followed the fall of the walls.
two-story frame dwelling at 1866 16S
west Van Buren, street, occupied a
rooming house, was crushed like shell by
the falling walls. The inmates had been
awakened earlier and escaped to the street
but were unable to save any of their cloth
ing.
The stables occupied by Fortune Brothers
Brewing Company were gutted. The
horses were saved
Panic on Elevated Trains.
There was a small panic on the Metro
politan elevated railway when the motor
men rushed their cars through the smoke
Passengers attempted to get out, but were
held in check by the guards. When the ex-
plosion occurred the windows in the resi-
dences across the street were shattered
and chimneys were thrown down. Fire
men who were in the path of the falling
walls escaped death by leaping into a hole
that was being dug at the side of a frame
building
Compared With Fire of 1871.
The fire is pronounced by Chief Campion
to have made more rapid headway than
any in his experience since the great fire
of 1871.
The principal losses are: 162-164 West
Van Buren, street, seven-story brick build
ing, $1,000; Peninsular Stove Company.
500 900; 1JS-1GO Van Buren, street seven
story brick building. $4,000; Cash Buyers
First National Cooperative Society s1OO =
600; 15i-1J6 West Van Buren, street. five
story brick building, $4,000: Rubber Paint
Company, $4,000; Zeno Manufacturing
lngs in the vicinity range from $500 to
$1,000.
Fires Elsewhere,
ANN ARBOR, Mich. December 31.-The
high school building in this city was en-
tirely destroyed by fire early today The
loss is $4,000 and the insurance $4,000.
The school records were saved. stove in
the basement of the building is supposed
to have caused the fire.
ELGIN, Neb.. December 31.-Mrs Joseph
Reuss was so badly burned today in a
fire, which threatened the lives of her chill
dren and the destruction of her home. that
she died shortly after she had eXtinguished
the fire and had taken her children to
place of safety. Her clothing caught fire,
but she jumped into tank of water in
the yard, quenched the fire that was liter
ally roasting her to death and then went
back into the house and completed her
work of rescue before she succumbed.
CLEVELAND. Ohio. December 31.-Fire
today destroyed $50 feet of the Lake Shore
railway double track bridge, spanning San
dusly bay, sixty miles west of this city.
AS a result all trains were diverted via
the southern division between this city
and Toledo. AS there is but one track on
the latter line trains were somewhat de-
laved A large force of men was put to
work repairing the bridge and the railway
officials stated that traffic over II would be
resumed within short time.