The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-04-27
LOSS OF TEN MILLIONS.
A Large Section of Toronto's
Business District Burned.


Death-Triple Execution at Chicago.
Desperate Fight With Maniac.
Sunday Baseball.
A wind-fanned fire swept through
section of Toronto's wholesale bus
mess district on Tuesday night, caus-
ing a loss which will run up into the
millions. The fire started in a fac
tory in Wellington street about ,
O'Clock. In less than an hour the
Ncmes had spread from building to
building on both sides of the street
until the whole block was mass of
flames and the fire was utterly beyond
control of the local department.
Appeals were sent to every sur
rounding city where fire fighting ap'
paratus could be obtained asking for
assistance Montreal, London, Ham
ilton and Buffalo at once responded,
but it took hours before they could be
of assistance.
ment and George Dowkes of Montreal
were cut off by the flames while di-
recting the work Of firemen from a
roof. Thompson jumped six stories
TO the ground and mlraculously es-
capped with a bro. Zen leg. A mass of
tangled wires broke his fall near the
ground. Dowkes has not been seen
since and it is believed that he per
ished.
From the Currie warehouse on Well
ington street, where it originated, the
fire spread with astounding rapidity
to the west, destroying the buildings
occupied by the Eckhart Casket COM
pany and Warwick Bros. & Rutter and
w. ]. Gage e Co., and then made a
clean sweep up Wellington street to
the Queens hotel.
The thick fire walls of the hotel ana
the concentrated efforts of the fire
fighters stopped the flames there, but
in the meantime the fire had swept
across the street and the block OF
buildings from Hay street west to the
National club was wiped out.
At that time the firemen believed
that the fire was under control but 4
shift in the wind sent the flames roar.
ing down Bay street, destroying eveis
building on both sides of the street
from the National club down to Front
| street.
Nothing could resist the force of the
flames as they swept down Bay street
towards the lake and the firemen
fought back the fire from sile streets,
confning the fire zone to the one
thoroughfare wherever possible.
The total loss by fire in the whole
sale district of Toronto Tuesday night
| will according to the most conserva'
tive estimates, total $12,000,00O while
thu total insurance Is known to be
SIS 100000.
The area swept by the fire en-
braced II acres
The total number of buildings des
troyed is 122, firms affected 222 anc
fully 10000 people are thrown out OF
employment.
The city council has passed
resolution of thanks to the Buffalo and
other outside fire brigades which re
sponded with such alacrity to the call
| for aid.
The new business district which the
merchants of Toronto will erect IN
the places where their former stores
and warehouses stood will be a mode!
of perfection so far as human ingen
uity can devise fireproof buildings and
provide facilities for fire fighting.
The city architect will recommend
It is said, that no building higher than
four stories shall be constructed un
less it be absolutely fireproof, and that
no building of any kind shall be erect
ed to greater height than seven
stories. Particular attention will be
paid to the insulation of electric
wires placed in the new buildings, i'm
perfect insulation being the generally
accepted theory as the cause of the
great fire.