Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-26
DISASTROUS FIRES.

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N. Y, WapeIlo, Iowa, Brainerd.
Mimi, and Nicholson, Pa.-Losses
Run Into Millions.
Rochester, n. Y, Feb. 26.-Rochest-
ers business section was threatened with
destruction by a fire which broke out in
the heart of the dry goods district at
FIVE O'Clock this morning. Two hours
after the alarm had been turned in, the
loss was estimated at about 81, 900, 600
with the flames spreading and Buffalo
and Syracuse appealed to tor assistance.
The fire started in the central elevator
shaft OF the Rochester dry goods company,
at l6 Main street, east. Ten minutes
after the alarm had been sounded the SIX
story building was abaze from cellar to
roof, and the walls began to bulge. In
less than half an hour the rear wall of
the building went into Division street
and the flames then went into the seven
story fire PROOF building of the Sible .
Lindsay & Curr Company, in Division
street. The walls began 10 go down in
the wholesale building district shortly
before six o'clock, and at seven o'clock
Chief Little announced that the local
department could not stop the fire. But
falo and Syracuse were at once applied
to for assistance, and started special trains
tor this city with fire apparatus. AT six
thirty O'Clock the fire had practically
made clean sweep OF the wholesale build
ing of the Sibley Lindsay and Curr Co.
At seven O'Clock there was series ofeX-
plosions which was followed by the break
ing out of the flames in the twelve story
building, corner ofSt. Paul and Main
streets east, the Hottest structure in thu
city. The Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Com
pany occupied the lower floors with its
retail quarters, while the ten upper floors
have some hundreds of tenants. Half
an hour after the fire had entered this
building it was breaking out of the win
dows on the twelfth floor. Guests in the
Eggleston and Whitcomb hotel in Main
street were called from their rooms soon
after the fire started. At eight O'Clock
half square had been burned over caus-
ing loss estimated at 81, 900, 600 and the
fire was still spreading. Buffalo and
Syracuse companies arrived jnst before
eight o'clock. At8:15 o'clock it seemed
as though the fire would cross the south
side of Main street, east, and windows
in the stores on the south side OF the
street began to crack under the terrific
heat In the Sibley, Lindsay q Curr
store there are over one thousand persons
employed while in the other establish
ments there are employed some fifteen
hundred more. The total number of
persons directly affected by the fire will
number some 5000. At 1925 the fire
was practically under control. The loss
will not exceed 81, 900, 900.
Brainerd, Mimi, Feb. 26.-The bust
ness portion of this city was damaged
by fire last night to the extent Of $780,
900. For two hours the flames threatened
the entire city and some of the leading
places of business were entirely destroy
ed before the flames were checked. The
principal losers are NJ. Koop, dry goods,
Zimmerman Bros. clothing, and Mrs. c..
Grandelmyer, millinery.
Burlington, Iowa, Feb. ga mes
sage from Wapello, Iowa early this NOR
ming, asks for assistance in fighting fire
which is reported to be beyond control.
1t was later learned, however, that only
two buildings were destroyed.
Scranton, Pa, Feb. 26.-Fire broke
outthis morning in Nicholson, % miles
from this city, on the line of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western, which threat
ems to destroy the entire business section
of the city. At 1920 o'clock nineteen
buildings were in ruins and the fire was
still spreading fercely. Dozens of
families are homeless and the business
section of the town is destroyed. The loss
now amounts to $50, 900. At 1915
o'clock the fire was under control