New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24
BIG FIRE IN SIOUX CITY.
LOSS MORE THAN 81 900 900.
One Life Lost and Many Business
Houses DESTROYED.

Sioux City, Iowa. Dec. 23.-A fire which start
ed little before o'clock tonight in the Pelle-
tier department store had UP to II o'clock de-
stroyed property valued at more than 81 100000.
The entire territory between Jackson and Pierce
and Third and Fourth SITS, has been destroyed.
and the fire is still spreading
Assistance was sought from outside cities, and
an engine and other equipment were started
from Omaha at 10 o'clock, The burned build
ings include three banks the Western Union
Telegraph office. several large mercantile con-
Germs. the Grand Theatre and other buildings.
The wires Of both telegraph companies were all
lost before 10 o'clock temporarily cutting of
communication with the outside world Later
telephone wires were used over circutous
route
The fire started in the Pelletier department
store. located in the Toy Building. a six story
stone block at Fourth and Jackson SITS, occupied
also by the First National Bank. The entire
building together with its contents, was de-
stroyed. but before the fremen could secure
control of the flames they had spread TO the
Massachusetts Block. the west another large
six story building. The firernen were unable TO
get near enough TO do any material good in
stopping the flames which rapidly spread to the
westward. assisted by a brisk wind
In the course of their flight the flames were
communicated to a score OF other business places
located In the buildings TO the west Of the Toy
Block Among these were the following which
were entirely destroyed: The Massachusetts
Building occupied by seven large stores; the
Pullman Hotel. Johnson & Aronson, clothing and
furnishings: Orkin Brothers, wOmen's furnish
ings; George Conway wholesale tobacco and
cigars and the American Express Company.
Several families lived in the rear OF the build
ing but so far as known all the occupants es-
caped.
The next building destroyed was the CONNER
ciaI Block In this structure We're located the
City National Bank, J. ]. Prugh. queensware:
the Warfeld- Pratt Howell Company wholesale
grocers; Peavy & Nash furniture; Dow Clothing
Company Harsted & Halsuth shoes; the Theo-
dore Becker Tailoring Company; the Waldo
Hardware Company and the Western Union
Telegraph Company.
Leaping across the alley. the fire next spread
To the smaller buildings facing Fourth-st. These
included the. Northwestern National Bank, Seller
Brothers. wholesale liquors. and Magner 6.
Welch's saloon.
The wires Of both the Postal and Western
Union Telegraph companies were IN the pain
of the flames. and i'm addition TO burning the
Western Union office the fire also destroyed
nearly a block OF cables connecting its system
OF wires with the main Office. The Postal COM
pany's Office was not IN the burned district but
its wires were destroyed.
Other buildings burned include the Leader
Hotel the West Hotel. large new structure
Higynan & Skinner, wholesale boots and shoes
and large number OF small establishments.
The fire was got under control about 11:30
after practically two entire blocks had been
burned over. One fireman killed
Sioux City Is the county seat OF Woodbury. County.
Iowa It IS cn the Missouri River l56 miles north
west OF Des Moines. II is an important railroad
centre among the lines entering il being the Chi
cago and Northwestern the Chicago. Milwaukee
and s. Paul. the Chicago, ST. Paul, Minneapolis
and on a.. the Illinois Central the Great North
en- and he Union Pacific Il has large maUUfactur-
ing interests comprising -four mills elevators. foun
dries. machine shops and meat packing plants. II
is the centre Of an extensive corn growing sut
stock raising region The population at the time
ot the last census in 1880 was $500