The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-24
Started In Department Store
and Burned Two Blocks.
THREE BANKS WERE GUTTED
One Fireman Lost Life and Several Families
Lining In Rear Places Had Narrow
Escapes From DEATH

Sioux city. Ia, Dec 24.-A fire. which
started shortly before o'clock last night
In tho Pelletier department store had. up
to II o'clock, destroyed property valued
at more than 100000. The entire terri
tory between Jackson and Pierce and
Third and Fourth streets has been de-
stroyed
Assistance was sought from outside
cities and an engine and other apparatus
was started from Omaha. The burned
buildings include three banks. the West
ern Union Telegraph Office and several
large mercantile concerns
The wires OF both telegraph companies
were all lost before 10 O'clock temporari-
ly cutting Off communication with the
outside. Later telephone wires were used
over a circuitous route.
The next building destroyed was the
the Commercial block, containing the
city National Bank; j. j. Prugh, Queens
ware; Warfield- -Pratt-Howel company,
wholesale grocers: Peavey q Nash. furni-
ture; Dow Clothing company; Harsted &
Hatsuth. shoes; TheodorC Decker Tailor
ing company, Wilde Hardware company
and the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany.
FAMILIES ESCAPED.
were entirely destroyed: The Massachu-
setts building occupied by seven large
stores, including the Gillette Hardware
Co, the Pullman Hotel, Johnson q Aron-
son. clothing and furnishings; Orkin
Brothers, ladies' furnishings; George Con-
way, wholesale tobacco and cigars. and
the American Express company. Several
families lived i'm the rear OF the building,
but 80 far as known all the occupants es-
capped
The fire started In the Pelletier depart
ment store located in the Toy building,
a six-story stone block at the corner OF
Fourth and Jackson streets.- -occnpled also
by the First National Bank.
The entire building together with its
contents, was destroyed. and before the
firemen could secure control OF the flames
they had spread TO the Massachusetts
block on the west. another large six-story
building, and thence 10 score OF other
business places west or the Toy block.
TELEGRAPH OFFICE BURNED.
The fire next spread TO the buildings
facing Fourth street, including the North
western National bank. Seller Bros,
wholesale liquors. and Magnor a Welsh
saloon.
The wires OF both the Postal and West
ern Union Telegraph companies were In
the path OF the flames. which, In addition
to the West Union office, destroyed near
ly a block OF cables connecting its system
OF wires with the main office The Postal
company's office was not I'm the burned
district. but it's wires were destroyed.
other buildings burned included the
Leader Hotel, the West Hotel, large
new structure OF Higman and Skinner.
wholesale boots and shoes, and large
number of small establishments.
The fire was gotten under control after
three and one-half hours work, after
practically two blocks had been burned
over. One fireman was killed
LOSSES OF FIRMS
Sioux City, Ia, Dec. A.-The following
is a partial list OF losses in last nights
fire:
Pelletier Drygoods company $4,000. in
surance 10000.
Orkin Brothers. furnishings $4,000 In
surance $500.
TX Brugh and Company, queensware,
$4,000, insurance $4,000.
r. r. Purslow. West Hotel and others
buildings $4,000. insurance $4,000
Commercial block 10000. insurance half.
Schulein estate $4,000. insurance $50, 600.
Northwestern National Bank 5000 COW
cred Bagley and company, clothing, sl5
600 covered; Paul Leader. hotel, $50. 900. in
surance $4,000: George II. Conway,
wholesale tobacco, $4,000. insurance A5
900: state bank building company Toy
building sl75 600. insurance unknown: Mar
tin Brothers, department store s25,eaa.
covered: Davidson Brothers department
store $4,000. covered; Magnor and Wells.
saloon $1,000, insurance $4,000.