The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-01

Rochester, N. Y, Feb. 26.-The sun
set tonight with ten engines pouring
streams of water on the ruins of what
was practically the retail dry goods
district of this city, for three out of
the five department stores were con-
sumed in today's disastrous fire, one
Of which, the Sibley, Lindsay and
Curr Company, was by far the largest
establishment of this kind in the city,
and the Oldest. Insurance men place
the loss at $4,000, 600. OF this amount
S15O,0O0 represents the loss on build
ings, and the remainder the loss on
stocks of goods and to occupants of
offices. 1t is estimated that $500 peo-
pie are thrown out Of work, temper
arily, at least, because of the fire.
The district lies on the north side
Of Main street, between St. PAU
street and Clinton avenue, north, rum
ming from St. Paul street almost the
entire length OF the block.
The fire started in the store of the
Rochester Drygoods Company, and
worked west, taking but n store east
Of this establishment, that of the
Walkover Shoe Company, before its
progress was checked in hat direc-
ton. Next west was the store of the
Beadle, S~herburne Company, which
was destroyed, hen the marble block,
occupied by the Sibley, Lindsay and
Curr Company, also destroyed. and
finally the thirteen story granite build
ing, the lower part of which ais
was occupied by the Sibley, Lindsay
and Curr Company, and the upper
part by offices. Only the front wall of
the marble building is standing to-
night. The shell of n granite build
ing is intact and the floors are in
place. but the building is Quilted.
Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Company's
six story wholesale building, together
with the stables in the rear, was de-
stroyed with all its valuable contents,
this loss being placed at $1,450,000.
There was a livery stable and somu
frame dwellings on Division street, q
narrow thoroughfaTe in the rear of
the burned stores and these were
damaged by water and falling walls.
There were no casualties and no
one was injured except Assistant Chief
Frank A. Jaynes, who was struck by
a flying nozzle and received some
bruises.
The power on the trolley line run
ming along Main street was cut off to
4 UCIAIoN SASSN 4SANsp o1i0 nv
cars have run through the block
where the fire occurred all day. All
other traffic has also been stopped
and it probably will not be resumed
until Monday.
Following is a table o. the losses:
Granite building, 100000.
Marble building, $4,000.
Buell. estate, 5000
Cornwell building, 100000.
Kirley hUilding. $4,000.
Walkover Shoe Company. SO, 900.
Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company,
s250.000.
The loss on Stock was as follows:
Sibley. Lindsay e Curr Company,
retail, $780, 900, wholesale, $780,
600; tenants in Granite building,
5000, 900; Beadle & Sherburne Com
pany, $4,000; Rochester Company,
s15O.000.
The smaller losses foot uo $50, 600.
The fire was discovered by the night
Waterman in the employ Of the Ro-
chester Drygoods Company. It was
first seen at 4:50 o'clock and the
Waterman says it started from a fuse
which blew out in the electric ele-
vator connection. Almost sinaulta-
neously an explosion occurred in the
basement OF Beadle & Sherburne's,
next door. Smoke and flames poured
trough the elevator grating in the
sidewalk and in an incredibly short
time the buildings were a mass of
flames