The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-21
MILLIONS IN ASHES
At Eleven O'clock the Fire Seemed
Under Control, but Shift of the
Wind Sent it Raging into New Ter
ritory and the Efforts Of Firemen at
Midnight Seemed Hopeless. Other
Cities were Appealed to for Aid and
are Rushing Assistance to Toronto,

Cities were Appealed to for Aid and
are Rushing Assistance to Toronto,
(By the Associated Press)
Toronto. Ont. April 19.-Fire swept
through section of Toronto's wholesale
district tonight, causing loss which will
run up into the millions. The fire start
ed in factory in Wellington street,
about nine o'clock. In less than an hour
the flames had spread from building to
building on both sides of the street until
and the fire was utterly beyond control
of the local department. Appeals were
sent to every surrounding city where fire
apparatus could be obtained, asking for
assistance, Montreal. London, Hamilton
and Buffalo at once responded, but it will
be hours before they can be of assistance.
1t was believed at II o'clock that the
fire was under control. but a sudden shift
in the wind again famed the flames into
a roar, and clouds of sparks and burning
brands were carried down side streets
until three entire blocks were doomed.
The fremen were making a gallant fight
amid the falling buildings and mass of
tangled wires, but their efforts at mid
night seemed to be fruitless.
Chief Thompson, of the fire department,
and George Dowkes of Montreal, were
cut off by the flames while directing the
work of firemen from a roof. Thompson
jumped six stories to the ground and es-
capped with broken leg.
mass of tangled wires broke his fall
near the ground. Dowkes has not been
seen since. and it is believed he has
persisted
Up to midnight the following places had
been DESTROYED:
Gellishie, Ansley & Company, hats and
furs.
Dignum &c Moneypenny. importers.
Comfort Soap Works.
Davis G Henderson, wholesale station
Jessip Steel Company's building, occu-
pied by H. w. Hutchinson & Company,
wholesale woolens.
Alcott, Sargent C Westwood fishing
tackle.
Dodds' Medicine Company
Richard L. Baker Company, agents.
E. T. Corset Company
C. H. Westwood & Company, fishing
tackle.
Garland Manufacturing Company.
F. H. Gragg, agent.
Rothschild Brothers & Company, manu-
facturers.
Thomas Hoskin. manufacturers agent.
Kinleith Paper Company.
Andrew Muirhead, wholesale paints
e. w. Gilmore e Brothers. silverwarc.
w. III. Payne & Company, commission
agents.
R. NJ. Slater & Company, wholesale
dry goods.
international Brokers, Limited.
Gale Manufacturing Company.
Whiteman & Brown. Bros, wholesale
stationers.
Ralph Smith & Company photographers
George H. Hess. Son & Company, win
dow shades.
Menzies Manufacturing Company, win
H. F. Sharpe Company, photograph
supplies.
Crown Hotel.
Office Speciality Company.
The Evening Telegram. Office and
Brock Company's warehouse were badly
damaged.
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
From the Currie warehouse on yelling
ton street, where it originated, the fire
spread with astounding rapidity to the
west, destroying the buildings occupied
by the Eckhart Casket Company and War
wick Brothers and Ruttles. Gage & Conn
pany. and then made clean sweep up
Wellington street to the Queens Hotel.
The thick fire walls of the hotel and the
concentrated efforts of the fire fighters
stopped the flames there. but in the mean
time the fire had swept across the street
and the block of buildings from Bay
street west to the National Club was
wiped out.
At that time the firemcn judged tina.
the fire was under control, but shift in
the wind sent the flames roaring down
Bay street, destroying every building OH
both sides of the street from the Ma
tional Club to Front street. The principal
buildings burned in Bay street were those
OF Wyld & Darling. Nestwood & Company,
Gale, Bond & Company, Askborn e. Sher-
win, Ashley & Company and Buckhng &
Company.
Inc warehouse oil Brock az Com
pany. Gordon Mackay G. Company, Pugs-
ley, Dingman & Company. Charles Cock
shut 4 Company and Brown Brothers
were DESTROYED.
Nothing could resist the force of the
flames as they swept down Ray street to-
ward the lake and the firemen fought
back the fire from side streets. confining
the fire zone to the one thoroughfarc
wherever possible.
Several frame buildings which thrca en-
ed to cause a spread of the fire was
blown up with dynamite.
At 1:30 this "wednesday morning) Bay
street was on fire from Wellington street
down to lake front, but the firemen were
meeting with success in their efforts to
prevent further spread aud ii is beliey.