The San Francisco call., 1904-12-24
Driven by Fire From
Big Department
Store.
Sioux City, Iowa, Visited by
Two Million Dollar
Blaze.
One Man Loses His Life and Two
Blocks in Heart of the City
Laid Waste.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa. Dec. PA fire,
which resulted in the death of one
man, a monetary loss roughly esti-
mated at 100000 and the destruc-
ton of nearly two. whole blocks, start
ed in the basement of the Pelletier de-
partment store, in the Toy block, a
six-story stone building at Fourth and
Jackson streets. at s o'clock tonight.
The burned district lies in the center
Of the business portion of the city. and
among the buildings destroyed were
several of the most substantial strue-
lures in the city. In these buildings
were located large stores, several
wholesale establishments and three ma
tional banks.
The man killed was a tenant in the
Massachusetts building, who jumped
from the fifth story.
A large number Of Christmas shop
pers crowded the Pelletier and other
stores, and it was with difficulty that
all managed 10 escape from the burn
ing building. The flames enveloped the
structure before the fire department
arrived and were soon beyond control.
For three hours and a half the flames
carried everything in their path. Both
telegraph companies were put out Of
business Although q FTsst BuSaber OF
telephone circuits were within the dis
trict burned, long distance circuits were
later established with outside points.
From the Pelletier store the flames
spread to the Massachusetts, block, a
six-story building. The Massachusetts
building was occupied by seven large
stores, including the Gillette Hardware
Company, the Pullman Hotel, Johnson
& Aronson. clothing and furnishings;
Orkin Bros, ladies' furnishings; George
Conway, wholesale tobacco and cigars,
and the American Express Company.
Several families lived in the rear of
the buildings, but all the occupants
escaped.
The next building destroyed was the
Commercial block. In this structure
were located the City National Bank,
]. ]. Prugh; Warfield-Pratt-H Howell
Company, wholesale grocers; Peavy &
Nash, furniture; Dow Clothing Com
pany; Harsted & Halsuth, shoes; The
odore Becker, tailor; Y, aid Hardware
Company and the Western Union Tele-
graph Company.
Leaping across the alley the fire next
spread to the smaller buildings facing
Fourth street These included the
Northwestern National Bank; Seller
Bros, wholesale liquors, and Magner
& Welsh's saloon. Other buildings
burned include the Leader Hotel at
Third and Pierce streets; the West Ho-
tel, new structure at Third and Ne
braska streets; Higman & Skinner.
wholesale boots and shoes. and a large
number of small establishments.
When the flames had reached a point
near the Tribune building. facing
Pierce street, the firemen concentrated
their efforts and managed to prevent
the destruction of that building. al
though it was much damaged.
The outside departments did not ar
rive in time to offer material aid.
A partial list of losses is: Pelleiter
Dry Goods Company, s24O 600: ]. K
Prugh & Co., loss $50, 900: r. r. Pur-
slow, West Hotel and other buildings
s45, 900; Commercial block. $40 900:
Schulein estate, loss $50 900; George NJ
Conway. wholesale tobacconist. loss
S55,000; State Bank Building Company
Toy building, loss s175,OOO: Martin
Bros, department store, loss s25.OO0