The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-12-28
DISAS TROUS FIRE.
TWO MILLIoN-DoLLAR LOSS
FROM DEPARTMENT
STORE BLAZE.


jumps ana ls ihlifeu.
Sioux City, Dec. pa FIRE,
which resulted in the death Of one
nam, monetary loss roughly esti-
mated at So, COG. 900, and the de-
struction of nearly two blocks, start
ed in the basement Of the Pelletier
department. store building at Fourts
| at 8o'cIock tonight. The district
burned over lies in the centerof the
business portion of the city and
among the buildings were several
| of the most substantial structures
| in the city. In these buildings
were located 3 large number OF
stores and several wholesale estab-
lishments and three national banks.
1The FIRE started in the basement Of
the stere, but its origin is in doubt.
The man killed was . tenant in the
Massachusetts block, who jumped
from the fifth story.
A large number of Christmas
shoppers crowded the stores, and
tit was with difficulty that, all man.
|aged to escape from the burning
building. The flames enveloped
much Of the building before the fire
department arrived, and was quite
beyond control. For three hours
land q half until they had got be-
i yond range Of the large buildings
the flames carried everything in
their path. Both telegraph com.
panies were put out of business BY
reason Of their wires all being
burned out, and the Office of tht
/ Western Union was destroyed. AL
though great number Of teiephon.
circuits were within the district
long-dietance circuits were later es
ltablished with outside points.
4. From the Pelletier store tn,
q flames spread to the MsssachusetFl
4fbloss 6ash shs1# est, s-larga ssx-stsss
building. The fire continued west
ward, driven by a brisk wind. II
the course of their flight, the fame
were communicated to a score Q
other business places located il
the building west of the Toy block
Several families lived in the rear Q
/ the building, but SO far as know
all the occupants escaped.
Leapipg across the alley, the fir
next spread to the smaller build
ings facing Fourth street. Whel
the flames had reached point nea
the Tribune building, facing Pierc
street, the fremen concentrate
their efforts and managed to PR
vent the destruction of Che Tribun
; building, although it was muc
damaged. The outside depart
ments did not arrive in time to o.
fer material aid. r.-
Pekin, Dec. 24.-The Chimes
yesterday seized S,000,0 0,000rounds
Russian rifle ammunition near Fen
Tai, In the vicinity of Pekin. tt
/ ammunition was consigned tc
s Russian firm at Tientsin. and ws
evidently for Port Arthur.
/ The shipment was conceals
amo.g bales of wood brought Q
the backs of camels from Kalgal
the caravan being in charge of tt
agent Of German firm.
General Oku's headquarters, vi
Fushan, Thursday, Dec. 22.-T1
Russians along the front of Gene
al Oku's army during the night
December 20 made a determined a
tack on Lamuting, but were drive
back with heavy losses. The Ja]
anese sustained no casulties.
Dismounted Russian cavalry a
tackled the cavalry on the extren
left of the japanese line on tt
night of December 20-21, but wei
repulsed with heavy losses.
Small detachments of Russian
nightly attack the Japanese ou
posts and patrols, but with no su
cess.
New York, Dec. 23.-The Jury
Tho caea 0f Nan pattarcnn on tri