Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27

evening is brother Of Mrs. w. C.
Wyman, 407 North Court street.
Sioux City, Dec. "a. Sioux City
awoke on the day before Christmas
with two solid blocks Of her best bust
ness section completely destroyed by
fire. The conf1agration, which was
the greatest in the city's half century
of existence began last evening about
8 o'clock and entailed loss that will
reach nearly two and one half mil
lions of dollars. will throw hundreds
of people out Of employment and
caused the loss Of at least one life.
| 1t was not until 3 O'Clock this morn
fire fighting apparatus hastily sent
| from other cities were safely under
control.
Buildings which were erected dur
ing the old boom days, worthy to have
graced cities of twice the size, such
as the Toy Bank building and the
Massachusetts block and about which
the business life of the city conferred,
were laid in ashes, and the whole vi
tai business life of the city was
struck a crushing blow.
| Telegraph Service Disabled.
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany, whose entire plant was de-
stroyed, has established a temporary
Office at the Northwestern depot. To-
day new equipment and telegraph
apparatus arrived from Omaha and
other cities and will be installed at
once In a temporary location.
The Postal company had its wires
in working order early in the day.
-..ost. of the property destroyed was
reasonably well insured and. the re.
building of the burned buildings will
begin in most instances as soon as the
losses are adjusted.
/ The district burned over lies in the
center of the business portion of the
city and among the buildings were sew
eral Of the most substantial in the
city. In these buildings were located
a number of large stores, several whole:
1sale establishments and three national
banks.
4. The fire. started in the basement of
the, .Pelletier. department store, corner
of Fourth and Jackson street at 8
Io'clock, but it's origin is in
doubt. A large number Of Christmas
shoppers crowded the Pelletier and
other stores and it was with difficulty
all managed to escape from the burn.
ing building. The flames enyeloped
much of the building before the fire
department arrived, and was quite be-
yond control.
Flames Garry Everything In Path.
For three hours and half until they
, had gotten beyond the range of the
large buildings the flames carried ev
erything in their path. Both tele
graph companies were put out of bust
J ness, although q, great number of tele
Long distance circuits were later es
tablished with outside points.
The fire las gotten under control al
t 11:3o with the assistance. of severa
, outside departments.
: The burned buildings include three
banks, the Western Union telegraph
: office, and dozen other large mercan
, tile concerns. The entire territory be
+ tween Jackson and Pierce and Thirt
f and Fourth streets was practically con
! sumed by II o'clock and the fire wal
! still spreading rapidly, with the fire
!. men unable to secure control.
i Flames Cut of Communication.
8 Both telegraph companies wire
! were all lost before 10 O'clock, TEN
8 porarily cutting off communicated
9 with outside cities. Later telephon
wires were used over circuitou
9 route.
; The fire started in the Pelletier d.
partment store, located in the To
u building, a six story stone block, col
l. ner Fourth and Jackson streets occ,
0 pied also by the First National banl
The entire building and contents wer
destroyed, but before the firemen coul
secure control the flames had sprea
Q also to the Massachusetts, block on tn
/. west another six story building, wit
the heat sufficiently intense to kee
the gathering holiday shoppers bloc
away
$ Firemen Are PowerIess.
I Firemen were unable to get nea
enough to do any material good /
stopping the flames which rapid
/. spread westward, assisted by bris
= wind. In the course of their fight til
flames were communicated to a scor
: of other business places, west of tn
Toy block. Among these were tn
following which are entirely d,
stroyed:
The Massachusetts building occl
pied by seven large stores, includin
the Gillette hardware company; tn
B. Pullman hotel; Johnson & Aronsol