The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1904-12-31
SIOUX CITY FIRE
COSTS 100000
firemen Are Unable to Check
Spread Of Flames in Busl-
ness District.
STARTS IN DEPARTMENT STORE
Crowds Of shoppers Are Thrown Into
Wild Panic, cool.Hesded Men As.
sistina Women and Children TO Es.
cape From Building.

Sioux City. Iowa. dispatch: Thou.
sands Of Christmas shoppers were
placed in peril Friday night by fire
which broke out az $50 o'clock. when
the holiday trade was nc rs height,
swept through the center of the re-
tail district al the heels OF fleeing buy.
ors and sightseers. burned over two
solid blocks and caused n property loss
of S2.000.000. That many persons
were not killed or injured Is little
short OF marvellous. As Il was. an un-
identified man lost his life by jump
ing from hfthstory window. and
twenty-five buildings. including three
banks ana many OF the leading bust.
ness houses OF tho city were des.
troyod.
Shoppers In a Panic.
The ire started In tho basement 81
the Polletier department store from
a cause that has not yet been deter.
mined. The place was crowded and
when the first alarm was given there
wss a rush for exits that threatened
TO develop into serious panic. The
clerks IN the store and several mcG
among the shoppers combined their
efforts In protecting the women and
children, the last OF whom were led
out Of danger just as the flames
reached the ground floor
Meanwhile a large crowd had gath.
cred from nearby business houses. nh
ing the streets and making effective
work by the hremen almost impossl.
BILE. All the available police were
called into service. but they were not
strong enough 10 meet the emergency
and In many cases force had 60 be
used TO drive back the excited spec.
tators. Several persons were pain.
fully crushed In the mob but none
was seriously injured. within short
time the Toy building. in which the
Pellotlcr store Is located, was envel-
oped by flames. which. carried by
brisk wind. threatened 70 destroy tho
entire retail district.
Wind Carries Brands
The hremen seemed 10 be losing
ground In their fight against the blaze.
which threw ont intense heat and
sent shower OF blazing torches over
nearby buildings. iEniting many OF
them. This rain OF FIRE. however. had
the componsating advantage OF driy-
Ing back the crowds making il pos
siblo 10 attack tho flames with more
yigur
For three hours and half. or until
II had got beyond range az the large
buildings The fire carried everything
IN It's path Calls FOR help were sent
10 all towns within radius Of hun.
drcd miles. Several responded and
gave assistance in bringing the flames
under control at 1870 o'clock
The territory between Jackson.
Pierce. Third and Fourth streets In
which we're many of the most subj
stantial buildings In tho city. was
burned over Tho principal buildings
and business houses destroyed are as
follows
Buildings Destroyed.
The Toy building. n siX.story stone
structure. In which besides the Polle-
tier store were the First National
bank aud many Offices the Massachu-
sets building. another slxstory struc.
turo occupied by seven largo stores.
including the Gillett Hardware com.
pany. the Pullman hotel. the Leader
hotel the West Hotel a large new
house. johnson & Aronson, clothing
and Furnishings; Orkin Brothers. Ia
dies furnishings George Conway.
wholesale tobacco aud cigars: Amcrl-
con Express company's oficcs. filed
with Christmas goods awaiting ship.
mont or delivery, the Commercial
block. occupied by the city National
bank. J J PfuRh quccnsware, War.
feld.puttllowoll company, Wholesale
Procors; Peavey q Nash, furniture,
Dow Clothing company Harsted a
Haluth, shoes. Theodore Becker Tai
lorlng company. Waldo Hardware com.
pany and the Western Union Tcic.
graph company The Northwestern Ma.
uonal bank. Seller Brothers. whole.
sale liquors. Wagner a Welsh. saloon.
Hlgman A. skinner. wholesale boots
and shoes. and large number OF
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