Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-04
BIG SIOUX CITY FIRE.
FLAMES DESTROY MucHOF CITY
RETAIL DISTRICT.
Twenty-Five buildings, Covering Two
Blocks, Burned and One Fireman Is
kiiIed-Loss Is Put at 100000
Holiday shoppers in Peril.

~@NA%G0S A'AbBP1AS IN erie
Thousands of Christmas shoppers
We're placed in peril Friday night by
fire which broke out at $50 O'Clock.
wl"n the holiday trade in Sioux City,
low was It its height, swept through
tine enter of the retail district ut the
heel Of fleeing buyers ana sightseers.
burr over two solid blocks and
cituse, a property less of $2oCO,000.
That many persons We're not Killed or
injured is little short of marvellous. A.
it was an unidentified man lost his life
by jumping from fifth story window,
and twenty buildings, including
three banks and many of the leading
business houses of the city, We're de-
stroyed
The fire started in the basement of
the Pelletier department store from a
cause that has not yet been deter
mined. The place was crowded and
when the first alarm was given there
was rush for exits which th"oatenel
to develop into n serious panic. The
clerks in the store and several men
among the shoppers combined their
efforts in protecting the women and
children, the last of whom We're lei
out of danget Just as the flames reach.
ed the ground floor
Meanwhile large crowd had gath
cred from near by business houses,
filling the streets and making effective
work by the firemen almost impossi-
BILE. All the available police were call.
ed into service but they were not
strong enough to meet the emergency
and in many instances force had 10 b.
used TO drive back the excited Specta
tors. Several persons We're panfully
crushed In the mob. but none was Sc.
riously injured. Within a short time
the Toy Building, in which the Pei
letter store is located, was enyeloped
by flames, which, carried by 4 brisk
wind, threatened 70 destroy the entire
retail district
The tiremen seemed TO be losing
ground in their fight against the blaze,
which threw out intense heat ana Sent
shower of blazing torches over near,
by buildings, igniting many of them.
This rain of fire, however. had the
compensating advantage of driylp"
back the crowds, making it possible %
attack the flames with rIore vigor.
For three hours and half, or until
it had got beyond range of the large
buildings. the fire carried everything
in its path. Calls for help We're sent
to all towns within radius of i hun-
dred miles. Several responded and
gave assistance in Bringing the flames
under control at 1880 O'Clock.
List of Losers Large.
The territory between jackson,
Pierce, Third and Fourth streets, in
which were many Of the most sub
stantial buildings in the city, was
burned over. The principal buildings
and business houses destro.r ed are as
follows:
The Toy Building. Il six-stoly stone
structure. in which, besides the Pelle-
tier store, were the First National
Bank and many offices: the Massachu
sets Building, d1olltF SiA-StOiJ I'll w 80
ture, occupied by seven large 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 and cigars; Ameri'
can Express Company's Offices, filed
with Christmas goods awaiting ship
ment or delivery; the Commercial
Block, occupied by the City National
Bank: ]. ]. Prugh, queensware: War
field Pratt Howell Company, whole
sale grocers: Peavey & Nash. fun III
ture: Dow Clothing Company; Harsted
& Halsnth, shoes: Theodore Becker
Tailoring Company. Waldo Hardware
Company and the Western Union Tel
egraph Company; the Northwestern
National Bank. Seller Brothers
wholesale liquors; Wagner & Welsh.
saloon; Higman Il skinner, wholesale
boots and shoes and large number
of small establishments.