Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-01-04
BIG FIRE IN CHICAGO.
A Bad Blaze RACES for Several
Hours in Windy City.
THE LOSS IS $500, 900.
Flames Spread Rapidly and Much Prop
erty Is Destroyed-Two Fire
men Meet Death.

Chicago, ILL.,, Dec. 31.-A fire which
destroyed property worth 100000 i'll
West Van Buren, street today started on
the second floor Of the seven-story brick
building occupied by the Cash Buyers
| union. The building was entirely de-
| Stroyed.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
| Spreading rapidly the fire soon assumed
iarse proportions. Fearing that the whole
| district was in danger, a second alarm
was sent IN, closely followed by a series
OF extra calls for additional men and
apparatus. When the fire penetrated to
the adjoining building, occupied by the
Leno Manufacturing company, a four
story structure, the fremen were ordered
to the roofs Of adjacent buildings to fight
the flames. Within a few minutes the
flames had Quilted the structure and had
spread to the Boston Rubber Paint COM
pany. Then the flames, cracking the
brick walls of the building, spread to
1902 West Van Buren, street, causing
heavy damage to the Peninsular Stove
company, which firm occupied the seven
floors.
Other Buildings Take Fire.
SO fierce did the blaze become that
burning sparks, carried by high gale,
were driven far over the district and
buildings blocks away caught fire.
With defamation that was heard for
squares an explosion in the basement Of
the Cash Buyers union building tore up
the streets and sidewalks, throwing fire.
men into the air and tearing live wires of
the Van Buren, street electric car line
down.
Fred Blockia. fireman, was struck on
the head by falling bricks, and severely
injured
Crushing down through the frail walls
Of the structure adjoining, the towering
walls Of the Peninsular Stove company
and those of the Cash Buyers union tot
tered and collapsed. A number of small
explosions followed the fall of the walls
A two-story frame dwelling at 1868 Van
Buren,, occupied as a rooming house, was
crushed like a shell by the falling walls.
The inmates had been awakened earlier
and escaped to the street, but were I'M
able to save any of their clothing.
The stables occupied by Fortune
Brothers Brewing company were Quilted.
The horses were saved.
Panic on Elevated Trains.
There was small panic OH the Metro
pOlitan elevated railway when the motor
men rushed their cars through the smoke
Passengers attempted to get out but
were held in check by the guards. When
the explosion occurred the windows in
the residences across the street were
shattered and chimneys We're thrown
down.
Firemen who were in the path CT the
falling walls escaped death by leaping
into a hole that was being dug at the side
Of frame building.
The fire is pronounced by Chief Cam
pion to have made more rapid headway
than any in his experience since the great
fire of 1871.
Principal Losses.
The principal losses are:
1e2-1e4 West Van Buren, street seven
story brick building. 5000; Peninsular
street, seven-story brick building, $4,000;
Cash Buyers First National Cooperative
society, 100000; 154-156 West Van Buren,
street, fve-story brick building, $4,000:
Rubber Paint company. $4,000; Zeno Manu-
featuring company. $4,000.
Losses on other buildings in the vicinity
range from $500 to $4,000.
Fire last night completely destroyed the
repair barns of the Chicago Union Trac-
ton company at Fortieth and Western
avenue, entailing a loss of S150,OO0. The
flames had gained much headway when
discovered, and the high wind prevailing
rendered it impossible for the fremen to
save the buildings Sparks and blazing
pieces of wood were thrown around the
dozen families were compelled by the
firemen to leave their homes, which were
endangered. The flames were, however.
confined to the car shops after a hard
fight.
Two fremen We're killed, two others
and one spectator were injured by the
falling of portion of the wall. The dead
are Capt. Paul Dick and Lieut.. John
Pyne.
Loss Is 100000.
Cincinnati. O., Dee. 31.-The loss from
the fire in the Standard Marble works
was today estimated at 100000.
Ann Arbor School Burns
Ann Arbor. Mich, Dec 31-The high
school building in this city was destroyed
by fire today. The loss is $4,000 and
the increase $4,000
Fire at Providence, R. I.
Providence. R. l., Dec. 31.-Fire in the
III. A. Grimwood & Co. lumber sheds has
caused a loss of 100000.
Little Rock. Ark, Dec. 31.-The Gun
bingham Milling company's plant and
Little Rock Furniture Manufacturing
company burned this morning. Loss,
$150,0O0.
FATAL WRECK ON THE 500.