Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-28
FIREMAN CAUGHT
 UNDER A WALL
LlFELESS BODY TAKEN OUT AT
 J0HNSTOWN FIRE.
Newspaper Office Burned Out and Telegraph Operator Missing The Loss Will Reach Near
 ly SsOO.0OO.

JOnnStoWn, Pa, March 28.-For three hours immediately after mid night this morning Johnstown's business section was threatened with destruction by fire, which was only placed under control after it had burned itself practically out, caused loss estimated at $500, ,O0O. and the death of one fireman, William Camp bell. who was caught under a falling wall.
 Campbells body was taken from beneath pile of brick and mortar later by the f1remen.
 Early to-day 1t was reported that G. H. Santamore, telegraph opera tor for the Publishers Press associa- tion, was missing. Santamore was in the office of the Johnstown Jour nal, which was burned out and after the fire he could not be found. It is feared he perished in the flames.
 The fire broke out in the five story brick building at the corner of Main and Bedford streets, occupied by the Swank Hardware Co. dealers in paints, oils and hardware. The flames quickly spread through the ouiiulA6 anu e RCAOldl didl III W dO immediately sent in. Every availa- ble fireman and every piece of fire fighting apparatus was soon on the scene, but despite the firemen's ef- forts the fire was soon beyond con- trol.
 Adjoining buildings were soon in flames and considerable apprehen- sion was felt over quantity of pow der that was reported had been stored in the Swank building. There was no explosion, however, although the Swank building was entirely gut ted.
 The flames swept on to the three story brick building occupied by Fisher & Go, wholesale liquors, at the corner of Main and Clinton streets, then on to the Wild build ing, partly consumed the new five story brick building of the Hsnder- son Furniture Go and then leaped to the Geis building, four story fur niture warehouse, and also the resi- dence of l.. A.. Gels, where it prac- tically burned itself out.
 The firemen were seriously handi- capped by inadequate equipment and constantly bursting hose, and for a time 1t was thought aid would have to be summoned from Altoona. This was not necessary, however, for when the flames had swept over the five buildings and died down in the Geis building, the firemen had the situa- ton in hand, and 1t was announced that all danger of a further spread of the flames was over.
 The town was without electric lights, the wires having been burned out, and the fight against the fire was further handicapped by constantly bursting hose. The fire started from an un- known cause in the hardware estab- lishment of Swank & Co. and spread rapidly to the buildings adjoining at either side.
 The Swank Hardware company had the largest wholesale hardware estab- lishments between Pittsburg and Phil adelphia. Structures adjoining the Swank hardware building were also burned. These include the \. B. Swank carriage and harness store, the under taking rooms of George veering. the office of Alderman F.. F.. Levergood and the printing office of the Ideal prlntery. It is not yet known how the blaze started.
 The building of the Johnstown Jour nal was entirely consumed. The build- ing of the Henderson Furniture com- pany was destroyed, while the Foster building and the D. F. A. Greer build. ing were badly damaged.
 The larger losses are estimated as follows:
 Swank Hardware Co. building, five story brick and stone structure, s250,000.
 Fisher &, Co. wholesale liquors, three story brick and stone block. s150,000.
 Wild building, three story office structure. s140,000.
 l.. A. Geis building, four story brick structure. s30,000.
 l.. A. Geis, residence. s20.000. -~
 Henderson Furniture Co. five story brick structure, loss on build ing s35,000. on stock s60, 900.
 Bernard-Nees Hardward Co, stock si0.0O0, in Wild building.
 Johnstown Daily News Publishing Co. in Wild building, s25,000.