Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-31
TWENTY INJURED
IN CHICAGO FIRE
HOTEL FLORENCE AND BUSINESS
BLOCK BURN WITH 100000
LOSS.
SKY SCRAPER HALTS FLAMES.
New Corn Exchange Bank Structure Bars
Progress and Saves Down
town District.
PORTLAND HAS ANOTHER BLAZE.

CHICAGO, Ill, Jan. 27.-More than
a score of fremen were hurt and as
many more escaped injury or death aft
er thrilling experiences which destroyed
the Mayer, a seven-story brick, and the
Hotel Florence. 163-167 Adams street
shortly after ) o'clock this morning.
The loss it is believed will amount to
100000. One fireman is reported miss
ing.
Famed by a forty-mile gale the fire
scattered burning embers about the
southern portion of the loop district, en-
dangering a score of structures. Twenty
guests of the hotel, which was four
story structure, were reused from their
beds by policemen and tiremen. All OF
the inmates are believed to have es-
capped.
Adjoining the burning structure on
the east is the partially completed SIX
teen story building Of the Corn EX-
change National bank. The new sky
scraper was given a severe test, but with
the exception of some temporary wood
work resisted the flames successfully
! Two members of the fire department
were struck by boards which fell from
a burning scaffolding on the fifteenth
floor of the bank building. One of them,
knocked unconscious. The other. Her
bert Scanlon, a plpeman, escaped With
slight bruises.
Skyscraper Bars Flame.
The wind drove the flames directly
against the bank structure which formed
q complete barrier to the spread of the
fire. but at the same time acted as Il
chimney to carrying burning brands,
sparks and emberS hundreds of feet into
the air. During the fire flaming cas-
cade of sparks poured upon the Rookery
building at La Sale and Adams streets
and upon the board Of trade, Grand Pa
cifc hotel. Illinois Trust and Savings
bank. Western Uuion, Home Insurance
and other big structures. Some of these
buildings were erected so long ago that
their tireproof qualities are matter Of
doubt and detachments of tiremen were
sent out TO keep watch upon them.
j The fire started III the rear of the sec
ond story of the Hotel Florence Before
they were discovered the flames gained
considerable Roadway and shortly after
the firemen arrived the second and third
/ floors and a portion of the rear wall fell.
/ 4 six story building adjoining the hotel
/ on the west caught fire and was partly
damaged. 1t was occupied by six print
ing and two tailoring concerns, most OF
which suffered heavy damage. In three
, of the printing offices night shifts of en-
| ployes were at work and these men were
driven to the street so hurriedly that
many were forced to face the blizzard
clad in the sleeveless garments of the
stereotyping room. Many of the guests
of the hotel were also scantily clad when
they reached the street
Controlled in Two Hours.
Despite the threatening nature of the
( fire hard work by the fremen confined
/ it to the two structures. The fight called
/ for the complete fire department forces
of the down town and wholesale district
and the men swarmed upon the roofs and
| fire escapes of adjoining structures, pour
/ ing tons of water upon The flames from
these vantage points. Two hours after
the first alarm had sounded the flames
were under control.
| w. 2. Dunn & Co., printers, occupied
four floors of the Mayer building. Theil
damage will amount to more than $50,
900. Other occupants of the Mayer
! building were Dinse, Page & Co., elec
trotypers; Johnson, Koch & Quin, boob
binders and Kann Bros, dry goods spe
cialties.