The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-01-30
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, H., Jan. 27.-More than
IA score of firemen were hurt and as
many more escaped injury or death aft
or thrilling experiences which destroyed
the Mayer. a Seven-story brick, and the
! Hotel Florence, l63-l67 Adams street,
shortly after 3 o'clock this morning
The loss it is believed will amount To
/ SooD,oUO. One fireman is reported mss
ing.
Famed by a forty-mile gale the fire
scattered burning embers about the
4 southern portion of the loop district, en-
dangering a score of structures. Twenty
guests of the hotel, which was Il four
story structure, were reused from their
beds by policemen and french. 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 EN-
change National bank. The new sky
scrapcr was given severe test, but win
the exception of some temporary wood
work resisted the flames successfully.
Two members Of the fire department
We're struck by boards which fell from
a burning scaifolding on the fifteenth
floor of the bank building one of them,
Edward Wakefield. truckman, was
knocked unconscious. The other. Her
slight bruises.
Skyscraper Bars Flame.
The wind drove the flames directly
against the bank structure which formed
Il 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 Rookcry
building at La Sale and Adams streets
and upon the board of trade, Grand Pa
cihc hotel, Illinois Trust and Savings
bank. Western Union. Home Insurance
and other big structures. Some of these
buildings were erected so long ago that
their tircproof qualities are a matter OF
doubt and detaChments of iiremcn were
sent out to keep watch upon them.
The fire started in the rear OF the sec
ond story Of the Hotel Florence. Before
they were discovered the flames gained
considerable Roadway and shortly after
the frcmen arrived the second and third
floors and 4 portion of the roar wall lcIl
\ SIX story building adjoining the hotel
on the west caught fire and was partly
damaged. 1t was occupied 10y six print
ing and two tailoring concerns, most Of
which suffered heavy damage. In three
Of the printing Offices night shifts of en-
ployca were at work and these mon were
driven to the street so hurr.rdly that
many were forced to face the blizzard
clad in the sleeveless garments of the
stercotyping 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 firemcn 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. +. Dunn x Co. printers, occupied
four floors of the Mayer building. Their
damage will amount to more than SlJO-
600. Other occupants of the Mayer
building were Dinsc, Page & Co., elcc-
trotypcrs; johnson, Koch & Quin. boo,
binders and kann Bros, dry goods spe-
calties.