Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-29
HAS SEVERE BLAZE
Chicago Visited by One of the
Most Destructive Fires Since
the One of 1871.
LOSS MILLION AND QUARTER
Three Big Firms in Block at Wabash
Avenue and Monroe Street
Suffer Heavily.

Chicago, Jan. 29.-One of the most
disastrous fires that has afflicted the
downtown district of Chicago since
1871 occurred last evening in the
block bounded by Wabash and Michi-
gan avenues and Madison and Monroe
streets.
Beginning at o'clock and raging in
full fury until $3.50, it practically de-
stroped the buildings occupied by AL
| fred Peats & Co, John A. Colby &
Son, and Edison Keith & Co, besides
doing large damage to adjacent struc-
lures in both avenues. The loss is es-
timated at $1,250,000, in great part
covered by insurance.
| Employed 90 Engines.
| In point of number of engines at
work and additional alarms, the fire
was the largest in Chicago since the
summer of 1894. Last night there were
60 steamers engaged in pumping water
for the scores of streams thrown into
the burning buildings The fire of
1894, which held the record until last
night, was lumber yard blaze which
swept the district about Ashland ave
nue., Wood and Twenty-second streets
Firemen declared the fire last night
the largest within the loop district, in
the matter of property loss, since the
fire of 1874
| Tens of Thousands See 1t.
The fire throughout was spectacular
and attracted tens of thousands Of
persons to view it. The four elevated
railroad systems of the city were par
alyzed in their loop terminals, and the
Cottage Grove and Indiana surface
lines were blocked for five hours
Theaters in the vicinity of the fire
were almost deserted during the ear
lier acts of the plays.
One fireman was slightly injured
but otherwise the record is free from
casualties, in spite of the terrifi,
sweep of the flames and the shar,
cold of the night, made more bitter b,
a northwest gale.
Breaks Ont Again.
: Smoldering debris in the rear of tn
basement of the Colby building brok
: again into blaze at 1880 o'clock. ant
again swept the length of the build
! ing. 1t broke through TO the first ant
second floors of the furniture store
/ which had suffered but a water an
/ smoke damage before.
/ Many of the engine companies ha
t returned to their quarters when tn
q second fire appeared and call fo
S five engines was hastily sent in.
e Owing to danger from falling wall:
r the tiremen were compelled to figh
the new blaze from a distance, an
= several times were driven back whe
they sought in this later struggle
enter the Colby store. They succeede
in preventing a spread to the Morr
and Remington stores, which had su
= fered chiefly by water and smoke b
J fore. although their losses also wei
L Increased.
The losses as apportioned are:
e Alfred Peats & Co., $250,000.
Il John A. Colby & Sons, 100000.
+ Edison, Keith & Co., 100000.
4 Gage Bros, $4,000.
IneOdOre AScer company, $Z5,UUU.
/ Others who suffered losses, chief
m by smoke and water, were:
TO Carl Hetchert, artificial flower de;
IT. er, $4,000.
IN Remington Typewriter company, 5
g. O0O
u John A. Bryant company pianos, S
H. 900.
nc Million LOSS mt Indianapolis.
C. Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 29.-Fire
u the warehouse of Henry Coburn & {
~ early today caused loss of 100000
a" with insurance of $575,000. Over
hundred firms with goods stored
~, the warehouse are losers.
ho Packing House Burns.
,d- Kansas City, Mo-, Jan. 29.-Fire
unknown origin started in the canni
department on the second floor of I
. twin main buildings of the packi
plant of Nelson Morris & Co. Ii
night 1t threatened the destruction
~ the entire plant and caused loss
I timated at 100000 before it was c
trolied. The building destroyed c
ne tanned the canning department, &C
ers, dressing rooms, wholesale deps
III ment, and killing beds. The box 1
ur tory in the rear of the main build
'eu was entirely destroyed. Many of
lCI. coftla in tho nhutoc warn huruod