Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-04-20
ROCHESTER IN RUNS
CITY LOSES MILLIONS BY FIRE
OF INcENDlARY oRiGlN-sEv.
ERAL ARE DEAD.
TROOPS PATROL STREETS
Military Law Prevails In Wake Of
Flames-Help from Other Cities
Falls to Check confiagration, Which
Starts at Two Points.

nOcu6SIeT, IN. l., APR. III his City
Is to-day practically mass Of smol-
dering ruins, the Rochester militia pa
troll the streets, several persons are
dead, and the merchants and residents
Of the city have sustained monetary
loss of upwards of 100000 as re-
suit Of yesterdays destructive fire.
1t is generally supposed that incen-
diaries were the authors of the flames.
The terrific gale which blew at
rate of from 80 to 40 miles an hour,
quickly caused the flames to spread
from the Selden building, where the
first blaze was noted, to st. Peters
church, and after that 1t seemed the
entire city was mass of flames, shoot
Ing skyward.
Outsiders Arrive Too Late.
Late In the afternoon 1t was given
as the opinion of Fire Chief Little
that the two main fires were under
control
The Syracuse and Buffalo fire COM
panies arrived at four o'clock, after
the fire had spent itself.
At three o'clock more residences In
the Gibbs-Stillson street and Univer-
sity avenue section caught fire.
About the same time dwellings on
North and Delevan streets were dis
covered on fire and people living In
that section began to move out.
Help from Other Cities.
From Buffalo and Syracuse help was
sent, but the engines and fire fighters
did not arrive until the flames had got
Roadway enough to gut most of the
buildings directly In the path of the
fire.
The fire started its carnage when It
destroyed the Electro Surgical lmple.
ment Manufacturing Company's build
ing In East Main street. A strong
wind carried the flames to the roof OF
st. Peters church. Several apart
ment buildings caught fire soon after.
The fire was apparently uncomfortable
because of the gale. Every piece OF
fire apparatus was on the scene. and
appeals were sent to Syracuse and
Buffalo for assistance. Both cities
have sent aid on fast trains.
Where Flames Started.
The fire broke out in the Selden
building, a four-story structure at the
corner of Gibbs and Main streets.
That building was soon in ruins. The
flames leaped from it to st. Peters
church in Grove street, and then to the
big Jewish synagogue, the Berth Ko-
desh temple. st. Peters was saved.
but the temple was Quilted. Apart
ment houses on Grove street, valued at
100000, were swept away, and then
the flames attacked score or more of
residences on that and adjoining
streets, and is now spreading to 9th.
ers. Fully $50 families have moved
out from the paths of the flames. M
merous houses are burning, without q
single stream of water to check the
progress of the fire.
Militia Ordered Out.
The militia was ordered out by
Mayor Edgerton While the confla.
grafton was raging a second fire broke
out in the First Reformed church, g
frame structure In Oregon street
about mile from the first fire. Owing
to the necessities of combating the
greater fire only one company could re
spond, and the firemen were unable tc
save the church building.
The Palmer Lumber Company yard
across Harrison street from thu
church, caught fire next.
Girl Dies; Woman Insane.
One girl was reported missing. Sh'
worked in the burned Palmer building
A woman went violently insane from
fear, as her house was in the path o.
the flames. She was sent to hos
pital.
1t was decided to dynamite some
buildings on Stillson street In an eff
fort to control the fire. The gale raget
undated.
This section is peopled by foreign
,ers. and these became crazed will
fear, a girl going violently insane. Sh,
was taken to the state hospital 70
the insane.