Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15
Two Large Areas Widely Separ.
Rted Were Devastated Tues
day.
HEBREWS IN GREAT FEAR
Thought the Second Coming Of the
Messiah Was at ITnnd-Over 100
of Their Families Homeless-
Heavy Rain Causes suffer.
inR-Loss 100000.

mates or RocHesters ire loss or
To-day made early this evening
place the amount at about.
100000 Temple Berth Kodesh is a
total loss. 1t was one of the most
handsome churches in Rochester. val
ucd at 100000. The Palmer building
where the oonflagration started this
morning is a smouldering ruin and
the loss to owners and tenants is
about 100000. First Reformed
Church small structure. lies in
ruins. The loss there was not more
than $4,000.
Fifty houses are in ruins and as
many more are damaged more or less.
More than 100 families are homeless.
most Of them being Polish Hebrews.
who have not recovered from their
fear OF earlier in the day that the
second coming Of tho Messiah was at
hand. fear brought on by the pail
Of smoke and rapidly falling firebrands
in their section OF the city.
Mayor Edgerton this evening issued
a call for relief funds for these FAM
lilies. Some of them are quartered IN
precinct houses, and large NUMBER
of them are spending the night at
public school number nine.
Militia with loaded rifles are patrolling
the fire area tonight and will remain on
duty until order is restored.
heavy rain set In at six O'Clock to-
night and while it helped in eXtinguishing
the smouderng ruins, it was hardship
on the homeless, especially those whose
household effects are in the open. Thievine
which started earlier in the day has been
stopped by the presence of the militia.
INCREASE IN INSURANCE.
Because of the numerous fires which
Rochester has had lately the board OF
fire underwriters has increased rates hero
on all buildings except dwellings % cents
on every 800. The increase went into
effect at five O'Clock to-day.
The fire broke out at eleven o'clock this
morning in the Palmer building. a -four
story brick structure devoted to MANI
featuring interests at Min and Glib:
streets. The fire spread over wide
area jumped nearly mile ant
started second series Of fires. of sucl
proportions that the local fire department,
seemed to inefficient to cope with the situa.
ton Aid was summoned from Buffalo
and Syracuse. both Of which rushed COM
panies to Rochester. BY the time OF
their arrival. however. the local firemcr
were masters within both fire areas. The
outside COMPANIES were held on reserve
duty in the center OF tho city. ever,
Rochester company having been called
out by the long series of alarms.
Hundreds of Rochester people are home
less tonight and are camping out nea
the scenes of the fires with what valuable
they were able to save from their homes
Over them the local companies OF milti;
stand guard. having been ordered out II
the afternoon on order OF Mayor Edger
ton.
Although accurate estimates cannot b.
made at this time the loss Is estimated
at least 100000 This includes s60,o0 OF
the Palmer building, $4,000 on the Hunt
ing company. manufacturing plumber
supplies, which occupied tho first foo,
$4,000 on the beautiful Jewish temple
Berth Kodesh which Is in ruins. and tn
rest, in small amounts is apportone
among smaller manufacturers, hous
owners and tenants
THE BUILDINGS BURNED.
Buildings which were destroyed in add
ton to about 80 residences were tn
Palmer building. Temple Berth Kodesl
First Reformed Church OF America, tn
First German Lutheran Zion Church. S
Peters Presbyterian Church suffered SON,
damage. There was loss also in tn
Palmer lumber yards and to severe
small firms on Main street east adjoinin
the Main Palmer building.
IT was reported during the progress {
the fire that one girl. employed In tn
Palmer building was missing and this
nod u lad a. ~
ports contradcted both rumors Ther
was no loss OF life. Several Of the f1reme
were injured by falling walls or owe
come by smoke. but none was seriousl
hurt.
ORIGIN UNDETERMINED
The origin of the hre has not been d.
t4rmined. It was seen first from outsid
the Palmer buildings. sweeping acros
The third story half of which was vacan
There was delay in sounding the alarm
and when it came the frrmen were bus
Ct a small blaze on State street. TIE
minutes are said to have elapsed befoi
the fremen arrived and in that time II
flames had spread from cellar to CARR
Of the Palmer building, which was or
rlass of flames A gale said by II
weather bureau to have been Is miles a
hour but seemingly of much greater "
Iocity, was sending the sparks in
northwesterly direction over the city ar
The entire section Of the city. which
for the most part residential, was
terror.
On the second floor Of the Palmer bull
ing was the meteorological Instrume
company. Randall, Green & Baker. or
vat manufacturers had one-half OF Il
third floor and the other half was vacar
I'm the top floor THEM Erchman
dye manufacturers had rooms. The CT
v.t company and instrument compaT
employed a large number OF girls the
escape was shut off on the stairwa
hnu the elevator shaft was raging ~
mace. The girls came down the fire e
onpes In good order and passed on
Safety.
SPREAD WAS RAPID.
nv the time fire hosa had been laid, Il