Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15


in the belfry Of Berth Kodesh Temple.
occupying the opposite corner. The blazc
at-St. Peters was quenched and at no
time was the fire allowed to gain head
way there. although the sparks fell In
showers for two hours.
@!.s water tower and most OF the hose
was kept playing on the Palmer build
ing and the FIRE ate down through Berth
Kodesh Temple uninterrupted for some
time. when the f1remen turned their
attention there. the flames were beyond
control The building was sacrificed to
the FIRE II was one Of the most hand
some church buildings In Rochester.
1t was a question Of minutes only
the walls Of the Palmer building began
to fall. Twice spectators shouted warn
ings to the fremen. and none too soon.
Some of them we're struck by the falling
bricks and were removed to the hos
pital Hose cart No. was buried Se-
meath the ruins. Failing. the east wall
crushed through the roof Of adjoining
buildings and demolished a part Of the
frame structure. These buildings were
old and the loss from their destruction
Is small except to tenants.
THOUGHT WHOLE CITY DOOMED.
The many scenes OF panic among the
residents can only be imagined. APP
partenly all reason was lost. and there
was but one thought--the city was
doomed. without purpose, some Of the
women threw from the windows OF
houses not yet burning beds. bureaus.
table. and all sorts Of articles Of furniture
and personal belongings. In this way
considerable property was demolished.
which otherwise might have been saved.
The fires broke out so frequently in the
northern part Of the city that companies
could not be despatched to all of them.
Volunteer brigades were formed and
helped in holding down the fire loss.
FIRE A MILE AWAY.
While the Palmer fire was at its
height. the sparks carried mile and
lighted on the First Reformed Church OF
America at Oregon ard Harrison streets.
a mile distant. The building was a frame
structure and burned like so much tind-
er. Little attention was paid to the new
fire at first. only one company being
sent from the scene Of the Main street
confiagration. At the same time. alarms
sounded from half a dozen boxes in the
same vicinity. Jets Of fire were begin
| ming to aIpear on buildings scattered
over wide area. The Reformed Church
| ire aided by the wind, helped to spread
| the destruction. The entire district was
rapidly a scene OF confusion and calls for
additional aid We're hurried in. Chief
Little then sent three more companies
away from the main fire. Chatham,
| Kelly and Nassau streets and Hudson
avenue were dotted with flames. When
the seriousness Of this situation was
realized Chief Little had n conference
with members of the board OF fire under
writer's, at which it was decided to APP
peal to Buffalo and Syracuse for aid.
| THOUGHT THE MESSIAH WAS COM
| ING.
The Chatham, Nassau and Kelly streets
section is in the Jewish district OF the
city. This is the last day Of the Feast
Of the Passover. and many of the Polish
| Hebrews. seeing the pail of smoke and
the fire falling on all sides. interpreted
the situation as the outward. visible sign
I Of the second coming Of the Messiah.
The actions Of the residents became
hysterical. Men, women and children
tore their hair and knelt in the streets
to pray. Their shouts We're terrifying.
Still others seized armfuls OF goods from,
the houses and rushed with the into the
street or into other houses. where the
| advancing fire later ate them up. One
woman, Mary kirschnamsky. OF 1l9 kel-
~ street. went violently insane and was
removed the Rochester State hospital
Draymen reaped harvest. A large
number Of rigs. of various description:
invaded the district and offered for s.
$40 or more to remove goods to places|o
safety. Any amount asked was given b,
the half crazed Polish Jews and the store,
: as many Of their goods as possible ont
the wagons, never knowing even thei
| destination.
, From house to house, through stree
after street, the fires leaped along burn
Ing buildings on Chatham. Nassau. Kelly
Baden Oregon and Harrison streets an
Hudson avenue. The stand made by tn
, hremen a Kelly street was successful
even as that at stillson street had bee
3 In stopping the other eonnagration.
: ANOTHER SOURCE OF ALARM.
At three o'clock this afternoon cam
, another source OF alarm. Fire ha
. broken out in a three story brick bloc
at North and Delevan streets and at
brick house farther north on North street
Both are thought to have been cause
by sparks from one of the other tw
Q fires. Neither Of these fires was Above
i to obtain Roadway. but the residents G
that section were none the less alarme
u and were ready to vacate their permse
;. at the slightest sign of real danger.
The total number of houses burned !
G about 80 in addition to which severa
Il times as many more have been DANA 9
z ed.
=, CITY TERROR STRICKEN.
q Tonight Rochester is terror-strickey
t To-day's hres are a elimination Of a
- uninterrupted series Of fires OF week
q many Of which have been charged t
n incendiarism. Added to this natural feal
r is the fact that. although both of tc
y days nres have been under control sine
three o'clock this afternoon the flame
are till smouldering In dozens Of place.
The wind is Increasing in velocity an
: close watch is being kept in thos
districts which are in its path. Fire
men and police, reserve forces and al
y will do all night duty, augmented by tn
l. three companies of local militia.
The remains Of many households ~
II piled In the open, back Of Grove place
watched by their owners and by III
militia The driving gale and pail c
y smoke add to the cheerlessness. THE,
C ing has broken ont in some sections
Is but household goods In the streets an
" other open places are being WATCHED
: The military patrol will be continued
:, by order OF Mayor Edgerton until some
u