The Washington herald., 1909-04-14
HALF MILLION LOSS
IN ROCHESTER FIRE
Big Blaze in the Residential
District Creates Panic.
FORTY MILE AN HOUR GALE
Most Serious of Series from Which
City Has Suffered for Six Weeks.
in Ruins-HeIp Summoned from
Buffalo and Syracuse.

Rochester, April 13.--ROChester was vis-
tied this afternoon with the most serious
fire that has afflicted the city since the
series Of fires started six weeks ago.
which created reign OF semi-terror. 1t
started IN four-story building on Main
street at the corner OF Gib5s. The
wind was blowing forty miles an hour.
Before the department arrived the flames
had leaped across Gibbs street, attack
lng three churches and half a dozen res
licences. and had descended en- a long
row Of apartment houses on Grove street
Immediately IN the rear.
The department was powerless TO re
strict the flames famed by the gale
They made a clean sweep 10 the north
east, jumped over streets. and ignited
house after house. Showers Of drebrands
carried by the wind scattered over an
area OF a mile and soon the First Re
formed Church on Harrison street, half
q mile away. was IN flames.
Second Fire Starts.
This started another fire center. The
flames leaped over the high embankment
OF the central tracks. sparing q big luu-
Der yard in their path and setting fire 70
q score Of houses on the north side Of
the tracks on Nassau, Kelly. and Baden
streets, the center Of the poor Jewish dis
trict Of the city.
While this second fire was spreading
in all directions the flames at the original
fire center were uncomfortable. High I'd
in the tower Of the handsome Jewish tenn
pie the fire played beyond reach of the
Ere men, and gradually ate It's way down
through the building while the fremen
seemed powerless 10 stop its spread.
Across the street St. Peters Church
was also on FIRE in a dozen places. Ad-
joining the residence of Rev. d.. Max
Landsberg, the Jewish rabbi. was on FIRE
Under the caves of the Jewish Temple
was the residence of Christian Brank
which was destroyed by the falling show
ers Of burning brands. Next ADJOINING
was the German Lutheran Church on
Grove street Nine substantial apartment
houses on Grove street We're all on fire
at the same time.
Entire Block AbIaze.
Down Gibbs street half dozen houses
were burning. On Stulson street. east Of
Gibbs, another half dozen dwellings We're
blazing. The entire distance for a mile
square was panic stricken. Streets and
yards were filed with furniture taken
from the burned dwellings and those
that were threatened.
Down in the other fire center. the Jew
ish district women became hysterjcal.
and were in some cases sent TO places OF
safety in anbulances by the police who
could not control them.
The alarm rang in at 11:95 O'Clock. and
at o'clock Mayor Edgerton wired TO the
departments Of Buffalo and Syracuse.
asking for assistance. Each city sent
companies to Rochester. arriving here at
3 o'clock The fires, however. were under
control before the fremen from outside
cities arrived.
The men from Buffalo and Syracuse
were held in reserve in the downtown
streets for several hours, however. as
every available piece Of fire-fghting an
paraJus in the city was ia use and the
city was left without protection.
.Gunrdsmen on Duty.
With thousands Of dollars worth n WI
liable furniture scattered over 4 terror
lied district Of a square mile. petty
thieves began 10 loot. Mayor Edgerton
asked Adjt simmons, OF the National
Guard, 70 call out the three National
Guard companies located here. They re-
ported at the State Armory at I o'clock,
and as soon as they were equipped the
men marched down TO the fire centers in
command Of Adjt. Simmons
The guardsnen were divided throughout
the district, assisting the policemen in
preserving order. maintaining the fire
lines, and protecting valuable property.
The police and soldiers were on duty all
night long, protecting property after the
flames had been extingUished.
The aggregate loss is about 100000