The Detroit times., 1910-04-20

tracks. Down-bound Woodward cars
continued coming down as long rs
there were any left In the barns ana
soon the line extended up the avenue
beyond Grand Circus park. The pas
SO myers, forced to walk. formed a con-
tinuous procession down the street,
and thus the crowd at the scene OF
the fire was continually augmented
IL is estimated that fully $4,000 view
ed the spectacle from the streets III
the immediate vicinity. street car
traffic on the Fourteenth, Sherman
ana other lines using the lower end
OF Gratiot-ave. and State-st., between
Woodward and Griswold. was also
seriously interfered with.
AS nearly as can be learned, the
fire started from crossed electric light
wires in the basement. In the vicinity
or ne new elevator shafts hetrg I'm
stalled Electricians had been at
work In the building all day and left
the place about half hour before the
fire was discovered Pine boards
used as a temporary enclosure for the
shafts. furnished excellent fuel for the
flames. and this probably explains the
rapid spread of the fire.
Myron Roberts. Is years Old of No.
39 Willardst. west. was the first TO
discover the flames. He pounded on
the door until he attracted the atten-
ton OF the Waterman. and communi-
Gated the news 10 him. Mr.. Moiles I'M
mediately turned in an alarm and en-
CINE company No. 3. GriswOld and Clif-
fordsts., responded. The captain
realized as soon as he arrived that the
department had a big job on its hands
and he lost no time in turning In
second alarm. A general alarm fol-
lowed shortly.
Water Tower Useless.
For a half hour at the start of the
blaze the water tower was useless,
owing TO an accident 10 one OF the en-
gines OF the fire tug James Battle, sta.
toned at the foot OF Woodward-ave.
The fire boat Elliott came TO the res
cue. however. and soon had her power
ful engines at work.
Several persons were Injured during
the fire. but only one seriously-Mrs.
NJ. Howard, No. II Madison-ave., who
was trampled in the crowd. She ~
believed TO be hurt internally, Mrs.
Howard was taken home In Detroit
ambulance. Harry Adams, aged 9, No.
43 Orchard-st. was also injured In
ternally from being trampled on. He
was taken home.
Fireman John Ulrich, of the auto
mobile company. was cut about the
right hand by falling glass. but re
manned on duty after his Injuries had
been dressed by DR. Bent +. Brodie.
he department surgeon. Firemen
LGward Smith and Joseph Ellwart
were slightly injured.
"Rube" Waddell There.
II was big night for "Rube" Wad-
dell. the eccentric pitcher OF the ST
Louis baseball team. Ii there Is any
thing "Rube" loves 1t Is to watch
big fire and assist in fighting II. The
blaze was at its height when he
climbed TO the roof of the Miles thea
ter building and volunteered his SER
vices TO the re-fghters stationed
there. The fremen recognized him
and turned a nozzle over 10 him. Ana
"Rube" had the time of his life.
The Hunter. K Hunter building was
built by Fred T. Moran, one of the
present fire commissioners, for Met
calf Bros. dry goods merchants, 20
years ago. at a cost Of $4,000, though
II could not be reproduced now for
that amount He sold the property
to the Fowler estate about three years
ago. The foundations were built
strongly enough to support lO-story
building, but only five were erected.
Two new stories were being added
and the work was nearing completion.
The fact that thew indows had not
been placed In the new portion gave
the wind a clean sweep and tended to
make the fire burn with great fierce
ness. The Vinton Co had the con-
tract. This concerns loss on the un
conn leted portion will be about $20.-
000 Nth $4,000 insurance.
The Central Drug Co, whose main
store Is in the same block. will sus
tain considerable loss from smoke.
The damage is estimated at about
$3.50 The Miles theater was dam
aged Ia the extent OF 500 by waite
Several awnings on the Chamber OF
Commerce caught fire from flying
sparks. One of them was on the win
dow OF the office OF Supt. George w
Morrow, Of the Anti-Saloon league.
The damape Of the Chamber OF Com
merce will re under 500
FEED THEIR YOUNG BABY