Evening journal., 1913-12-13
FIRE RAVACES
BIG STORE OF
MILLER BROS.
Started in Basement and Gave
Firemen Stubborn Battle
for Two Hours
LOSS is ABOUT 100000,
OPEN NEW STORE TODAY

Fire and smoke ravaged through the
building at No. 2l3 Market street. oceu.
ped by Miller Brothers Company. dry
goods, clothing and furniture dealers
yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock and
before the blaze was extiuguished the
contents OF the store were wrecked bv
The fire OF badly damaged by smoke and
water. 1t is estimated that the damaae
to the tock, furnishings and buildinu
viii amount to from $4,000 10 $50 600,
which rs only partly covered by nsur'
ance
II was one OF the most stubborn con.
hagrations that the local fire depart.
ment has Ind TO combat for several
years. Gr,l lt excitement was caused
by the lire, the store having b ,n crowd.
cd with customers AZ the time II began.
As stated IN THE EVENING JOUR.
NAL Yesterday, everyone was removed
from the building IN safety. although
one woman nearly swooncd and had ia
be assisted 70 the street.
The hre coming at this holiday SEA-
son, is worse blow than over 10 the
proPrletofa OF the store us It will great
~ interfere with their holiday trade.
lndauntcd, however. by the lire. ihe
progressive Miller Brothers this morn
ing opened at No. 200 Market street
with a full line OF stock. and they will
make that place their headqnarters the
SAME as though in their regular store
with an entirely fresh stock Of goods.
IL is believed the fire WIS caused bv
an explosion OF hot air furnace in the
basement. The store was crowded with
shoppers, most OF them women and chill
drcn, and there wns a large force of
statesmen and women at work. when tho
explosion occurred
IL was only through the presenco
Of mind OF the proprietors and man
ayers that a panic was averted and
all gotten out IN safety None of tho
girls had even time TO snatch up their
hats and coats, the hrst warming they
received OF the nre being when the
4 smoke and flames belched up from
g the cellar. anC thon It vas too lat
G TO stop for anything and there wa
: barely time 20 rs 20 safnty Eve
b the .bocks could not be aav6d then q
2 the skfes locked but the books per
Z rescned later
= u was a spectacular fire as Il hap
g pened when Market street was crowo
ed with shoppers. and to add to the
excitement. several of the dremen
we're affected by the smoke and had 70
be assisted from the building
The flames wero hrst discovered by
George Braunstein. r. L. Cloud and
d. A. McAllister, employees at tho
store, who were engaged in the base
ment They noticed smoke coming
from the vicinity Of the furnace in
the center Of the cellar. and ran to-
ward the scene. but before they roach
ed the room the whole place seemed
to burst into flames. They then ran
toward the main door TO give warn
ing and escape from the basement,
/ but before they reached there the
flames and smoke rolled up between
the cracks in the floor
/ The excitement that Immediately
prevailed was great and the level
headed male employees and managers
took charge and helped the women
out. One woman collapsed and was
assisted to the street, but With this
exception everyone IN the store reach
cd the street IN safety and without
injury.
Smoke was Blindng.
An alarm was Immediately sont in
from box No. %. and the district COM
panies quickly responded BY the
time the firemen arrived however the
main floor was 50 filled with smoke
that to enter was impossible The
cellar door in the sidewalk was OPEN
ed but the smoke that belched forth
was so dense that they could not get
close enough to property direct the
Continued on Page Three.