The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-27
Large Department Store, Thea
ter and Others i'm Ashes.
Believe Flames Originated in
Five and Ten Cent Store.
RACED MORE THAN s HOURS
Firemen Handicapped by Fr0Z-
en- Fire HydrantS.
Skyscraper and Movie Theaters
in Flames Path.

Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 27.-Fire which
swept thru section or the re-
tail business district here today de-
stroyed the Frank & Feeder depart
ment store, the Grand Opera house,
the Hilton clothing company and a
dozen or more smaller buildings with
a loss estimated at from S3,0OO,OOO
to S4,000,000.< Four firemen were
seriously hurt and dozen or more so
badly injured that they were removed
to hospitals
1t appeared for a time as tho the
fire would sweep the entire square,
but heavy fire walls finally stayed
the progress of the flames which ate
thru the hundreds of tons of mer-
chandise piled in the stricken build
ings.
The fire is said to have started in
the j. C. McCrory & Company five
and ten cent store soon after midnight
but gave the firemen no concern until
after 4 o'clock when it had eaten its
way into the Frank & Feeder store.
Flames Leap Across Street.
A general alarm was then turned
in but the flames hidden from view
by dense clouds of smoke, had made
such progress into the adjacent build
ingsthat they were seen to he doomed.
Firemen were seriously handicapped
by the intense cold, it having been
necessary to carry hot water from
neighboring restaurants to thaw street
able.
The fire ate its way down Fifth
avenue from Snithfield street toward
Wood street and breaking windows
in buildings across Fifth avenue, drove
scores of guests from their rooms in
the Newell hotel. The Park build
ing, the oldest skyscraper in the city,
also was threatened as were a num-
Der of moving picture theaters.
At one time the flames leaped across
7 T 3D. 4
ONION department store and the Harris
theater, but were soon extinguished.
Still Burning This Morning.
AT 9 o'clock the blaze had eaten into
the rear of shops in the western sec
ton, fronting on Wood street, and the
entire downtown fire fighting appar-
atus, with the exception of the reverse
was battling to hold it under control
The principal Establishments de-
! stroyed and the early estimates of
their individual losses We're:
100000
Grand theater, owned by Harry Da-
Wis Enterprise company $25O,O00.
Davis restaurant, adjoining the
Grand theater, $4,000
Lyric theater, adjoining the Grand,
! $4,000.
White Palace restaurant $4,000.
| Crescent Jewelry company, entirely
destroyed but loss not estimated.
! Gazette-Times central office, Slight
Kirby Shoe company building Ono
tenant), $4,000.
w L. Douglas Shoe company store,
| $4,000.
McCrory five and ten cent store,
s125,0O0.
Hilton Clothing company, $4,000
There were many small stores in the
block that were badly damaged by fire
or water, while still others were en-
tirely wiped out, the losses ranging
from a few hundred up to $4,000
The block was one of the oldest in
central Pittsburg and the blaze spread
rapidly 1t was discovered, according
to the police, by Night Waterman Will
liam Endicott of the McCrory store at
1:5S a. m. Fire companies that re-
sponded to his immediate alarm found
the situation already beyond their con-
troll and a second and third alarm
We're quickly given.