Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-03
BLAZE WIPES OUT
BUSINESS DISTRICT
Of BAY STATE CITY
Fall River Loss Estimated
From 1000. 900 to as High
at s25,ooo. coo.
OFFICES, HOTELS, BANKS
AND THEATERS RUINED
Engines From Many Cities Work
All Night to Combat Spread
of Flames.

BIZ the Associated Press.
FALL RIVER. Mass. February s.
The Fall River business district lay in
ruins today Only a few gaunt walls
stood in an area of five blocks which
was swept by fire last night and early
this morning.
The loss was estimated by the mayor
and police chief as between S70oo,ooo
and $4,000 600 Some insurance men
thought it might run as hisn as
sc5 900 600.
There was no loss of life. Several
1reren and others were slightly injured
hv falling walls and the effects OF
smoke. Two thousand WORKERS III
ohces, banks, hotels and stores were
without employment today.
Six Banks DESTROYED.
Starting at the corner of PoccaSSet
.rd Main streets. the flames swept
,,o-rhyard 10 Bank street and eastward
IN Rock street. They destroyed tnree
hotels. six banks. two theaters. cnurcn'
a newspaper plant and several once
and store buildings.
F,rernen from all cities and towns IN
this vicinity and from cities as iar away
As Providence and Boston helped IN the
sI,-n,cht fight. 1t was 2:3o am. before
they we're assured that the flames wouio
not spread into the residential oistrict
and result IN a still worse confagraton
The fire started in what vas formerly
the No / mill Of the PocasseV Manu-
featuring Co. The four units OF ms
abandoned textile plant were In process
OF demolition.
II was the oil-soaked floors OF the old
mill that gave the flames their ire
nendous force at the start a strong
wind carried burning embers long Gus,
tances- Almost Immediately tne Fau
River Fire Department realized that II
could not cope with the fire and hur-
red calls for help were sent out. This
vas early in the evening Downtown
theaters we're filed Warning was
given 10 the audiences and they hleo
out without panic Guests at hotels
in the path of the flames -ere notined
in lime 10 leave before the IRE reached
them
Telegraph Ofices Burn
Relenflesxiy the wall OF name pushed
forward into the heart OF the business
district Al the height of the FIRE ali
communication with outside points was
czrt OF. The Western Union and Postal
Telegraph Companies lost their guar
terS-
The telephone exchange on Bank
street was saved but the operators were
ordered out when 1t appeared that the
building would 60. They returned this
morning 10 find everything intact. but
o church wall leaning against one side
OF the building.
The principal buildings destroyed
were: Mohiczn Hotel. largest in city.
with 400 rooms. Wilbur Hotel. Bay
State House. Massasoit- Poccasset Ma
tional Bank an eigft-story building:
Metacomet National Bank. Citizens
Savings Bank Fali River Cooperative
Bank Troy Cooperative Bank: Peoples
Cooper atise Bank. Granite Building.
fngton Building old Fall River Herald
Building, plant Of Fail River Indepen-
dent. French language newspaper: New
York, New Haven g. Hartford Railroad
bus terminal and Temple Bethel
Visitors Prove Heroes.
To the heroism OF five fremen who
came from their homes in other cities
70 aid IN fighting the fire Fall River
To-Day gave q large measure of credit
for hating the spread Of flames along
North Main street. The five included
Psre Chief Daley Of Erockton and four
men Of the Taunton Fire Department
The flames had swept through tho
asonican Hotel and the Riaito Tneater
s7d were licking at the walls Of the
Merchants Building northward toward
Bank street. Chief Daley was fighting
the fire at that point He called for
volunteers 10 enter the building. and
the Taunton men responded Under
the leadership of the Brockton chief the
men. went into the smoking building,
dragging hose line From the interio-
they gradually forced back the flames
End held them until the danger passed
and the fire was under control.