Show SANTA CLAUS WHISKERS They Ignite and Cause a Loss of 8190000 Rockford Ills Dec 24The lives of many guests of the Huffmann House were placed in jeopardy tonight when that hostelry and the block bearing its name were completely destroyed by fire causing a loss of 190000 The blaze originated in one of the show windows of Patter Broths dry goods store on the lower floor owing to the whiskers of a Santa Claus figure becoming be-coming ignited from a gas jet The flames ran through the store and its combustible stock with great rapidity finding outlet to the hotel portion of the building soon ate their way upwards through the elevator and air shafts The guests became panic stricken but fortunately none had retired re-tired and all were rescued but not without difficulty Many of the escapes were exciting and narrow the firemen being compelled to carry several of the ladies from the structure in a semiconscious semi-conscious condition The guests lost all of their personal baggage The loss sustained by Potter Brothers is 90000 with 60000 insurance The insurance on the building is 40000 I |