Show A disastrous FIRE the most dest conflagration of the kind that ever visited thle this territory burst forth with terrible fury shortly after 3 this morning in UM the lumber lumb and building material yard of Mor riton rhon merrill co at no north baird west street the origin of the fire further than that it was wag undoubtedly the work of an incendiary is 00 completely mple tely shrouded in ID mystery ata at 3 0 clock everything so BO far as could be seen been was waa perfectly perle oUy quiet about the yard in a remarkably short space of time thereafter two rowe of lumber twenty feet high with dumet ous intervening piles pa of building material materia extending completely across the block from east to west were in a flamer flame ame ane seething thing I 1 tongues of which shot ablith into the dispelling darkness and night air rendering iro dering it SO as light lightal as day 7 for mocks blocks ft round the fire bells belle rang out loud and long and steam whistles blew their shrill abrill harsh and horrifying ilustr until the people in all i tarts arts of the city rushed vell pell mell from their beds to certain ascertain tho the cause of the disturbance boo the four streets surrounding the block blockon ot which the fire was rapidly destroying una of thousands of dollars worth ot of property properly were filled with people while hundreds of persons persona rushed wildly on all approaching abor ough fares until the crowd was su au great that it was only with the greatest biffl locomotion could be bec arrieu coulty that teas AL A reporter was among the flatt rat on cu the ground and witnessed the of the fire fiend almust almost from the commencement for a time it appeared that every house houe on the block was waa doomed and doubtless the moat of them would have been destroyed had bad the wind been blowing but fortunately the air was waa perfectly quiet it is thought and said by some that the fire originated in a barn somewhat to the west went of the office fice jf others declare that this Js is merely mi acly a matter of conjecture and that thai flames were seen shooting up simultaneously in at least a dozen different place and that they spread towards each other with lightning like velocity until their forms were emerged in one immense sheet of flame during daring the progress pro gresa of at the fire there was the great esl eat excitement among the residents of the block and they devoted their entire energies to preventing the devouring devour log element from reaching their homes the west side department and a portion of the main brigade were frels present from the earliest moment they were able and fought abe fire to the best beat of their ability it was nearly noon before the fire was completely extinguished As to its origin odgin mr george E bennett foreman of the yard said to a N NEWS aws reporter this afternoon after poon 1 I woo sleeping in my room over the office when I 1 was aroused by the roar of the firmes which were shooting high into the a ar r on the north side aide ol of the building about 15 or 20 feet away I 1 jumped out of bed and rushed down stairs and telephoned for the department which showed up in good time I 1 then hurried back upstairs to dress and when I 1 came out again the w whole bole yard w was as a blaze where in your opinion did the fire starts and how if asked the reporter 1 I believe it started in inthe the barn near the office and I 1 am quite certain it was set on fire all aai the books and book accounts were the loss is estimated at fr in to with insurance as follows follo wt H P windsor and company with the royal exchange 1800 1500 sprague sharp with the peoples insurance company 2500 moore thomas with underwriter insurance company 2000 chas link with glenn falls insurance company am 2000 donnellan and atlas ond cwi national leoo 1600 saginaw 2600 total the work of adjusting the losses will commence in a few days |