Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1900 — HALF MILLION GONE. [ARTICLE]

HALF MILLION GONE.

FIRE DESTROYS SEVERAL BUSINESS BUILDINGS., One Fireman Badly Frozen-^Mkht Watchman Nearly Loses His Lift Through Suffocation—Hard Fight to Save Property. The most disastrous conflagration that has ever * visited Dayton, Ohio, began early the other day and caused a loss of $500,000. The alarm called the departmeut to the tobacco warehouse of J. P. Wolf in East First street. The fire had started in the boiler room, being caused by an overheated boiler, causing the latter to explode. The three-story brick building at Foundry street was a mass of flames, large stock of tobacco burning like a candle. In ten minutes the flames had taken hold of the two-story building adjoining, also occupied by J. P. Wolf. It was hoped that the great tire walls of the new five-story building would arrest the progress of the fire, but the flames were too hot for it, and soou the first room of that building was a furnace.' The property destroyed includes the warehouses and factory of .1. P: Wolf A Sons, tobacco merchants; E. Birm & Son, grocers; Benedict Co., cigar manufacturers; the Dayton Paper Novelty Company arid several,other smaller concerns. Night Watchman Siiediker, while trying to find the fire, was over come with smoke aud was found unconscious by the firemen. Louis Swaneger, a fireman, was. removed to his home badly frozen. The loss is estimated at $500,009. ILLEGAL GAINS RETURNED. Confession of n Cleveland Contractor Made on His Death Bed. It was learned that Louis Fahey, a -Cl eve land c-otr t rae tor wh o died - recent Iy, had paid $954.07 to the city which he admitted he had illegally taken iu collusion with a clerk in the city auditor’s office. Fahey, before dying, said he used to have trouble getting his estimates through the auditor’s office until he was introduced to a certain clerk! Thereafter his vouchers were rushed through as soon as presented. The clerk wanted to borrow money, oue duy, ami Fahey gave it to him. Soou afterward Tahey received a check"which was larger than the estimate passed by the city engineer. He went to the clerk and said a mistake had been made. The clerk laughed, told him “that sort of thing was often done,” and ended by asking for half the overpaid amount. Thereafter “that sort’of thing” went, on until Fahey had received $954.07 more than was called for in his estimates. The clerk always got 50 per cent.

LOSES HIS LIFE IN A FIRE. Albert Fletcher Dies in Trying to Get Clothing for His Family. Albert Fletcher of Chicago Tost his life in a fire that destroyed his house. Fletcher had aided his wife and two children in escaping from their beds in the burning building and returned for some clothing. -Ho was caught in-4-ho--flames,- and Kail an hour later, when the tire had been extinguished, his body was recovered. Fletcher was 29 years old. It is supposed a lamp exploded, causing the fire. Mrs. said one had been left burning in a room in the rear .of the house, where the fire started. The Fletchers heard no noise and were sleeping before being aroused by the occupants of tlie second floor. Teacher and Pupil Perish. The parochial school building of St. Lawrence O’Toole’s parish, St. Louis, caught fire and a teacher and a pupil perished in the flames. Sister Stanislaus, a teacher of music, after having escaped from the building, returned to the third story to search for a missing scholar, and the firemen found her lying by the side of Mary Foley, 12 years old. Illinoisans Hurt in u Wreck. Three persons were killed ip a railroad wreck eighteen miles from Tampa, Fla., on the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway. A number of others were injured. Among the injured were Mrs. Hitch, wife of United States Marshal Hitch of the southern district of Illinois, and her two daughters, who were en route to Cuba for the winter. $ 100,000 Fire at St. Louis. The six-story building at Fourth and Spruce streets, St. Louis, occupied by the Aroma Coffee and Spice Company, was partially destroyed by a fire and the entire stock is ruined. The loss on stock and building is estimated at SIOO,OOO. Queensberry Passes Away. The Marquis of Queensberry, who was born July 20, 1844, and succeeded to the title iu 1858, is dead in England. The name of the Marquis of Queensberry has long been associated with the boxing rules of which he was the author. Wealthy Woman Found Dead. Bridget Smith, a wealthy recluse, was found dead seated in a chair iu her room at St. Louis. A number of valuable rings, a handsome gold watch and other expensive jewelry were found on a dresser. forked on First Sleeper. William Myers, who worked on the first sleeping car, is dead at Carthage, Mo., from heart disease, aged 79 years. He was for over thirty-three years a-resi-dent of Carthage. Hick Man Futull}' Frozen. Herman l’aukow of Stillwell, Ind., who has been ill with a fever, leaped from his bed and jumped through a second-story window to the grouud. Ho was fatally frozen before lie was recaptured. Train Robber Jones Caught. Charles Jones, alias Charles Johnson, the train .robber who shot Railway Detective John .Jackson of Scduliu at the Holden round-up, was captured by a posse near Chilhowee, Mo. Coal King of Pacific Coast Expire*. Alexander Dunsnmir, aged 47 years, the coal king of the Pacific coast, died at the Hotel Imperial, N’ew York. Mr. Dunsniuit" had suffered from meningitis at intervals for many years. Woman Frozen to Death. At Youngstown, Ohio, Mrs. Catherine Rooney, aged 50, was found frozen to death in the yard at the residence of Jarvis Smith, where she was employed as housekeeper. . Prices Are to Be Advanced, The manufacturers of baby carriagos and children’s wagons will soon advance prices 30 par cent.