Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1902 — CITY SWEPT BY FIRE; [ARTICLE]

CITY SWEPT BY FIRE;

BUSINESS SECTION OF PATERSON, N. J., IN RUINS. Starnes, Starting in Car Sheds Are Fanned by Gale Until Twenty-six City Blocks Are Burned Over and Ten Millions Damage Done. The business district of Paterson, N. J., has been wiped out by flames. In addition 500 houses and apartment buildings are but heaps ofashes. One thousand families are homeless. The acres of desolation marking the path of the uncontrollable fire that raged sixteen hours were covered Saturday night with buildings which with their contents were valued at $lO,000,000. Flames Start in Car Barns. The fire began its work of far-reaching destruction at the power house of the Jersey City, Hoboken and Paterson Traction Company, which fronted on Broadway and extended a block to the rear on Van Houten street. It commenced in the cai shed, catching, it seems probable, from a neglected car stove, and was burning fiercely when one of the employes detected it. It was leaping through the roof and the gale was lifting it in forks and swirls when the fire apparatus came clanging into Broadway, Main and Van Houten. •

The men tried to hem in the blaze, but it speedily crossed Van Houten street in one direction, Main street in another, and, gaining vigor as it went, burned unchecked down into the business district. Every piece of fire mechanism in the city was called out, but fire and gale were masters.

A great torch of flame rose high in the air, lighting up the, country for miles and carrying a threat and warning to the people and property in its path. There were efforts to rescue furniture and stock, but the speed with which the fire moved gave the rescuers little time. Property was often moved to a place of presumed safety, only to be reached an®- eventually destroyed.