Norwich, NY Business Section Fire, Oct 1914

FLAMES THREATEN BUSINESS SECTION.

FOUR NORWICH BLOCKS BURN AT LOSS OF $100,000.

HAVE NARROW ESCAPES.

TENANTS IN LATHAM BLOCK IN PERIL -- MRS. LEWIS HAIGHT, INVALID, CARRIED TO SAFETY -- FIREMEN HURT BY FALLING DEBRIS -- CAUSE UNKNOWN.

Norwich, Oct. 15. -- Fire which broke out early this morning caused property damage extimated at about $100,000 and threatened to wipe out the entire business district of North Broad street, this city. Four blocks were destroyed before it was brought under control, and a number of tenants on the third floor of the Latham building barely escaped with their lives, while several firemen were slightly injured by falling beams and debris.
The fire started in the BAKER building, on the west side of North Broad street, occupied by BURRELL & BROWN, grocers. At first it was not believed to be serious, as it smoldered a long time, throwing large quantities of dense smoke through the doors and windows. Then, of a sudden, the flames leaped from their confinement and their work of destruction was rapid.
The flames traveled northward to the CASE building, owned by WALTER CASE and occupied by WHITE'S 5-and-10-cent store and the MALLORY lunch room, thence southward to the retail and wholesale tobacco establishment of LOUIS BEBASCO.
The Commercial hotel adjoining, was nex attacked after which the fire spread to the LATHAM block, the first floor of which is occupied by C. H. LATHAM hardware store, PETERSON jewelry store and the MATHEWSON shoe store. The second floor is occupied by lawyers' offices and HARTNELL Brothers' photograph studio.
A fire wall at that point checked the flames and at an early hour this morning they were under control. LEWIS HAIGHT and his wife who is an invalid, occupied the third floor of the LATHAM block, and it was with difficulty that MRS. HAIGHT was rescued.
SETZ & JOHNSON, occupying quarters at the point where the fire was checked, suffered damage from water, several thousand dollars' worth of stock floating around the basement in four feet of water.
At the start of the fire one of the two steamers owned by the Fire department, burst a flue and was put out of commission. It was said today, however, that this had no bearing upon the spread of the fire, as the water pressure was excellent.
The cause of the fire is unknoown, though it is possible it may have been caused by spontaneous combustion.
Owners, losses:
CHARLES LATHAM, $25,000.
MRS. MACKSEY, owner, Commercial Hotel, $30,000.
WALTER CASE, $7,000, insurance $1,000.
MRS. BAKER, $22,000.
MALLOY Bros., restaurant, $1,200.
Leases LATHAM building, PETERSON, $800, no insurance; MATHEWSON, $7,000; FRANK BARNES, lawyer, $1,000; D. B. CASHMAN, $500; HARTWELL Bros., $3,000, insurance, $1,500; Commercial Hotel, lease by HANARAHAN & HOLMES, $12,000; BAKER building, leased by L. A. CEVASCO, $8,000, BURREL & BROWN, grocers, $7,000; CARL HULLZEN, tailor, second floor, $5,000; CASE building; WHITE five and ten cent store, $7,500.
Most all of the property was insured for about two-thirds of its value.
Amount of actual loss, $100,000; insurance about $80,000.

The Syracuse Herald New York 1914-10-15
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!