All Devastating Flames

At about half-past three o'clock this morning the üre bells awoke the alutnbering inhabitants of the city and bursting flames soon sent forth the intelligence that the business portion of State street was on fire and that oue of the most disastrous fires in the history of the city was in progresa. Theorigin of the fire at this early writing is not definitely known. Some claim that it origlnated in the Toop's bakerv, while others assert that it originated in a barn back of the buildings and must have been of incendiary origin and it is stated on'good authority that the üre had not reached the bakery when discovered. The buildings burned like tinder, f A north-west wind swept the flames along. The fire laddies weie on hand early but considerable delay was experiencein getting the water to play upon the buildings. The hydrant to which two lines of hose were first attached was broken and the hose had to be uncoupled and taken some distance and attached to another hydrant. The delay which was unavoidable under the circumstances was sufficient to give the fire a good start and the flames were under such headway that it couldjbe seen that it was very improbable any of the wooden buildings could be saved. Walter Toop's bakery was soon in ruins. On each side of Toop's the flames caught the adjoining groceries. So quickly had it burned that nothing could be saved from the bakery. From Warner's and Cady 's groceries a few provisions etc. weie saved but thegreat bulkof the stores went up in the flames, and although men worked hard to save, the buildings were two light to offer sufficient resistance to the flames. Sheehan's doublé book store was soon in flames, but a good part of his stock was saved . Books and stationary were strewn along State street, the studeuts lending willing hands in clearing the stores. The fine stationary room was locked and was nearly a total loss. Water greatly damaged the stock saved. The safe was not taken out and feil when the floor gave way upon a large bed of burning coal. Ou the south sidejoy vigorous exer;ions the fire depa'rtment saved the brick block in which Calkins drug store was situated, although it looked at one time as if it were doomed. On the nortli side, it took some work ;osave Mrs. Segar's residence. The xick building in which William Judson had his flour, coal and provisión store, and which was also occupied by a bar3er shop caught üre and the inside of the building was completely burned out. The chairs were saved out of the barber shop. So hot were the flames, that the twigs in the trees in the campus curled. The telegraph poles took üre and the trees on the street. Our forms were ready to be printed when the lire broke out and it is impossible to hold them back long enough (o ascertain the loss with certainity, without missing the mails. The total loss must be in the neigh borhood of $40,000. Sheehan's loss will be nearly $15,000 on building and stock. He had 58,000 insurance on stock and $2,000 on building. Toop's loss is about $4,000, insured for $2.000. Cady's loss is $4,500, insured for $2,000. Warner loses $4,000, insured for $1,900. Judson loses $4,000 on building. The buildings saved were scorched and damaged.