June 3, 1900: TAMPA, FL - At 11 P.M., a blaze broke out in the rear of a department store located in the main business section of the city. The original fire building was soon a mass of flames as fire extended to a dry goods company and a shoe store before it was brought under control.
June 3, 1900: BRONX, NY - Two barrels of gasoline stored in the Baychester freight office of the Harlem River Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad station exploded, shaking all the buildings in the neighborhood. The husband and wife owners of the hotel across the street braved flames to rescue the badly burned ticket agent. The first water on the fire was provided by a makeshift bucket brigade of fishermen and excursionists who were awaiting trains.
June 4, 1900: FOXBOROUGH, MA - At 4:40 A.M., an explosion was heard by watchmen who found "The Town House" fully involved in fire. The building, which housed all municipal offices and the town's first high school, claimed the lives of three firefighters. While on a ladder fighting the flames, the three were killed when the huge bell in the building's tower crashed down on them. Two were killed instantly and the third died four days later at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
June 5, 1900: QUEBEC - A lumber plant at Ste. Etienne Du Saguenay belonging to Price Brothers & Co. of Quebec was destroyed as flames tore throughout the stored lumber. Forty families were left homeless, and reports also indicated several fatalities. The loss was estimated at nearing a half-million dollars.
June 7, 1900: VIRGINIA, MN - The entire business district and most of the residential section of the town were wiped out by a fast-moving fire. The fire started at a mill on the shore of Silver Lake and flames were driven directly at the town by high winds.
June 12, 1900: BROOKLYN, NY - Fire spread quickly through a large four-story factory on Wythe Avenue just before closing. The first-arriving engine, stationed two blocks away, found fire through the roof on arrival. Foreman Cleary of Engine 112 ran to the roof of an adjacent structure and was able to catch one of two men hanging from a sign jutting from the fire building above. After a pitched multiple-alarm battle, the fire was brought under control.
June 14, 1900: NEWARK, NJ - A fire was discovered in a Monroe Street factory building at 1 A.M. Truck Company 4 arrived and went to work in the building. During operations, Captain McDermit and Fireman John Daly fell through an elevator shaft and were injured. The captain's first orders to his would-be rescuers was to leave him alone and go put out the fire.
June 19, 1900: BLOOMINGTON, IL - A major fire rocked the business section of the city just after midnight. Firemen from Bloomington, Peoria and Springfield battled the conflagration. The fire started in a laundry company on Monroe Street and quickly spread. The extending flames burned the McLean County Courthouse, the Windsor and Phoenix hotels, and blocks of commercial buildings. Damage was more than $2 million.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION:
The Kewaunee, WI, Fire Department marks its 100th anniversary with festivities on June 23 and 24, highlighted by an antiques parade, concerts and fireworks. The department protects the City of Kewaunee and the townships of West Kewaunee, Casco and Pierce.
Compiled by PAUL HASHAGEN
