Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Fire
March 10, 1908
SEVERAL HURT FIGHTING FIRE
Largest Business Block In Wilkinsburg Was
Destroyed.
FLOORING COLLAPSED
Firemen and Police Were Thrown Ruthlessly About
and Very Seriously Injured in Their Duties.
PITTSBURG, Mar. 10. – Nine persons were
injured, among them being
Fire Chief CROMLISH, and street
car traffic was tied up for five hours as the
result of a fire early this morning, which
destroyed the largest business block in
Wilkinsburg. The fire started in a bakery in the
Wallace building on Penn and Wood
street and rapidly communicated to the
Caldwell
building adjoining. The loss conservatively
estimated $300,000.
The injured are: Fire
Chief CROMLISH; Street Commissioner W. G. EWING;
Chief of Police DANIEL [illegible];
DAVID ANDERSON, fireman;
Street Cleaning
Superintendent WILLIAM F. KORB; PETER SHROTT,
ROBERT WATSON, J. B. FISHER and ROBERT WILSON,
all firemen.
The Wilkinsburg department was helpless and a
general alarm was turned in. The high pressure
of the water hampered the firemen as the hose
would tear loose from the men directing the
water with a convulsive wrench, knocking the men
down like ten pins and lifting them up and down
and banging their heads against the pavements.
In this way all were injured except
CROMLISH, who
fell into the Wallace
basement when the flooring collapsed.
The Wallace
and Caldwell
buildings were handsome three story
structures of buff brick and constructed a year
ago.
Warren Evening Mirror, Warren, PA 10 Mar 1908
TWICE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BY FIRE
R. C. DAUGHERTY, Formerly of Saltsburg, Burned
Out at Wilkinsburg.
NINE MEN WERE INJURED.
In a disastrous fire which visited Wilkinsburg
on Tuesday morning, the 10th inst.,
R. C. DAUGHERTY,
formerly of Saltsburg, and who is well
known in Indiana, suffered a considerable loss.
The fire started in the basement of the
Wallace building, a three-story
structure owned by Congressman
JOHN DALZELL,
and occupied by a number of business firms,
which was completely destroyed. The flames
spread to adjoining buildings and threatened to
spread over a wide area of expensive properties.
Engines from the Pittsburg fire department were
hurried to Wilkinsburg and aided the local
firemen.
Nine men were more or less seriously injured
while battling with the fire.
Mr. DAUGHERTY conducted a shoe store
at 709 Penn Avenue, and his entire stock, valued
at $17,000, was destroyed. Fortunately he
carried insurance to the amount of $16,000. He
was once before burned out when he conducted a
shoe store at Leechburg.
Mr. DAUGHERTY
married SARAH LOWRY,
a daughter of MRS.
NANCY LOWRY, and a sister of
H. M. LOWRY,
of town.
Indiana County Gazette, Indiana, PA 18 Mar 1908
BLOCK BURNED AT WILKINSBURG
Fire Chief Hurt and Nine Firemen Injured.
STREET TRAFFIC STOPPED.
For Five Hours – High Water Pressure Hampered
Work of Firemen. They Were Thrown Down and
Knocked Around Like Ten Pins.
By United Press.
Pittsburg, Pa., March 10 – Nine persons
injured, among them being
Fire Chief CROMLISH, and street
car traffic tied pu [sic] for five hours as a
result of a fire early this morning which
destroyed the largest business block in
Wilkinsburg. The fire was started in a bakery in
the Wallace
building, corner Penn and Wood sts., and rapidly
communicated to the
Caldwell building adjoining.
The loss is conservatively estimated at $300,000
and the injured are
Fire Chief CROMLISH, Street Commissioner W. G.
EWING, Chief of Police DANIEL DONCASTER
and DAVID
ANDERSON fireman,
Street Cleaning
Superintendent WILLIAM F. KORB, PETER SHROTT,
ROBERT WATSON, J. B. FISHER and
ROBERT WILSON, all firemen of
Wilkinsburg.
The department was helpless and a general alarm
was turned in.
High pressure of the water hampered the firemen.
The hose would tear loose from the men directing
the water with a convulsive wrench, knocking the
men down like ten pins and lifting them up and
down and banging the heads against the pavement.
In this wayy [sic] all were injured except
CROMLISH,
who fell into the Wallace basement when the
flooring collapsed. The
Wallace and
Caldwell
buildings were handsome three story structures
of buff brick, constructed a year ago.
Evening Times, Cumberland, MD 10 Mar 1908
Articles transcribed by
Regina McVey. Thank you, Regina!
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