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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Chicago Fire Aftermath.
THE VARIOUS FIRMS AFFECTED BY THE GREAT WABASH AVENUE DISASTER ARE ALL SETTLED
IN NEW QUARTERS AND BUSINESS HAS BEEN RESUMED THE LOSSES INCURRED BY
THE DIFFERENT FIRMS WELL COVERED BY INSURANCE PIANO FIRE SALES
THE ORDER OF THE DAY THE FIRE BRINGS TO THE SURFACE
MANY HEROES, AND SHOWS THE KINDLY FEELING THAT
PREVAILS AMONG THE PIANO TRADE IN CHICAGO
OTHER ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.
St. Paul, Minn., March 21, 1898.
When I left Chicago for the Northwest
Sunday, Wabash avenue, particularly that
portion of it which was burned, scorched and
deluged, was fast becoming rehabilitated. The
smoke which for some days had partially ob-
scured the view had disappeared, while the
removal of the debris and general rejuvena-
tion of the place was well in hand. A
corps of firemen were engaged in digging in
the still smouldering pile for gruesome human
remains. I understand that some dozen
charred bodies have been taken from the
ruins. There were no lives lost among those
directly connected with the music trade.
The buildings on the opposite side of the
street were badly damaged. Clayton F.
Summy's establishment caught fire several
times, while every pane of glass, large and
small, was demolished. The stock seemed
to me damaged considerably, but Mr. Summy
said that he did not consider his stock was
damaged to an amount exceeding one thou-
sand dollars. Julius Bauer & Co. suffered a
similar loss. The interior of both stores will
have to be done over.
Geo. P. Bent's magnificent new establish-
ment is considerably damaged.
His stock
and wareroom loss will amount to about one
thousand dollars.
J. O. Twichell was unable to get into his
store to examine the condition of his stock.
The six-story wall which was standing close
to his building was a menace to safety.
It looked as if a whiff of wind would pre-
cipitate the whole thing, and the firemen
worked in peril of their lives in exploring
the ruins. A scaffolding was built Sunday
which will afford protection to the Twich-
ell Building.
John A. Bryant, whose signs still adorn
his former quarters, moved at just the right
time. He was safely out of the whirl of
fire. Lyon & Healy suffered only a mod-
erate water damage.
Tke actual losses incurred by other firms
with the insurance carried are as follows:
Chicago Cottage Organ Co., $30,000, insur-
ance $30,000; Emerson Piano Co., loss
$20,000, insurance $23,800; National Music
Co., $40,000, insurance $30,000; Steger &
Co., $2,800, insurance $15,000.
m
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I wired you that the Chicago Cottage
Organ Co. secured the unexpired lease of
the Manufacturers Piano Co.'s building.
The lease, I believe, runs until May, 1900.
If my memory serves me correctly, the
lessees are paying an annual rental of $12,000
for the building.
Thursday the Cable Piano Co., which is
the titular appellation of the retail depart-
ment of the Chicago Cottage Organ Co.,
were not only ready for business, but doing
it as well. Manager Price told me that
three pianos were sold the day of the open-
ing.
The general wholesale offices of the con-
cern occupy the entire second floor. Par-
titions are all in place, and the click of the
typewriters tells of the workings of a busy
concern.
Lightning work to lease and get a stock of
pianos in place in such a short time. Such
action tells more eloquently than words of the
unconquerable forces which impel the onward
course of the great Chicago corporation.
As I wired you, H. D. Cable was the cool-
est man in town. His self-control was mar-
velous. While the condition of the enormous
assets stored in the vaults in the burned
building was somewhat problematical and
many opinions were openly expressed that
the papers would be found valueless, he did
not evince undue excitement. His confidence
was assuring, but how, with millions at stake,
he could preserve such exterior calmness was
a wonder. I saw, Saturday afternoon, that
the papers which were taken from the C. C.
O. C. vaults were in perfect condition. As
they were passed out they looked as fresh as
when placed therein and still a perfect mael-
strom of flame had environed them for hours.
In the windows of the new warerooms is a
partially burned Kingsbury piano placarded
"out of the whirl of fire."
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Soloman Grollman had a thrilling and
never-to-be-forgotten experience. His senses
forsook him after his perilous descent from
his quarters and he had to be carried from
the building.
He has temporary quarters with the New
England Piano Co.
It was reported to me that there was an-
other stool and scarf establishment in the
building. I have since learned that the re-
port was incorrect.
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John W. Northrup, manager of the Emer-
son Co., said to me that only last week
he was considering seriously the matter of
cutting his insurance a cool ten thousand as
a means of reducing business expense.
Fortunately he did not execute the plans con-
sidered.
He is now domiciled very close to his
burned store, with a good showing of pianos.
Others are on the way.
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Fire sales will now be common in Chicago.
Pianos slightly damaged by smoke will be of-
fered for some time to come.
Mr. J. V. Steger lost no time in informing
the public that he was prepared to offer
smoked pianos. His building is gay with
huge signs which announce "Pianos slightly
damaged by smoke at your own figures."
Mr. Steger showed me a letter from the
company in which he carries a policy direct-
ing him to close out his stock of damaged in-
struments on terms which he deems most ad-
vantageous.
On the opposite corner the Hallet & Davis
Co. have their show windows illuminated by
placards announcing an "alteration sale."
Sunday these cards were supplemented by
others on which were emblazoned the words
" Pianos not damaged by smoke at your own
prices." Evidently Secretary Maynard is
going his opposite one better.
The insurance companies have already
placed in new plate-glass in the buildings
opposite the big fire.
Well, they do things quickly in Chicago.
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Among the heroes of the fire are two young
lads, employees of the Emerson Piano Co.,
named Owen Flory and Herman Halbert.
The cashier had gone to the train to meet
Manager Northrup, who with his wife and
Mr. Kimball were returning from the South,
and in his absence the fire occurred. These
young fellows at once displayed admirable
presence of mind and closed both the safe and
the vault. When they started to leave by the
front door the flames stopped them, and they
got out by the rear entrance just in time to
escape the falling walls, which crashed down
a second after they had passed out.
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Kate Carney, the forewoman of the Na-
tional Music Co., is the heroine of the big fire.
At the risk of her own life she saved those
who were under her charge. A Chicago daily
is raising a fund to give her a testimonial.
Joe Leiter, the young wheat plunger, is a
subscriber.
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Charles G. Minnich, of the National Music
Co., who was reported missing, was one of
those who escaped from the building. Mr.
Minnich, with many others on the fourth
floor, reached the elevator just as it descend-
ed with its last load. The frightened group
huddled about the elevator shaft, up which
smoke was pouring, and waited for the cage