125 Years Ago, 1900 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator

“Big Loss. A fire in the rooms of the People’s Credit Clothing Co. causes it. John W. Smith’s sons the heaviest losers, their stock being saturated with water.”

“A fire in the rooms over No. 15 West Federal Street, the rooms being occupied by a concern known as the People’s Credit Clothing Co., and which occurred a few minutes after 6 o’clock Wednesday morning, caused considerable damage.

“The fire started in a rubbish box in the hallway adjoining the rooms of this clothing company and a lively blaze ensued for a few minutes. The department did effective work, however, and the fire damage was confined to the second floor and an attic room above. The loss to the building by fire may reach $500. The stock carried by the People’s Credit Clothing Co. was not a large one, the manager of the concern refusing to give out any information regarding the amount of stock carried, the insurance, the personnel of the company, in fact was decidedly uncommunicative.

J.W. Smith’s Sons, whose store is on the first or street floor of the building, will suffer a severe loss from smoke and water. This firm carries a stock of boots and shoes that will reach in value about $60,000 and a considerable portion of their stock was saturated with water and the store room was filled with smoke. W.A. Smith when seen by a Vindicator reporter this morning, said it was impossible for him at that time to make even a rough estimate of the damage sustained by his firm. The water was still dropping into the stock and store room fully two hours after the fire, and he said he had no doubt but that a large portion of the stock was saturated and thus greatly damaged. He said his firm carried a stock valued at $60,000 and was insured.

“Mr. Smith said he did not know who composed the People’s Credit Clothing Co. The room occupied by them had been leased by the Messrs. Smith to the Rayen club and that organization had sub-let it to a firm that now occupies it. The fire coming at this time is a great loss to the Messrs. Smith as it interferes with a large holiday trade. They hope, however, to have their affairs so adjusted as to open at as early a date as possible, maybe within a day or two.

“The People’s Credit Clothing Co. has been in the city about four months and came here from Utica N.Y. They also suffer mostly from damage by water, their stock being practically entirely affected from this cause.

“The Vindicator is informed that Chief Moore was at the fire. Nobody seems to be able to definitely fix the time of his arrival, but the fact that he was on hand is noteworthy. One gentleman who was present says the chief came down from his residence on the first car, which reaches the Diamond about 6:30. Assistant Chief Knox says the chief was at the first, but says he did not see him until he came out of the building when the fire was out…. The matter of a fire in the heart of the business district in the city can easily be cared for by subordinates. The fire season is on and the movements of the chief will be a source of much interest to the public generally. Happily the fire of Wednesday morning admits of no discussion of the question of water pressure