FIRE DESTROYS CHICAGO SHOP

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28158, 22 December 1956, Page 4

FIRE DESTROYS CHICAGO SHOP

1500 SHOPPERS FLEE FLAMES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) CHICAGO, Dec. 20. Authorities today sought the cause of a 1,250,000 dollars fire that destroyed a half-block long department store last night, injuring five persons and routing out about 1500 Christmas shoppers and employees, including Santa Claus. There was no panic in the blaze, in spite of its swift spread through stacks of merchandise and along strings of brightly-coloured Christmas decorations. The store manager, Mr Leo Goltz, said about 1500 shoppers and 150 employees were in the Goldblatts department store when the blaze broke out in the roof above the drapery department. The injured suffered from smoke inhalation and were released after treatment at nearby hospitals. Some shoppers and employees formed a bucket brigade, using toy pails to carry water in an effort to contain the flames, but dense clouds of smoke forced them to abandon their efforts. Among those who fled the -lames was Santa Claus, who was seen running from an exit garbed in his red suit and his flowing white beard. Firemen said the store was a total loss.