The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-24
THURSDAY, MAY "a, 1856.
Destructive Fire.

- 0ar-city was visited yesterday by one of
the most destructive fires ever witnessed in
this place.About one O'Clock in the after
noon smoke was discovered issuing from the.
rear and undern ,ath tho buildings recently
erected by j. W. McClung, Esq, and DR..
Stewart, on the corner of ST.. Anthony and
Wabashaw streets, on the bluff, above the
Post Office. The buildings were occupied as
merchant tailor shop by Mr.. Edmond
son. and the fire originated from small fur
mace used in the mechanical department..
y When we first deserted the fire, it was
buta small volume of smoke, not half as
much as will ordinarily come from chimney
when fire has just been lighted. But as
the buildings had just been erected, and
were not yet quite completed, there was a
large quantity of shavings underneath, and
as the wind was blowing a stiff breeze from
the southwest : the rear of the building uu-
lerneath being exposed to the wind-it was
not the work of a minute to change the lit
tie volume of smoke intoa sheet Of devour-
ing fiame.' So rapid was the progress of the
destroyer that those in the buildings were
scarcely appraised of the fire before they
were compelled to fee for their lives. 1t was
not the space of two minutes after the alarm
before every portion of the block was on
fir. "
The occupants were MessrS. Grecnlcaf &
Chapel, jewellers; DR.. J. II. Stewards
Office, and the clothing store before mention
led, on tie first floor DR.. Patterson, den
fist, and Messrs. Bradford & Dunn, after
neys, occupied offices in the second story.
Messrs. Greenleaf & Chapel lost the
whole of their extensive stock with the
exception of one show case, which was con-
Iveyed in safety to a neighboring building.
Loss in stock $4,000; customers watches,
$4,000. The door of their safe was left
open so that the books and papers contained
therein were destroyed, together with
several hundred dollars in paper money.
DR.. Stewart lost everything contained in his
office and rooms, consisting of his library,
instruments, clothing, &c. So also did DR..
Patterson, and Messrs. Bradford and Dunn.
Reinsurance on any Of the goods, stock or
building. Tie buildings were worth about
$1,000. The block opposite, of Colonel
Robinson, and the one occupied by Messrs.
Won uamm, Burbank and others, were in
imminent danger for short time Boxes
and bales on tic steps Of the Express
Office were set on FIRE but were fortunately
removed in time to prevent the fire being
communicated to tie building. The heat
was SO intense that no person coull stand
near them, and it seems almost miracle
that they were preserved The changing Ct
tie wind a little to the south at this crit
cai moment, AMI the prompt intervention o!
citizens. was all that saved it. The block OF
Col. Robinson was in danger for a longer
time, but the efforts of tie Fire Company
and citizens saved it,
The building belonging to the estate OF
Col. Goodhue, and occupied by Mr.. Hatch as
+, hat store, was also in danger, but was
saved.
Tie fire communicated to the opposite
side of the street, one occupied by Mr.. Am
idon as marble shop and the one by the
Messrs. Stanley as an Office were also burned.
Total loss No insurance.
These bull lings were burned to the ground
within, twenty minutes from TIE breaking
out Of the fire.
TIE total loss by this fire must be up
wards Of $4,000, on which there was no in
surancc.
The, case Of the sufferers by this fire is a
peculiarly lard and trying enc. Most OF
them have lost their all and have not dol
lar left them in the world.
| Mr.. Amidoa, whose marble shop was burned.
IS peculiarly unfortunate This is the sec
ond time he has been burned out within tic
past six months, on account Of his neighbors'
buildings taking fire.
A LAW SUIT AT THE WEST.-An old &C
quaintancc ofours, now resident of Min
nesota, writes us as follows, amongst other
things, relative to the manner in which suits
are tried before justices Of tho peace in Mia
ncsota Valley:
"rhey have some rich justice trials in Min
nesota Valley. l will give You specimen
of one. Not far below Travers des Sioux a
| trial came off before Dutch justce-the
parties were German as plaintiff and Mo-
hawk Dutchman, named Letcher, as defend
ant. An Irish schoolmaster was attorney
for defendant, and an English butcher attor-
ney for plaintiff neither Of the attorneys
was a lawyer, nor, could the justice either
read or write English. The controversy
was about some hay AID boards tie attor-
j ey ils;i Of plaintiff.
When witness was brought on the stand
the justice swore him on the statutes Of Mn
esota. The butcher objected to his being
sworn on the statutes-the magistrate in
sisted that it was the law, and he ought to
be sworn by the law; the butcher insisted
that the bible was the only proper book on
which a. witness could be sworn, but the
justice was memorable. The justice then
asked the, witness-"Will you shwear dat
Letcller hav' de hay?" The butcher then
insisted that the witness should be sworn
] generally and in the proper manner; but the
Justice gave mo heed to the objection, and
while the witness was being sworn on the
statute, said: Il believe Letcher hav' dc
hay, and you shwear Letcher hav' de hay
you shwear by die law, not by die Bible; dat