The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25

thing of his own that was in the house. We
are told that he tells his friends the fire burned
all the personal property he had except the
clothes on his back and the good time he had
in New York.
Mr.. Watson, of New York, supposing that
the fire was to be put out, left his baggage un-
til it was too late, and lost all.
Mr.. Doble, of Wyoming, was awakened by
the burning ceiling falling on his bed and set
ting it on fire. He was barely able to make
his way out by the rear of the building, and
saved none of his baggage :.
Colonel Harris, of Kentucky, after helping
ladies out with their property, returned to his
own room, and found the smoke and fire barred
his return by the hall. Tying two sheets to-
gether, he descended by them from the win
dow, but unfortunately caught a large seal ring
on his hand on o nail, and was q moment sus-
pended by it, dislocating his finger.
Mr.. Ashton, of Superior, thinking the fire
was subdued, let his personals remain in his
room until the fire shut him from them. He is
said to have lost several hundred dollars in
money with his baggage.
We understand that none of the trunks in
the baggage room were saved, and probably
many others than those above named were con-
siderable losers.
NO LIVES LOST.
We are requested to state for the benefit of
friends of travellers now in st. Paul, that it is
positively known that every person in the hotel
succeeded in escaping.
LOss-INsURANOE.
At Insurance company estimates the whole
building was valued at $4,000 and the hotel
furniture at $12, 900. In addition, Mr.. Spencer
had on hand large supply of groceries and
$4,000 worth of liquors. altogether amounting
there was an insurance effected in New York
in the sum of $4,000. Upon the furniture in
surance was made here in the sum Of $500,
as follows: By Borup g. Cakes in Home, of
New York, $500; and in Phoenix, $1,000;
by s. s. Eaton in Manhattan, 81 500; and in
Connecticut, $1,000. s. 8. Eaton had an ill.,
surance of 81 900 for the Corn Exchange Com
pany on the addition to the main building in
which were located the bar and billiard rooms.
The 81 900 in the Connecticut was ON the
billiard tables, which were saved without ma
terial damage.
HISTORICAL
The American House was built and opened
in 1S49, by Arson Northup. In 1850 it passed
into the keeping of Rodney Parker. In 1858,
Stephen Long became the landlord, selling out
in 1857 to Rice & Filkins, who sold to j. N.
Davis in 1858. Mr.. Davis was succeeded in
1859 by Mr.. johnson, WOO gave way in 1860 to
P. 7. Sharp. In 1861 Mr.. Andrew Spencer
became landlord and proprietor and owned the
chief part of the building and furniture at the
time of the fire. The lot and building were
owned principally by Mr.. Spencer Mr.. Mer-
riam, of Boston, and Senator Ramsey each
own an eighth part, the remainder belonging
to Mr.. Spencer.
The American was for long time the best
hotel in the Northwest. and though it had its
time of decline, when it did not rank SO high,
yet under the successful management OF Mr..
Spencer, it remained the favoritc stopping
place of many of the most frequent visitors to
our city. At several times before, the building
has caught fire, one time the whole rear part
being wrapped in flames and only extinguished
by great exertions of citizens and firemen.
DANGEROUS.
The tall chimneys left standing up from the
ruins look as if the least wind might blow them
over, and in seeing the crowd of children and
few women yesterday digging in the ashes for
old 9TH val thew
might happen upon we could not but think
they ran some risk of being crushed beneath a
pile of falling bricks.
NEW HOTEL WANTED.
Even while the American House was stand
ing and sheltering as high as two hundred
guests, the want of hotel accommodations suf
icient for the travelling community and room
for the many strangers who come here annu-
ally to spend weeks and even months for the
benefit of this climate, has been severely felt.
1t was hardly possible for an acquaintance of
ours to find suitable quarters for himself and
wife few days ago-a day and more given to
the search resulting only in securing single
room. The loss ofthe American House makes
it actually necessary that new hotel should be
erected and we hope to see it Immediately I'M
dertaken. Since the burning of the Winslow
House over a year ago, it has been felt that
large and first-class hotel was needed in the
upper part of the city, and now that there can
be no doubt the enterprise would be u paying
investment of aoh!s,.: 1T. is 20 lie pras'sa:d::
capitalists will seize .heoppatapi!s. =:
A NEW HOTEL PROMISED;
:Iu'th!s co5inlctian,' we.aft nfontJ that !he
arShitect's ph::sy for altaEng Nc;snon,'s .kie!cs
on Third, Washington and Fourth streets,
which contemplate building up the corner at
Third and Washington streets, and which were
completed some weeks ago, have been adopted
by the owners of the property, and yesterday
it was determined at once to commence the
Improvements. This building when complet-
ed according to the plans, will double the pres
ent hotel ACCOMMODATIONS of the city, and may
be got ready for opening to the public in
comparatively short time.
AFRICAN SOLDIERS. Mark Hen
bricks has enlisted fourteen color men as
soldiers to 60 to the Southern negro regiments.
and only waits orders to increase the number,
us several more offer themselves These will
count upon the quota Of the city or town from
whence thew enlist and no one liable to the