The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25
TERMs.u
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
The American House Burned.
Full Personal tlncidents
..Loss and Insurance..H1story..
New Hotel.

Full NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tIncidents
..Loss and Insurance..History-
New Hotel.
BREAKING OUT OF THE FIRE.
At near 2 o'clock on Sunday morning fire
was discovered in the porter's room on the first
floor and in bedroom Immediately over it on
the second floor of the American House in this
eity. 1t was at first thought it might be easily
extinguished with the means at hand and no
general alarm was Immediately given.
At the first alarm the occupants OF the build
ing fastened from their rooms, dressed, half
dressed, or in night clothes. according to the
degree of fright they experienced, but on being
assured that no immediate danger was to be
anticipated, and that the fire might speedily be
out out nearly all succeeded in properly cloth
ing themselves. A few in most distant parts of
the building were not at first awakened, and
slept quietly on.
81. THE ALARM GIVEN.
At a quarter past two. it having been discov-
= cred that the fire was spreading widely within
the walls, partitions and floors, where it could
not be got at and its exact locality was I'M
certain. the fire bells were rung, and consider
ing the GOODNESS of the night, the Fire Depart
ment were promptly on hand, and to their ex-
ertions owners of the surrounding property
were mainly indebted that the fire was confined
to the building where it originated.
At this time the fire had spread through
large part of the building within the partitions
and flooring beforel burning through into the
other rooms from where it was first discov-
cred, Lodgers were awakened in different
parts of the house, even at the first, by dense
smoke which had found its way into their
rooms at the corners and through the floors.
SAVING PROPERTY.
Many, especially ladies. made sure OF their
personal property by having it at the first alarm
removed from the house, but others delayed I'M
til in few instances it was too late, though
the slow progress ofthe fire gave ample oppor-
tunity for removing furniture and baggage
from all parts of the building. The delay from
believing that the fire had not got such start
but that it might be easily extinguished pre-
vented the saving of more than comparative
" small portion of the hotel furniture.
When it was finally known that the fire was
gaining and that there was little hope OF saving
the building, baggage and furniture were rapid
" brought out and placed in charge of the po
lice or conveyed to neighboring houses for safe
keeping. A great part of the furniture brought
out was injured in handling, and some OF it
might as well have been burned as left in the
,l<i 10 al
hand at fire to carry tongs and shovel down
stairs and throw mirrors out the windows,
made his appearance on this occasion, carefully
carving bed-clothing while he tumbled valu-
able bureau down stairs to deposit itself in
fragments on the street. The billiard tables in
rear of the saloon building, attached to the
main building, were saved by cutting out theside
of the room and moving them bodily through the
alley into the street. They were only damaged
by being wet. The horses and other stock i'll
Bensons stables were quickly removed from
danger.
THIEVES ABOUT.
A gentleman who left his room on the first
alarm returned to it few minutes after to
find it had been entered in the meantime, and
that a valuable gold watch had been taken
from under his pillow. We hear of other ill.,
Stances of loss by thieving, which it is thought
best not to name at present But many ar
ticles of value missing on Sunday were found
yesterday to have been deposited in neighbor-
ing houses for safe-keeping and waiting own
ers to claim them, SO that the rumOrs OF thew
ing set afoat on Sunday were doubtless much
exaggerated.
Three or four persons were arrested on the
charge of thieving. but were promptly released
by the City Justice, it appearing on inquiry
that one, being wet and tired, had merely
picked up blanket to throw over his shout
ders while he was resting, and that the others,
wet and cold, had only helped themselves to
drink from a demijohn of whisky. They had
all been aboring hard against the fire.
THE HOUSE COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN.
The fire burned slowly, and it was long
time before the whole building appeared to be
in flames, yet all efforts to save any part OF it
were unavailing, and by sunrise it was mass
of embers and ashes. The Fire Department, if
not out in full force, yet worked faithfully and,
with the assistance of the few citizens who
helped them saved Mr.. Benson's stables, which
were connected with the hotel building by u
range of sheds and outbuildings, and even
checked the fire upon the rear line of the main
building, saving large pile of wood and lum-
Der of back buildings and sheds, from being
burned. Mr.. Bensons Office across an alley
from the burning building, was only backened
by the smoke and heat The buildings across
the street were at times in danger, but judcious
use of what water the engines could bring to
bear saved the whole.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Andrew Spencer, proprietor, was the
heaviest loser the hotel and furniture being
mostly his property. We understand that he