St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-03-15
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Five Buildings Destroyed.
Loss about $4,000.
Insured for $25, 900.


About eleven O'Clock last night, flames
were discovered bursting forth from the
back portion of Peterson 4 Stolley's store,
on the corner Of Washington avenue and
St. German street. The alarm was given,
and large number Of persons, as we'll as
the engine, were soon hard at work, but no
part of the stock was saved, except few
boxes Of boots and shoes. -.
The fire spread to the adjoining building,
on the Avenue, occupied as q book store,
by J. NJ. Roserberger. About half of the
stock was saved, but the building was burn
ed to the ground.
The flames next fastened on Tenvoorde
4 Robbers billiard rooms, on St. GERMAN
street, and they. with the large public hall
on the second floor, were soon heap of
ashes. -
The Office and warcroom adjoining. late.
ly occupied by J. B. Mills, but into which
E. NJ. Tobey had partially moved his Office
fixtures on Friday, were next totally de-
stroyed. Most of Mr. Tobey's property
was saved. ~
AS the flames continued to spread up St.
German street, MERGERS jewelry store was
torn down; and the engine threw steady
stream Of water on the next building,
schwartz's saddlery and harness store, thus
arresting the further progress Of the fire.
This is the most destructive fire that has
yet eisited our city. Very fortunately,
the night was unwontedly calm, otherwise
it could not be told how many buildings
might have been destroyed. The stores Of
J. R. Bennett, J. Edelbrock, U. NJ. Tobey
s Co., and J. Schwartz, in close vicinity to
the burned buildings, were badly scorched,
and only the most persistent labor saved
:hem. The citizens worked nobly, and the
engine did good service. The fire was so
violent that burning shingles were carried
as far as to the Court House, almost a
quarter of mile distant, while buildings
nearer by were covered with cinders.
Peterson 4 Stolley's loss in stock is esti-
mated at $2l, 900; insured in Home New
York; for $500, Phonx $4,000, Corn Ex-
change $4,000, Underwriters $500.
Mr.. J. W. Tenvoorde, who owned all the
buildings which Were burned, is heavy
loser. The buildings, though oil wooden,
were worth not less than $4,000; insured
$4,000 in the Home, and $4,000 in the
Phoenix
Tenvoorle & Robbers, proprietors. of the
Willard saloon, lose about $4,000 in liq-
uors, one billiard table burned and four in
:jured insured $4,000 in the Putnam, and
81 600 in the Home.
Mr.. J. NJ. Rosenberger's stock was val
ued at 81 900. About half of it was saw
ed, while he has an insurance of 81, 200 in
the Continental, $500 in the Corn Exchange
and 500 in the Home. -
The jewelry store of Mr.. F. c. Mercer
! was small wooden building, worth about
$3.50, and owned by Mr.. J. Schwartz; no
Insurance. Mr.. Mercer lost about 500 in
stock injured and stolen.
Mr.. J. B. Mills lost about $500 worth Of
goods that had been left above the office.
MIR. Peter Hanson is a slight loser from
damage done to goods white bcir removed
T. is loss is severe, carrying off one Of
the best-located business blocks in town
Its place will, doubtless, be filed during
| the coming season., with substantial bricl
buildings. - ...s -
! The cause of the fle is unknown.
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS.
While Joseph Simouton was going up
ladder on U. NJ. Tobey & Co.'S Store
the bottom Of the ladder slipped. aud h
was precipitated 10 the ground, breaking
one of the bones in his left wrist. IN
Thomas Simenton, while working on
Benefits store, was knocked over by
large board thrown across by the explosio,
of key of powder III Peterson & Stol
ley's. . -.~....
Capt. c. Luee fell from the roof o
Swhartz's shop, while reaching for water
but caught an outside stairway when abou
half down, dropped to the ground, ant
then returned to his post on the roof. -
A lot Of stuff belonging J. B. Mills wa
in the attic above the Office, but he would
allow no attempts at renewing it, as Their
were a number of loaded muskets there
occasionly, one of these would discharg
with report lie a<half grown cannon.
The next morning, the money drawer o
Tenvoorde II Robbers, saloon was fount
on woodpile couple squares off. Some
body had taken il and run off, with the ide,
that they would be flush in postage curren.
cy but they were destined to be fooled, fo1
Mr.. r. had taken out the money when th.
! fire first commenced. ~. ..: - --+~
Great credit is given on all sides to tn
Fire Company, all the members: Of wbicl
worked we'll and under considers able ex
posure. But for it, the loss in propert.
would have been much greater. Will
many citizens did well, yet there were
some who stood around and could not b.
persuaded to lend a helping hand.
Mov1No.-We noticed yesterday after
noon . dwelling house moving leisurel.
along St. German street, behind . coupl,
Of dozen yoke Of oxen.
Ephraim Curtis is removing his stor'
building to-day from lower town TO the 10
adjoining Coyotes restaurant.