Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-03
What a St Paul Gentleman Saw

Eupt. Farley held q special train in readiness
at the st. Paul & Pacific depot for some time
to meet any demands that might be made upon
hun for assistance, but as no calls were re-
ceived he took few friends on board the ca
boose and proceeded to the scene of the terri
BILE confiagration.
One of the gentlemen of this party describes
the spectacle of the burning mills, and the
half-mile stretch of blazing ruins down
along the bank of the river, as viewed from
the crossing of the east branch Of the Misss.
sipppi on to the island, as one Of ths grandest
and most awfully sublime, a picture, OF
anything he ever saw in reality in art or story.
Reaching the depot on the Minneapolis side
about OF. NJ Mr.. Farley and friends left the train
and walked distance Of about one mile before
reaching tho fire itself-meeting hundreds of
men, women and children returning to their
homes, while hundreds Of others from the
more remote suburbs on foot, and many laden
vehicles from the surrounding country
were rushing into the city from
both sides of the river, and
hurrying towards the great blaze. In passing
down Washington avenue, and reaching point
| some two blocks below the N;collet house, the
party came in sight of the first evidences of
the effects of the terrible explosion, in the
| form of broken windows and glass store fronts.
It was evident even from this point that the
direction of the explosive shock had been to
the westward, or back from the river, as the
broken windows and doors were much more
numerous on the west side of the street than
on the east; and it may be said that
not single building within a frontage
e l,1f Ia be av,aS
injury. These broken windows and fine glass
fronts to business houses and residences were
being rapidly boarded up, and presented a
novel spectacle before the party left
As near could be ascertained, seven flour
ing mills, carrying an aggregate of9l run Of stone
Ga greater Touring capacity than some whole
States of the Union can boast) had fallen int
a mass Of ruins or been swept away by the
flames A great number of smaller shops
shanties, dwellings, half depleted lumber pile
and yards had also been Tapped mp by the de
vouring element
Directly to the westward, and about on
block away from the Washburn mill, whicl
was the first to explode, stood the rcun'
house (or engine house, Of the Milwaukee
: road, and which had been rent in twain iron
!. base to turret, as though some towering churc
spire had fallen across and crushed it's wa
! through.
;. In the midst OF the burnt district. but a lii
: tie to the southeast of the great explosion
il stands isolated and alone, unshattered. an
:, almost unscratched, the . Palisade Mills
fine stone structure. three or four stories higl
: with FIRE in front of it, fire on either flank
- it, and ruin all around it.
- The FIRE department was doing brave ard g
- hcient work at every exposed point to preve,
- the further sprced of the flames, and at IL
- hour Mr.. Farley and party left to return to
-, Pablo o'clock--it Was evident beyond
=, doubt that tho devouring clement had be.
~ cinumscribed and subdred within safe centre