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

Hupt. Farley held q special train in READINGS.
at the st. Paul & Pacific depot for some time,
to meet any demands that might be made upon
HIM for assistance, but as no calls were re-
ceived he took a few friends on board the ca
boose and proceeded to the scene of the terri
BILE conhagration.
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 Missis.
sipppi on to the island, as one of the grandest
and most awfully sublime, as picture, of
anything he ever saw in reality, in art or story.
Reaching the depot on the Minneapolis side
about 9P. NJ Mr.. Farley and friends left the train
and walked q distance Of about one mile before
reaching the 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 Nicollet 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 a single building within frontage
| of half a mile at two blocks away escaped
injury. These broken windows and fine glass
fronts to business houses and residences were
being rapidly boarded up, and presented g
novel spectacle before the party left
1 As near as could be ascertained, seven flour
ing mills, carrying aggregate of 81 run of ston.
{ q 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, wbicl
was the first to explode, stood the rcun.
house (or engine house) Of the Milwaukee
road, and which had been rent in twain fror
base to turret, as though some towering churc
spire had fallen across and crushed it's va
. through.
In the midst of the burnt district. but Lii
: tie to the southeast of the great explosion
i stands isolated and alone, unshattcred, 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 .
: : fcient work at every exposed point to preyel
: the further spreed of the flames, and at IL
! hour Mr.. Farley and party left to return to S
! Paul-10 o'clock--it WAS evident beyond
I doubt that tho derouring clement had be.
le "''>A :" i'iA'' si'e cstiett