The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-26
FIRE AT DARLINGTON, MINI.

FIRE AT PENNINGTON, MINI.
Destruction Of Almost all the Business Part
Of tho Town.
Shortly after o O'clock on the evening
Of November s2d, fire was discovered in
the ban Of the Niskern hotel, Farming
ton, MIMI, which speedily communicated
to the hotel itself, and in very brief pc
Rod assumed very alarming proportions
and threatened to envelop the entire city
in tho maelstrom of destruction. Tho
wind was at tho time, blowing stiff
broezo from the west, and the buildings
being mostly of wood and worry old, the
Dire made astonishingly rapid progress.
In few brief moments, much less
than is requisite to give an adequate de-
scription, the lurid flames enveloped the
doomed structure and thence took an
eastward course, spreading rapidly along
Oak street and leaving nsught untouched
and unframed in their desolate pathway.
Within a few moments after the first
alarm the citizens Of the town gathered
IN forcO at the scene Of the condagration.
As soon Is the situation was comprehend
ed and It was seen that the hotel was
doomed, the work of saving the furniture
and other contents of the establishment
was commenced by the excited throng.
Nearly all tho contents of the hotel were
removed, but in the hurry and confusion
much of it was damaged and rendered
nearly worthless.
From the hotel the fire spread to Whita-
ker's boot and shoe store, and thence to
ATT and Sauer's hardware establishment.
A PORTION of the stock in both of these
was saved. ~.
The bank of Pennington, q two-story
building, was attacked and rapidly crum-
bled beneath the consuming force Of the
devouring element. The bank was own
cd and run by Thomas G. Davis, presi.
dent, and Claus N. Dittmar, cashier,
both woll.known to St. Paul business
men, and was said to be in a furnishing
condition. The loss involves only the
building, and is estimated at about ST.
600, tho papers and contents of the vault
being all safe.
From the bank to Ben's barbershop, a
small one story frame, the flames pursued
their eastward course, and in twinklinp
attacked the Eagle hotel on the north
west corner Of Oak and Third streets.
This was :wo-story building, and was
kept by Lawrence Egle, who is also we'll
known in st. Paul, and to travellers gen
orally. Mr.. Fgle succeeded in saving q
considerable portion of his furniture, but
as was naturally to be expected, in a very
damaged condition. a5r -. I :
Up to this time the wind had been
blowing directly from the west. But
when tho Egle hotel had become fully
envelopcd, the VIM suddenly veered t<
the southwark, icing the flames and
heat across Oak street to the large three
story stoSe of c. ]. Grlebio. From the
first disc Dry of the fire Mr.. Gricbie had
madesa determined effort to save his
property. To force pump in his we'll
he had attached hundred feet of hose
and with the aid of assistance had spread
blankets over the roof and cornices OF
the building. These were thoroughly
wetted and stream Of water kept play.
ing upon them. This precaution would
undo ubted]y have saved the building had
not the wind unfortunately changed.
But upon its veering, and when the hot
breath of the fiery monster licked the
large plated windows of the ground story
the glass melted like mist before the
morning sun. AS the glass crumbled the
flames penetrated the interior of the
structure, and in ten minutes the fruits
of four OK five years of patient industry
and perseverance were swallowed up.
Tho pump was kept at work -four men
taking part and alternately relieving each
other) as long as any hope of saving the
building remained. The structures was
three stories and veneered with brick, ard
also provided IRON shutters for the uppe,
windows. The second story was occupied
by the proprietor, MI. G. 3. Griebe, and
his brother and family, both of whom
lost their furniture and clothing, saving
not even any of their c;o:hing other than
what they wore at the time The third
story was occupied as Masonic lodge
room aud of course nothing Of the fix
lures therein was saved. A loss of sever-
al hundred dollars Of Masonic property is
considered as very moderate estimate
Mr.. Griebie's stock in tradeis put down
at about $4,000, of which only q very
small proportion was rescued. Upon
the stock and building he holds policies
in some half dozen companies represent
ed BY John s. Prince, Esq, of St Paul,
end aggrcgating some $lO,500.
Ten minutes completed the work Of
destruction Of the Gricbic building, after
which the flames turned westward along
Oak street to the place Of beginning, Or
rather opposite tho starting point, ard
destroyed successfully F. Winters barber
shop, l.. J. Fretter's restaurant and dwell
ing, Hon. Z. w. Dilley's livery stable,
Mrs. Fager's house, and Mrs. Devitt's
house. Dilley's livery stable was new
building and uninsured, and although he
succeeded in saving bis stock and carri-
ges, his loss will reach $1,000, and falls
heavy on very worthy and upright gen.
tleman. The other buildings above nam
ed were also uninsured and represent q