Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-11
FIRE THURSDAY MORNING.
More Details of the Potter & Bass Fire Re
ported In Yesterdays "Globe."

More Details of the Potter & Bass Fire Re
ported In Yesterdays "Globe."
Yesterday mornings GLOBE announced
that at 2:15 O'Clock the current morning
Officer Warehouse discovered bright light
in the rear third story window of the build
ing occupied by Potter & Bass and others,
corner of Sixth and jackson streets. The
ftful character of the blaze demonstrated
that the upper floor of the building was on
fire, and no time was lost in turning in an
alarm of fire from box No. 81, to which the
department quickly responded. Owing to
the infammable character of the material
the fire had gained formidable Roadway, and
its speedy suppression was task of the
utmost difficulty.
Several streams were directed on the blaze
and after an hours vigorous work the flames
were completely extinguished.
Owing to the lateness of tho hour the ex-
elusive account given in yesterdays issue of
the GLOBE was necessarily limited, and the
full details of the fire are herewith presented.
The corner and adjoining store of the build
ing, Nos. 80 and lO1 jackson street, is occu-
pied as furniture warehouse and salesroom
by M essrs. Potter & Bass, iwho also use
the entire third story of the building, cover
ing four stories. as finishing room and re-
pair shop. ST
The fire started in the finishing room and
is supposed to have originated from the
spontaneous combustion of discarded oil
rags, which had boon used in polishing fur
niture. A less plausible theory is, that the
fire resulted from lightning; but as a gentle
man who rooms in the same building detect
ed tho smell of smoke early in the evening,
and as the storm was two hours previous to
the outbreak, the latter theory may be con-
sidered as almost entirely groundless.
In the first connection, it is but just to
say that no charge of blame or carelessness
is imputed to Messrs. Porter & Bass fol
being responsible for the fire, as they have
always been particularly careful about re-
moving oil rags and other infammable ma
terial each evening, and the material thai
combusted must have been concealed in ar
! out-of-the-way ylace where it was over.
looked. Aside from the loss sustained BY
Potter & Bass the damage was wholly con
fined to the loss caused by water. as the fire
was entirely restricted to the third story.
The loss sustained by Potter & Bass BY
| fire and water, on the third floor alone, will
| amount to $4,000, in addition to which the
second and ground floors of the building arr
materially damaged by water, the exact loss
on which has not yet been ascertained.
The store No. 1O3 jackson street, is occu
pied by H. Swift, as tea. spice and frui
store, and the damage by water will not OK
coed $500 or it may fall considerably Tor
of this amount.
The store No. los Jackson street is occu
aied by G. w. Chase g. Co. as feed anc
commission house, and the loss by water is
estimated from $3.50 to 81, 900.
The second floor of the building over No
1O3 is used for private Offices by Gen. Geo
L. Becker, and the damage by water is re-
garded as only nominal.
The same floor over No. 1O5 jackson
street is entirely taken up by G. A. DeGraf
d Go. as land Office. TIE damage here i,
very considerable as the furniture, carpets
stationery, and number of maps in waite
color were completely saturated by water.
| INSURANCE.
The building is owned by Judge Hale an,
was constructed in 1901 at a cost of 500,
600. The loss on the building is estimated
at $1,000, insured for $40, 900 in the Phoeni
of Hartford, and the Phoenix of Brooklyn
equally, having been placed by Messrs
| Voou " LhWIeuCos 1uo loss sustained b
Potter & Bass is wholly on furniture an,
will probably amount to $1,000 or $4,000
The stock was insured for $40 1000, placed b
the st. Paul Fire and Marine in the follow
ing companies:
st. Paul Fire Il Marine. 1,5O
Commercial Union, London. ........ 400
Westchester, N. $50
Glrard, Philadelphia. Observation-Disclosures. 200
In addition to the above Mr.. Potter wa
insured in the st. Paul Fire e. Marine 70
81 500 on household furniture owned b
him in private apartments on the secon
floor of the building. Gen. Becker and c
A. De Graft & Co. are without insurance
and whatever loss sustained is complete.
The loss on G. w. Chase & Co.'s stock i
covered by policy in the Niagara insuranc
company, of New York, for 81 500, the pol
icy having been placed by Thomas Cochran
Jr.
The loss on the stock of III. Swift, tea an
fruit dealer, is covered by the following in
surance:
| North British. ...,................. 49, lO
Home, of New York / .OO
Hartford Observation-Disclosures. sc
The floors and ceilings of the building a,
badly saturated with water, and necessar
repairs will be instituted as early as pract
cable.