The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-27
FIRE AT FARMINGTON, MINI.
Destruction Of Almost all the Business Part
Of the Town.

Destruction of Almost all the Business Part
Of the Town.
Shortly alter o'clock on the evening
of November 22d, fire was discovered in
the basn of the Niskern hotel, Farming
ton, MIMI, which speedily communicated
to the hotel itself, and in very brief Pc
Rod assured very alarming proportions
and threatened to envelop the entire city
in the maelstrom of destruction. The
wind was at the time, blowing {. stiff
breeze from the west, and the buildings
being mostly of wood and very old, the
fire 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 couse, spreading rapidly along
Oak street and leaving naught untouched
and unframed in their desolate pathway.
Within few moments after the first
alarm the citizens of the town gathered
IN force at the scene of the copfagrati on
As soon as 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
Atz and Sauers hardware establishment.
a portion Of the stock in both of these
was saved.
The bank Of Pennington, a two-story
building, was attacked and rapidly crum-
bled beneath the consuming force of the
devouring element. The bank was own
ed and run by Thomas c. Davis, presi-
dent, and Claus NJ. Dittmar, cashier,
both wellknown to St. Paul business
men, and was said to be in s. fourishing
condition. The loss involves only the
building, and is estimated at about ST.
900, the papers and contents Of the vault
being all safe.
From the bank to Ben's barbershop,
small one story frame, the flames pursued
their eastward course, and in twinkling
attacked the Eagle hotel on the north
west corner OF Oak and Third streets.
This was :wo-s1ory 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 a
considerable portion of his furniture, but
as was naturally to be expected, in very
damaged condition.
Up to this time the wind had been
blowing directly from the west. But
when the Egle hotel had become fully
envelopcd, the wind suddenly veered to
the southwark, forcing the flames and
heat across Oak street to the large three
story store of G. r. Gr1ebic. From the
first discovery of the fire Mr.. Griebie had
made a 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
wctted and stream of water kept play
ing upon them. This precaution would
ndoubtedly 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 tine
structure, and in ten minutes the fruits
Of four Or five years of patient industry
and perseverance were swallowed up
The 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 veneercd with brick, ard
also provided IRON shutters for the upper
windows. The second story was occu pied
by the proprietor, MI. C. 3. Griebe, and
his brother and family, both Of whom
lost their furniture and clothing, saving
not even any of their clothing other than
what they wore at the time. The third
story was occupied as Masonic lodge
room and of course nothing Of the tx
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 trade is put down
at about $4,000, of which only 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,
and aggregating some $4,000. =
Ten minutes completed the work of
destruction of the Griebie building, after
which the flames turned westward along
Oak street to the place Of beginning, or
rather opposite the starting point, and
destroyed successfully F. Winters barber
shop, IL. Fretter's restaurant and dwell
ing, Hon. =. 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 his stock and CARR