The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-11-27
FIRE AT DARLINGTON, MINI.
Destruction Of Almoat all the Dssineas Part
Of tho Town.

10 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. The
wind was at tho time, blowing q stiff
breeze from the west, and the buildings
being mostly Of wood and very old, the
! fire made astonishingly rapid progress.
In q few brief moments much less
than is requisite to give an adequate de-
scription, the lurid flames enveloped the
doomed structure snd thence took an
eastward comse, spreading rapidly along
Oak street and leaving naught untouched
aud unframed in their desolate pathway.
Within few moments after the first
alarm the citizens Of the town gathered
IN force at the sceno Of the condagration.
As soon as the situation was comprehend
cd and it was seen that the hotel was
doomed, tho work ofsaving 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 aud Sauer's hardware establishment.
4 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 elemen:. The bank was own
ed and run by Thomas G. Davis, presi-
dent, and Claus II. Dittmar, cashier,
both well-known to st. Paul business
men, and was said to bc in Aourishing
condition. The loss involves only the
building, and is estimated at about $1,-
600, the papers aud contents Of the vault
being all safe.
From the bank to Bens barbcrshop, q
small one story frame, the flames pursued
their eastward course, and in twinklins
attacked tie Eagle hotel on the north
west corner Of Oak aud Third streets.
This was 'wo-story building, and was
kept by Lawrence Eyle. who is also WE'LL
known in st. Paul, and to travellers gen
orally. Mr.. Fgle succeeded in saving
considerable portion of his furniture, Lut
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 Eglc 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 c. r. Grlebio. From the
first discovery of the fire Mr.. Griebic had
made determined effort to save his
property. To force pump in his we'll
he had attached q 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 uOtediy have saved the building had
not tho wind untortun ,tely 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 crum5led tie
flames penetrated the interior of the
structure, and i'll ten minutes the fruits
Of four "r five years OF patient industry
and perseverance were Swallowed up.
The p1mp 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
t'nee stories and vencc,o with b,ick, ard
also provided non shutters for the uppv,
windows. The second story was occupied
by the proprietor, MI. C. B. Griebe, and
his brother and family, both Of WHOM
lost their furniture aud clothing, saving
not even any Of their c'c:lGng other than
what they wore at the time The third
story was occupied as Masonic lodge
room and Of courae 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.. Griebic's stock in trade is put down
at about 900, 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,
end aggrcgating some $l0,500..
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 the starting point, ard
destroyed successlvely +. Winters barber
shop, L. J. 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 a new
building and uninsured, and although he
succeeded in saving his stock and carri-
gcs, 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 a
loss Of about $500 in each case.
Before the fire struck the Egle hotel,
rs before narrated, the large elevator
across the roa Away from the Niskern ho-
tel, had caught fire and was two-thirds
burned. Some $4,000 or GO, 900 bushels
! of wheat wers stored in the building
which belonged to the Chicago and Mil.
waukee Railroad company, and was at
tho time operated by the well-known
firm Of Pratt and Robinson. The total
| loss on building, grain and machinery
will, it is reported, aggregate over $780,.
900, which is believed to be partially
covered by insurance.
Among the owners Of the grain stored
in the elevator, are Archibald AMI Shur-
melr Of ts. Paul, who, iti reported WILL
sustain loss of $32, 900, which, however.
is insured to about 81, 900. The destruc
tion Of the building was complete, nc
thing whatever being saved, the rapidity
with which the fire travelled, the length
and breadth Of the structure, preventing
any attempt at removing the contents.
FROM the commencement of the fire
everybody in the town turned out and
Gathered ut the scene Of destruction. In
tense excitement prevailed, but Of course
nothing could be done to stay the pro-
gress Of the dcvouring elements. The
livid flames, ~ they shot athwart the skv
and siezed the hapless buildings in theil
fierce embrace, cast solemn and awe in.
sp,ring glance upon the helpless and pan.