Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-27
BLAZE OF GLCRY.
Which is the Way the Carpe inter- House
Went Up Yesterday MOrnfng-Destruc-
ton of Venerable Landmark.

Which Is the Way the Carpe inter- mouse
Went Up Yesterday Observation-Disclosures
ton of Venerable Landmark.
The GLOBE had an exclusive mention of
the destruction of the Carpenter house by
fire yesterday morning. Owing to the late
ness of the hour, 3 o'clock A. NJ, no extend
ed account of the disaster could be given.
But visit to the scene at the time of the
fire led to all the particulars of the misfor
tune.
At the time the fire broke out Judge VIM
Shane and Robert Flynn occupied the build
ing. The former slept in the brick "L' at
the southwest angle Of the building, while
Flynn occupied room in the basement
under the frame part of the structure farth-
est from the brick part. Flynn discovered
the fire. He was awakened by cracking
noise, and soon perceived it came from the
flames eating their way through the first
floor at the further end of the base ment, or
up through the kitchen floor. He rushed
out to give tho alarm and awaken Judge
Shane. The flames by this time had gotten
to the roof and were making their way to the
"Lookout,,' which joined the building just
beyond Judge Shane's room.
Meanwhile, the judge had been made
aware of his danger, and many people were
on the ground viewing the confiagration.
About this time officer Mcmahon saw the
fire and sent in an alarm from Box Z. The
fire department responded Immediately.
Two engines, the four hose carts and the
Hook and Ladder company got upon the
ground. A neighboring cistern on Earring
ton avenue furnished water; the two en-
gines were put to service, 1000 feet of
hose vas run out and a stream of water was
played upon the burning building. Owing
to its inaccessibility in the first place, and
the Roadway the fire had obtained, tue fire
department could do nothing to save the
bui ming building, but good service was
done in saving Mr.. Charles McIlrath's res
idence, which at one time was in imminent
danger, SO furious was the fire.
The spectacle was e grand
one, and as the fire leaped up the so feet
heigth of the wooden tower, the whole city
was illuminated. The building being largely
of frame, we'll seasoned, the fire had its way
with furious intensity from the first. So
much 80, that next to nothing was saved.
In fact all the contents
of the building, carpets,
furniture, etc, excepting a few articles in
Judge Shane's room, we're destroyed, as
was the building within an hour after the
fire was discovered. .
From what can be learned, it seems the
fire took start in the basement underneath
the kitchen. Sunday afternoon Flynn built
a fire in the stove there to thaw tho water
closet pipes. On retiring he banked up the
fire securely, as he thought, but as the Sc
qael showed he missed his calculation.
The house destroyed was estimated as
worth $4,000. The insurance on the
building was taken cut by Judge VIM.
Shane, amounting to $4,000, distributed as
follows:
Underwriters of New York. 80. 900
Phoenix of Hartford. Observation-Disclosures. 1000
Franklin of Philadelphia. Observation-Disclosures. 2,UCO
Hamburg Bremen. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2,OUO
Total. ........ .SS OOU
The furniture and all the contents Of the
house belonged to the Misses Carpenter.
These were the accumulation of Mr.. Warren
Carpenter for years, aud were wholly lost,
the insurance being 500 against valuation
of $4,000 to $1,000. The insurance was in
the Home of New York.
The Carpenter house is almost historic in
its associations, and by its disappearance an
old landmark has been swept away. It was
erected, at least the Drlck poftlOn, IN lS:'S
by H. M. Rice, for his residence; suhse
quentIy it passed into the hands
of James Stinson. and was bought
from him in 1858 by MIR. Warren Carpenter.
In the fall of that year Mr.. Carpenter made
large additions to the building, erecting the
frame part of the house. The following
season the house was opened as summer
resort, and has been used as
such since that time. It was de-
sirable in this respect, commanding
grand and beautiful view from the promi-
nence it occupied at the intersection of Ram
sey street and Summit avenue. Last spring
Mr.. Carpenter built the "Lookout," which
greatly added to the value of the property,
and made it much frequented place for the
magnificent and extended view afforded. The
des ruotion of the Lookout" is e public
calamity.