Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-10
THE DAVIDSON BLOCK,

Removal Of Goods from the Basement BE
run-Conclusion that the Walls Must be
Taken Down Soon or They VIII Fall
Fresh Flames Last Night Quickly Extin-
euished-The Goods in the Basement
Found In Better Condition Than Ex-
pected.
While the fire of Sunday night was not the
allabsorbing subject of interest in the city
yesterday, as on tho day previous, yet the COM
mon curiosity was still manifest, IN the Ire
duent gathering of crowds to look at the runs
and witness the work going on IN and about
them. Early in the morning the wall on the
jackson street front was stayed from falling
in with ropes anchored at the opposite side IF
the street, and beginning was made toward
removal of the debris of the fire from the lower
floor of the main part, as to get at the goods
in the basement. An outside opening into the
main basement was made, and the basement OF
the carpet department was entered by
cutting a hole through the trst toor.
The goods in the Easements as far as examined,
were found in better condition than expect n.
Under the carpet department was stored largo
quantity of goods in the original bales aud
boxes. These, except the lower layer were
found generally dry and not at all scorched.
The main basement, which was closely niled
with goods, also mostly escaped the hre. but
most of the goods there are wet. Tho wo'k OF
removing these goods was actively prosecuted
through the day but, owing to the difficulties
in the way and the caution which had to be ex-
ercised only small proportion of the goods
were got out. During the afternoon the work
men and others became fearful that the walls
might fall, notwithstanding they
were stayed between the scoond
and third stories. and work IN the
threatened interior of the main part was sus-
pended. 1t was afterwards decided to endeavor
to take down the walls of the main part to the
first story before renewing the attempt to re-
move the goods in the basement.
The goods, as fast Us taken out. were conveyed
to tbs Schultz and Wharton d Morton build
ings, where they arc being assorted Tor lnVen-
tory and appraisal. IN
in the evening flames broke out from the larger
pile of debris in The msin part of the building,
but they were soon quencbed by bydfant
streams.
Approach to the vault for reEoval OF i's con-
tents is not yet considered safe, but the appear
ance of tho vault indicates that 1t and us COR
tents are unharmed.
Besides collecting the saved goods and recov-
eriup the damaged goods from the ruins, the
usual adjustment of losses by and between the
insurance companies still have to be made be-
fore Messrs. Auerbach, Finch, Culbertson d
Co. can place on sale the goods they have LETT.
a number of adjusters, representing interested
insurance companies, have already arrived ana
more are expected this morning. When enough
have assembled to make fair representation
of insurance interests they viii probably fol
low the usual course in such cases, by appoint
ing a committee of two or three to MAKE the
whole settlement of losses for all the COM
panies. By Thursday, at farthest, enough OF
the adjusters will be here to begin their WORK
and, as the firm will by that time have the
saved and recovered goods all stored, separated
and inventoried, the adjusting committee can
finish it's business inside of days time.
Commodore Davidson, the owner of the
block has not yet been heard from, definitely,
as to his intentions, but his representatives here
have no doubt about his Immediately rebuild
ing. 1t is probable the reconstruction of the
part of the building used by Auerbach, Finch,
Culbertson & Co. for their carpet store will be
begun next week.
The square leased by Auerbach, Finch, Gull
bertson & Co. for their temporary warehouse Is
the one bounded by Wacouta, Rosabel, Third
and Fourth streets. The getting out of timber
and lumber for the warehouse was begun yes
terday, and it is thought the structure will be
ready for occupancy in four or five days.
A representative of the firm started East
yesterday to buy the goods which will appear
lacking when what are left from the fire have
been examined. 1t is hoped that the amount
saved will largely reduce the firms loss above
the insurance.
An old fireman and house builder, talking over
the fire yesterday, said he noticed during the
fire torrents of water running off from the up
per floors. He thought if around the openings
through the fourth floor, for the elevators and
stairways, there had been placed in building a
guard or dam high enough to have held two or
three inches of water over the floor, that what
water the engines did throw on the upper floor
would have been enough to stop the fire, with
the burning off Of the roof. The roof, hi
thinks, it was impossible to have saved.