Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-08
The Origin.


James Palles, an attache of the GLOBE,
was sitting in the Office of the Sherman
House about five o'clock, when he saw a
flame, apparently in the third story of the
building. He started out and endeavored to
call policeman, bat none being available.
he went to the Merchants Hotel, but failing
to find key to the fire alarm box, dispatched
Hickman Tom Scott to the engine house of
No. = company, where the alarm was turned
in. The engines soon arrived upon the
scene, when it appeared that the fire Lad
originated among a lot of packing boxes
on the fourth floor: from what
cause has not THIS far appeared. HIr. Z. A.
Young and Thomas Davis visited the store
about . O'Clock and found everything in
good order. After that tins no enc had
been in the Establishment UP 10 the occur
renee of the ire. The delay in giving the
alarm proved very serions. Officer ,Roleau
who was or duty on that beat had unfortu-
nateiy been called away to cara for drunken
soldier, and as Mr.. Palles could not find the
key to the alarm box, fully fifteen minutes
elapsed before the alarm was made public.
The Cro,cd.
The scene presented in the immediate To-
cality of the flee Was graphic beyond de-
scription. A banner of lurid flames shot up
from the burning edifice, illuminating the
neighborhood, and casting weird glamcr
on all the surroundings.
The crowd was immense and there was an
outpouring of citizens from the foar quar-
ters of st. Paul. This streets were blocked
with humanity, and tho pedestrian who had
to run the gauntlet on Jackson, Fourth.
Sibley or Fifth streets encountered the most
vexatious obstacles.
Those occupying rooms or Offices in the
immediate vicinity of the fire made the roofs
available for sightseeing, and the house tops
were crowded with spectators. From an
elevated point of view, the scene was attend
ed with much grandeur.
The interior of the burning structure pre-
scented the appearance of seethipg cauldron
and the air literally swarmed with fantastic
fire brands which were waited by the hot
breath of the demon in every conceivable
direction. At times the insatiate thing would
seize upon fresh quantities of costly fabrics,
which was sign alized by renewed burst of
flames and straightway the air would become
| filled with showers Of blazing debris.
The spectacle was viewed by the crowd
with varied emotions. The small boy was
there numerously, and as usual his desire to
get in every persons way and make
nuisance Of himself in general was impress
sibie. The strong minded female was also
present in groups, aud she, like the small
boy, manifested desire to occupy the most
dangerous positions.
At o'clock tho fire burned furiously, and
at this hour the streets were bl0ckaded with
spectators. A rope was drawn around the
approaches to the building which was par
TALLY guarded by Gordon of policemen,
who had the utmost difficulty in keeping
back the crowd Which surged forward and
created the widest confusion.
About this lime it looked as if the fire
would lap over 90 the opposite buildings, the
occupants of which began to remove their
valuables. The Streets were wild with con-
fusion. Every conceivable appliance was
brought into requisition for the removal of
goods and furniture.
The most costly articles were piled at
random upon everything from a four horse
truck to wheelbfrow when pell-mell race
wouid commence for place of security.
The excitement was taken advantage of by
that order of society who always have an
eye to tie main chance.
The confusion afforded fine field for the
practice of the nefarlous arts Of the blsckleg
and sneak thief, who piled their villainous
calling with comparative immunity. The
police were on the alert, however, and no
less than score of petty thieves were lodged
in the lookup.
The air was filled with discord and a
notable feature of the fire was tho strange
confusion of wierd and ear piercing sounds.
At midnight the destroying forces of fire and
water had well nigh completed the destruc-
ton, and of the once stately edifice nothing
remained but the empty walls which
confined mass of still blazing debris.