Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-23
DESTRUCTIVE FIRB
Two of the Largest Wholesale Houses
in the City in Ruins.
AVERlLL. RUSSELL Il CO.'S
Paper House Takes Fire at 2 O'clock
This Morning.
SPREADS. TO 2. Fl. KELLY'S
And in Two Hours Both Buildings and
Stocks Mere Wiped Ont.
THE LOSS ABOUT 100000
And the Insurance apprOximates
S45O,000.
A MAN REPORTED KILLED
And the Insurance apprOximates
S45O,O00.
A MAN REPORTED KILLED
By the Falling Walls of Kellys
Store.

teusive wholesale grocery house discovered
the reflection of FIRE in the rear of the four story
building occupied as wholesale
paper warehouse by Averill, Russell & Carpen-
ter, No. $50 East Ihird street. At the same
time Officer DeCoursey detected the smell of
smoke in the front part of the building, and
an alarm of ire WAS at Unce turned in from
box No. "a, calling out the entire department.
A GLOBE reporter, as 2:l5 O'Clock, ascendcd
to the third story of the building, where
fierce fire was raging in the hatchway Of the
elevator. and few feet from the mansard roof,
the under side of which was
envslope3 in fire and smoke.
The department got down to business, but a
mistake was evidently made in not directing
the stream al first to the rear part of the
building.
Gen. AverilI, the senior partner of the firm,
was early on hand, but owing to the absence
of the underwritera, none of whom appeared
until the FIRE had gotten full sway of the build
ing, no effort was made to save the stock.
The fire gained headwey with inconceivable
rapidity. At o'clock the flames first burst
through the nanssEd roof in the front part of
the building, and it became apparent that all
efforts to save the structure would be futile.
Five minutes afterwards shaft of fire shot
through the upper windows almost across the
street. At S:l5 o'clock the top Of the structure
was envelope6 in flames and the situation
looked hopeless. In tue meantime, the fire
had communicated to the wholesale grocery
establishment of P. 81. Kelly & Co., aud ban
ner of lurid flames which shot skywsrd signi-
fed that the magnificent structure WA doomed.
The inhammable character of the contents of
both buildings fed the flames with the rapidi-
ty of punk and the awful grandeur of the
scene made q spectacle as magnifi-
cent it was appalling.
The scene presented in the offices of P. Il.
was ons of intense cummo5ion and activity.
The responsible agents uf both firms were busy
in removing valuable books and papers, in
which they were assisted by friendly by
ISLANDERS.
Owing to the early hour but comparatively
few spectators We're present. The extensive
nature of the catastrophe was freely conversed,
however, and on eve'y side was to be heard ex-
pressions of regret at the immense drawback
the Gripping of TWO such extensive business
houses would have On the commercial interests
of St, Paul.
There was a fire wall between the buildings
when the fire reached the mansard roof it was
above the wall, and the flames ran almost like
rocket across the top of both buildings. In
less than an hour after this, Kellys building
was level with the street.
FALL OF TIE WALLS.
At 3 o'clo ck A. NJ the walls of the Kelly
building on the Third street front fell in with
crash and in few minutes thereafter those
on the eIbley street side went down a mass of
ruins. Fortunately the intense heat had driven
both spectators and firemen outside the limits
of their fall and but one was injured. As soon
"a these walls fell the inhsmmable matter
which had fallen from the fourth story down
through all the other fl ors, burst out with in
tense heat. The lurid flames seemed to pierce
the heavens, and lighted up the streets
for blocks away with more than MONDAY
brightness. Thus far the large block occupied
by Beaupre. Allie & Keogh has escaped, but
the urspent flames created heat which was
furnace-hke in intensity. Then
began the struggle of the
fire department to save this fine block. Had
the flames once crossed the street not only
that but the estabishment of Auerbach. Finch,
Culbertson i Co. would have shared the fate of
the Kelly block.
Several times the roof of the building was on
fire, but as often well-directed streams of water
quenched the flames. At this time the scene
presented was one of the most thrilling inter-
est. The spectators hsld Nheir breath in an
agony of suspense. Should the fire once OF
tain Roadway in the block there WAS
no telling where its destructive
course would be stayed. No sooner did the
flames appear han a stream of water suppress
ed them and great sigh of relief went up from
the multitude. For over half hour the strug-
gle went on. and finally the fremen Won and the
building was out of danger.
Unfortunately no one could be found who
knew the combination of Keliy's vault door.
Messengers were sent for several employ es wko
could open it, but before the first one arrived
the wall had fallen. The contents of the vault
may or may not be safe. All of the books and
papers outside were safed.
Mr. P. Fl. Kelly has been absent in New
York for ten days and it is possible that ht
atarted home last night