Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-13
A FIRE PUT OUT,

Which, Had 1t Got Under Way, Would
Probably Have Consumed Vast Amount
EOf Property The Alarm of Last Evening
Caused by Fire Under Ober's Sons
StOre-LOss by Fire, Smoke and Water
About So ZOO, Covered by Insurance.
Shortly after O'Clock last night smoke
was detected issuing from the three-story
building, No. 80 Robert street, and occu-
pied by r. p. Ober's Sons, wholesale
grocers, and others. Robert street, be-
tween Third and Fourth streets, rapidly
filed with smoke and it became apparent
that the prospects were good for most
destructive tire OF first class proportions
A knot of citizens specialized on the af-
fair, while one level-headed person
of practical turn of mind rushed to the
corner of Third and Jackson streets and
turned in an alarm from box No "a. This
signal brought out the complete depart
ment, and some rafting good time was
made in getting to the location of the fire.
In less time than can be described
Robert street and the adjacent thorough.
fares swarmed with citizens, who were
prevented from surging against the
premises by a Gordon thrown across the
street by the police. This was wise
preeaution Jas 1t gave the fire fighters
plenty of room IN which to work
1t was at first difficult to learn the
exact location of the fire. Smoke curled
from the caves of the roof and issued
from every crack in the building from
basement to attic Fears were expressed
that if the fire once reached the air, with
the wind blowing gale, no agency would
be able to save the block from destruc-
ton.
Luckily, the fire mainly amounted to
bid scare. 1t was learned that it had
caught in the basement, and couple of
streams of water were sent in that direc-
ton. The smoke grew more dense, how
ever, owing to the smudge caused by
water on quantity of tar paper slowed
in the basement.
The department worked for nearly
two hours before the fire was subdued,
and even then the smoke was
sitting. During all this time not even
the sign Of fire was visible outside, it
being confined to the basement. There
having been no fire in the basement, the
origin of the blaze is not known.
The building is owned by Mr.. Adam
Fink and was insured for $4,000. The
loss will probably not exceed $1,000. The
ground floor was occupied by r. P.
Ober's Sons as wholesale grocery, tea,
coffee, spice and strip house. Their
stock was valued at SIS, 900; insured for
S12,5O0. The loss is mostly by water, and
it was difficult to arrive at correct esti-
mate. 1t will probably amount to $4,000
or So, 600, and may fall below this.
The basement and two upper stories
were occupied by D. D. Merrill with per-
sonal stock, and by the St. Paul Book
and Stationery company; and the base
ment contained paint and tar paper and
sundries; the second story, text books of
D. D, Merrill and supplies belonging to
the company, and the third story was
filled with sundries and baby carriages
The loss in the two upper stories is by
smoke and water. The goods are easily
damaged and the loss may foot up $4,000
or IS 900.
The stock and insurance is as follows:
Personal stock, D. D. Merrill, text
books, stationery supplies and sundries,
valued at $40, 1000; insured as follows:
Lancashire, of Manchester, S., 900; Com
mercial Union, London, $1,000; Insur-
ance Company of North America $4,000
Stock of St. Paul Book and Stationery
company, valued at $4,000; insured for
s., 600; in the Glenn's Falls and the Fire
mans of Baltimore.