Daily globe., 1882-11-14

Works Inadeqaate-The Hurlbut Block
Damaged-The Respective Losses and
the Insurance.
AT about . O'Clock yesterday fore
noon Minneapolis was visited by disas-
trous confagration, destroying the large
and handsome block on Nicollet avenue
between Fourth and Fifth streets, known
as the Knickerbocker block, and occupied
by the Knickerbocker Furniture company,
besides damaging in considerable degree
the large Hurlbut block, next adjoining.
The origin of the fire is unknown,
but when discovered the flames had gained
considerable headway, and were devouring
the contents of the large packing room in
Knickerbocker block. The alarm was at
once turned in and the chemical engine
responded and was on the scene with won
derful alacrity. 1t was many min
utes, however, before the whole depart
ment put IN an appearance, owing, it is
explained, to an error in the alarm. The
alarm was still, whereas it should have
been general, or something of the Sort
DUS III u1dtlcIS liIll0 WlldU tll6 CAUSE Was,
however. The fact that serious delay
was occasioned through blunder is ex-
asperating, and poor excuses are poor
consolation. On the otker hand many
who were at the fire at the outbreak. as
sert that the department was promptly on
hand, and did excellent and effective work.
Which theory is correct,it cannot be denied
that the department was seriously crippled
by the i1adequacy of the water supply
and the pressure of the same. It was i'm
possible to throw stream into the upper
stories of the burning building at any time.
In a marvelously few moments the entire
Knickerbocker block was in ruins. The
walls had fallen in and the contents of the
block were totally destroyed. The fall
ing of the side walls demolished
small wooden building occupied by Mrs
Balcom as millinery store. Strange as
it may seem, no one WAS injured by the
falling walls. The Hurlbut block is
tive-story structure, and adjoins the Knick-
erbocker block on the north. The
first four stories are well
protected by iron shutters, but
unfortunately the upper story had no such
prote csion. and half hour after the fire
had trigiuited, the flames had communi-
Gated with this block, for smoke in dense
volumes came pouring out of the windows,
giving the impression that it too must sue
cumb. At this time it had be-
came evident that the Knickerbocker
block could not be saved:
the fire department turned its undivided
attention to the protection of the adjoin
ing buildings. Ladders and hose were
taken into the upper stories of the Hurl-
but block and the building was flooded
with water,and by this means succeeded in
confning the fire to the two upper stories
Many of the rooms and Offices in the
Knickerbocker block were unoccupied,
owing to the fact that the public elevator
in the building had worked so badly that
tenants had moved out. Those who
were occupants at the time of the fire
were as follows: The southerly half of
the block, including the ground, third
and fourth floors and the base
ment, were occupied by the Knickerbocker
Furniture company. The other half of
the block was occupied on the ground
floor and basement by Middlemist & Tay-
lor, dealers in wallpaper and mouldings;
the second floor bv r. NJ. Kargle's studio,
Miss L. E. Day, dressmaker, Miss Wright,
cloak manufacturer, Ed F. l.. Blecken, in
surance. and the Office of DR.. Wentworth.
LOSSES.
The block was owned by w. w. Eastman,
who estimates his loss at $4,000, upon
which he carried $4,000 insurance.
George Knickerbocker places his loss at
$4,000, with only $25, 900 insurance.
Middlemist & Taylor's loss will probably
aggregate $4,000 to $4,000, upon which
there is $500 insurance.
Miss Days loss, which included all her
worldly effects, will amount to over 81 200,
which was insured for $500. There were
about $500 worth of dresses in course of
making belonging to different parties, de-
stroyed, upon which there were no insur-
ance.
Mrs. II. Clay lost about $500 worth of
household goods, which were not insured.
Mrs. Balcom only lost on her buildin,,,
which was crushed, her stock of millinery
having been removed.
The loss on the Hurlbut block will prob
ably not exceed $4,000, and is covered by
an insurance Of $25,O ZOO.
Dyer & Howard, music dealers, who are
occupants of the Hurlbut block, suffered a
loss of about $4,000 to $4,000 from water
on their immense stock of musical instru-
ments. They have an insurance of $751;
500.
J. w. Hinsdell, also in this block, lost
81 600; fully insured.
j. W. Ally and A. w. Brownell suffered a
slight loss. upon which there is $500 insur-
ance.
RECAPITULATION.
Losses. Insurance.
W. w. Eastman .. $4,000 s23,OO
Knickerbocker Co... $1,000 25,OO0
Middlemist Il Taylor. 12,CO1 $500