Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-13

street, and looking down upon the block
smouldering ruins, one is saddened to
think that where yesterday was busy &C.
tive mart, full of beauty and life, to-day
are mixed in promiscuous disorder, black
ened and SCARED, the heavy supports, the
costly pillars, and everything that tended
to the beauty and strength OF the building.
The havoc is most complete. The work of
the plumber and gas filter has been torn
and twisted into ali shapes. and are lying
like skeletons among the ghastly sur
roundings, whilst numerous safes
add their dark SCARED out
line to the general desolation. Looking
up, the bare walls are seen looming up on
all sides of the amphitheatre, without a
break TO relieve the monotony, except that
the greater part Of the heavy partition
walls separating the Drake block from
HGrdenburg is now lying in shapeless
mass, in the basement Of the Drake block.
The walls, with this single exception, are
standing intact, and will no doubt be utll-
IL ID for rebuilding. The vaults, which are
built from the basement in the Drake
block, appear to have stood the fire test
well, and men were at work yesterday af-
ternoon erecting staging go as to reach
the doors, that they may be opened and
the contents reached. The partition wall
between the Drake block and Hardenburg's
store was exceptionally thick, as each had
dietinct wall, the one being Of stone and
the other Of brick, and the heat must have
been something extra intense to cause tie
two to lose their equilibrium. The tim
bers that were used in the Drake block
were of hard wood, which accounts some
what for the long continuance of the fire,
and the ferceness of the flames and the
great sho yer of sparks. It is a wonder
that such an elegant structure was put up
without some fire walls running through
from front to rear. The only wonder ia,
that the fremen were able to fight tbs
hamss IS we'll as they did.
TGoss who witnessed the fire will not
soon forget how obstinately the fire
burael, down in the northeast corner of
the D axe block, next to the wall adjoining
ths hArdenbargh store. The fremea
played a solid stream upon it for two
hours and utterly failed TO make any i'm
preston upon it.
For good draft with which to kindle a
fire, and lively Industrious machine to
keep il agoiug after it has been
started, there has never been
any hing invented that can
quite equal the well constructed eleva-
tor. 1t sort of lifts the fire up and keeps
it moving. 1t always gives the flames
little fresh air which serves to revive them
and refresh their spirits when they begin
to drooP. The elevator is brilliant il
ventions and the more stories that arc Int
onto building the more brilliant it be-
comes. The only improvement that can
be suggested at the present time is to lu-
bricate The uprights with kerosene and con-
struct the little box that raises and lowers
people of saltpetre.
The joists of the Drake building were
put into the adjoining wall on the west in
such way that they touched the ends of
the joists of the Simpson block, SO that
when they burned Off in the Drake block
the fire was communicated to the joists in
the Simpson block. This was kind and
considerate on the part of those who con-
structed the burned building. There is
nothing like being kind and nei2hborly
about these matters, especially in cold
weather, when little calrnic is pleasant
Z. +. DRAKE.
The building which VI AS O Tned by E. +.
Drake was one of the finest in the city.
1t was commenced late last season, and
rooted in before very severe winter weather
came on and was finished off during the
winter. 1t began to be occupied by some
tenants early in the spring and was fully
occupied about June. The cost of the
bui ding wa3 $SE,OOO and the
iIs rance So, 00), leaving net loss of
$4,000 To this should be added years
rentals, as it will require this lie myth of
time to rebuild. These rentals were
$4,000, making Mr.. brakes real loss
$4,000. Mr.. Drake will proceed to re-
build Immediately. He held a consulta-
penter u Detzler, builders,
and directed them to pro-
coed with the work of rebuilding.
GEO W. MAGEE.
A report was started yesterday after
noon to the effect that Mr.. George W. Ma
gee had rented the coffee house restaurant,
No. 142 east Third street, and that he had
given MS patrons the usual D O'CLOCK DIN
ner yesterday. This report, it is hardly
necessary to say, was unfounded. Mr..
Msgee was seen by GLOBE reporter last
night and in reply to- inquiries he said
that as yet he had made 10 arrangements
to resume business. He stated that he
was on the lookout for suitable location
and that he would start up again as soon
as practicable.
His loss is very heavy and of the palatial
restaurant and its sumptuous appoint
ments absolutely nothing was saved. As
stated yesterday the loss is close onto
$4,000, and he is insured for only $4,000.
LAND DEPARTMENT.
Tt Office of j. h. Drake, land commits
sioner of the st. Paul & Sioux City road
was in the Drake block, as well as his own
private office. In his Office were all the
maps, diagrams, records, papers and other
documents belonging to the company.
All these were in the safe vault,
and it is hoped they are
SAVED. Some doubt, however, is ex
pressed about their safety, as the vault fell
distance of three stories, and at last
landed in very warm place. If the safe
is safe the papers are as safe as q safe