Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-12

yesterday morning with vengeance, ana
in less time than it takes to write 1t
business block embracing number OF
lively firms, was wiped entirely out OF
existence. The fire was confined to the
block bounded by Eighth and Ninth, Cedar
and Minnesota streets, and by the time the
devouring element had finished its work
the district was as clean as though swept
by blizzard. A more destructive blaze
for the amount of time consumed has
indeed not been witnessed in st. Paul for
years, and more favorable locality for a
first class fire could not have been selected.
The block was made up of a num-
Der of frame buildings, as dry
as finder themselves, and
filled with the most infammable material
imaginable, the whole outfit constituting
regular powder magazine. The surround
ings were equally as bad, being made up
of dry lumber and other ignitable stuff.
The fire started at 1886 o'clock, and it
originated in the planning mill, conducted
by Wilson & Monkhouse, facing on Eighth
street and situated in the centre of the
block. At the time named the engineer,
Mr.. Duncan Wilson, was knocked almost
senseless by sudden explosion which
subsequent investigation demonstrated
had resulted from the accommodations of
shaving dust and other combustible ma
terial in q room adjoin-
ing the engine or boiler room.
The explosion was followed by binding
cloud of smoke and flame and he barely
managed to escape from the room alive.
A minute afterwards the bolt of fame had
eaten through the thin partitions, and,
reaching the draft the front part of the
building was soon enveloped in flames.
About this time Officer Scheffer observed
the smoke and flames and he at once turn
ed in an alarm from box No. 16. As
sistant Chief Hildebrand, who was also in
the vicinity, fastened to the nearest box,
but for some reason unknown there was
few minutes delay in sounding the bell,
which did not tap until several minutes
after the alarm had been given.
The department were prompt in re-
spending to the call, but their advent on
the scene was followed by several unfortu-
nate drawbacks, notably the bursting of
two or three lengths of hose, and the par
tial disabling of steamers Nos. l and 2.
No idea can be conveyed of the intensity
of the heat after the fire had gotten we'll
under way.
A southwest breeze was blowing and it
famed the flames into seething mass of
fire, the progress of which was almost IT.
resistible, and considering the surround
ings the department did very creditable
work, especially as it was impossible for
anyone to approach near the fire.
AS above indicated the mass of wooden
buildings constituted a fire trap of the
worst imaginable character, and it may
be considered fortunate that the flames
did not communicate to the adjoining
property.
DEADLY MISSILES.
About five minutes after the engineer
had escaped from the building catastro-
phe took place which might have
resulted in the direst consequences.
When the flames burst into the room he
was overwhelmed and almost suffocated
withsmoke and flames, not even having time
to stop the engine. Consequently in a
short time afterwards the fy-wheel of the
engine bursted and huge sections of the
red hot iron were thrown in all directions,
one piece in particular having been car
ried through the air and landed across the
street, distance of over 100 feet. Had
the deadly missile struck any one in its
flight death would have been certain.
THE SPECTACULAR EFFECT.
The fire occurred just as thousands
were on their way down town and the
heavy cloud of black smoke, streaked
with lurid tints, that curled upward from
the confagration attracted an immense
crowd of citizens to the scene.
The only really sensational feature of
the fire was occasioned by the consterna-
ton of the occupants of the row of frame
dwellings, which faced on the east side of
Cedar street between Eighth and Ninth
streets. Here scene of the utmost con-
fusion was witnessed. A relief corps was
organized and some cordial, earnest work
was done in assisting the imperiled fami-
lies to convey their house
hold effects to place of safety.
Aside from the inconvenInce, but few of
the inmates sustained any loss.
The fire burned furiously for nearly two
hours, the buildings alluded to and the fine
business block occupied by Friedman q
Lewis being saved by the application of
steady streams of water.
The most extensive loss is sustained by
Wilson & Monkhouse, operators of the
planning mill in the center of the block on
Eighth street. The mill and machinery
are total loss, the damage being estima-
ted at from $4,000 to $4,000.
Adjoining their mill on the west side
was the artistic furniture mandatory of
johnson Bros. & Loomis. Their building
and contents were entirely consumed, and
their loss is estimated at nearly $4,000.
To the east of the mill was located the
carpenter shop of Asher Basstord, con-
tractor and builder. His loss is also total,
and it will foot up about $4,000.
At the corner of Eighth and
Minnesota, in course of con-
struction was the central
fire hall; fortunately the foundations and
walls had only been laid, and the damage
is trifing.
Fronting on Ninth street was the build
ing occupied by M. P. Ryan, the contrac-
tor, and Julius Biorstadt, the stair builder.
Ryan's loss is estimated at $4,000, and the
latter's at nearly $4,000.
Messrs. Mark Costello, VIM. Weismen-
ger and G. j. Grant, all had lumber
stored in the vicinity, but their losses are
trifing.
The handsome building, No. 62 Eighth
street, occupied by Friedman & Lewis, had
an exceedingly close call. The sashes
were burned out and the cor
nice was badly singed, but