Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-18
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

The Model Roller MI of Russell &c Co. Ee
EsstrOyed by Ffre-LOss 10000; Insurance
not KnO,Cn-SpIendid FOrk of the Fir.
Department.
Minneapolis has not been visited by q
serious or extensive fire for several months
until last night, when the Model Touring
mill, owned by R. II. Russell & Co., was
burned, entailing total loss of about
$4,000. The fire was first discovered by
the millers at about $50, and the mill was
in operation. When discovered one of
the middlings purifiers on the second floor
was in flames, and it created sort of
panic from fear of repetition of the
horrible mill explosions still fresh in
the memory of the millers
who lost friends and comrades
buried beneath the fallen walls. Fully
twenty minutes were consumed in shutting
down the mill. In the meantime, however,
an alarm had been turned in from the box
near by, and in few seconds after the
whole department went flying to the
scene.
The department never was in better
working condition. The principal water
main leading to the heart of the city was
shut off, thereby concentrating the entire
force Of the pumps upon the confagration.
The steamers also worked with teeming
efforts. flooding the building with power
full multitudinous streams. The
building, four-story strCcture.
was a frail institution, it having
been made over from an old wooden build
ing. The front was of stone, but the sides
and rear were simply veneered with brick
and is nestled in the very heart of the
milling district.
The next adjoining to the east isethe old
Dakota Touring mill, owned by 81. F.
Brown, and is considered yeritable finder
box. Several times the flames were COM
municated to the roof of this mill, but
five seconds later the fire fighters would
have the flames extinguished by well di-
rected and effective streams of
water. The Model mill, however.
was entirely destroyed, nothing save
shattered and crumbling walls remaining
to tell the story.
The mill was OF $50 barrels capacity.
and furnished up with the Stevens roller
machinery, having abandoned the stone
system two years ago. There was but
little flour or wheat in the building at the
time. The loss entire is estimated by the
company at nearly $4,000, but the insur-
ance could not be appropriated, but the
reporter was informed that the same was
fairly insured, and that it had all been
placed with G. B. Shove, of the Mutual
A visit to Mr.. Shove's Office
and his residence failed to
find him or an inkling as to his wherea-
bouts, and at q late hour the matter of as
certaining the insurance was abandoned.
The efficacy of the fire department has
been matter Of question with McCord, as
underwriters agent, and as another board
of underwriters, composed of companies
other than those represented by McCord,
were in secret session at the Nicollet house,
and discussing this very question at the
very time the alarm was turned in, the
forty members present, with manifest in
terest, started double quick for the fire
to judge of the workings OF the de-
partment for themselves. 1t is needless
to add that every man of the board was
more than surprised at the remarkable
efficacy Of the Minneapolis department..
Mayor Ames put one of his old uniforms
on and worked hard with his old company,
No. ]. Winn Bracket also took hand.
the fire department returned home at mid