Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-08-28
AN AFFLICTED TOWN.
Anoka, Wis, DESTROYED by Fire for the
Fourth Time,

For the fourth time in its history the city OF
Anoka, Wis.,, has been fire stricken, and the en-
tire business portion for the second time en-
u ely wiped out OF existence. The ruin is
widespread and extensive. The loss Is rough
" Appropriated at 81 coo 900 at the least.
From the Congregational church at the corner
OF Main street and Third avenue west 10 Rum
river, and from Monroe street nortl 10 Van
Buren, street, is nau hit but heaps Of smoking
ashes and blackened ruins.
The fire broke out early on the morning of
the 10th ia these lting rink of Einnes IL Van
dervelde, situated In the rear of the postoffce
and high school buildings. Although the de-
partment was quickly at work, 1t was soon
evident that the aames were beyond control,
aud that the adj lining building must 20, and
in few moments the Campbell Foot's brick
block, Ia which the postoiiice was situated was
in flames, followed almost simultaneously by
the appearance OF fire in the high school adj
joining aud Dowdiel Bros restaurant. The
flames communicated to the elegant new brick
block belonging TO A. l.. Ticknor, aud from
there across Second avenue TO Ii. s. Plummer's
dry goods store, AMI across Main street to a
row OF wooden structures occupied by various
branches OF trade. Up Second avenue,
taking several residences and the Merchants
hotel, down Main street on the south side de-
stroying Plummer's dry goods store, Cutters
dry goods store, Ticknor " Co., drugs, Ryan,
boots and shoes, and so on until the river
barred It's course In this direction.
direction, the aames leaped from the wooden
buildings on the north side of Main street and
enveloped the handsome and stately structure
lately erected by w. ID. Washburn, and In
which was situated the First National Bank
and the elegant Washburn Opera house. The
whole city seemed ablaze at once.
Up and down both sides of Main street from
Third avenue to the river and along both sides
OF Second avenue from Van Buren, to Monroe
street, the pitiIess flames swept irresistibly
from the Washburn block TO the brick hard
ware store Of Putnam, Chelsea & Lindsay, and
First National Bank 10 Bridge Square. The
fire speedily made its way thence along Bridge
Square on the east side, sweeping away Dan
iei's boot and shoe store, Abear d Wicklund's
dry goods store, the Anoka Union brick block,
Peters drug store and thence across Jackson
street diagonally to the great Lincoln Touring
mill and elevator, consuming also a smaller
Touring mill near the bridge, two planning
mills, one single mill, dry kiln,
lumber shed and Office, all belonging to
w. ID. Washburn d. Co., the flames being
brought to q staudstill at a line 30 feet
from the mammoth Washburn saw and shin
gle mills. From the point where the fire COM
municated to the Lincoln mills 1t went east
ward TO the corner OF Second avenue and jack
son street. there Joining forces with the sec
ton which jumped Main street and tackled
Jackson's hotel and stables, blacksmith shop,
engine house aud jail, exhaustlng itself as the
corner OF jackson street and Third avenue.
The branch Of the great confagration that
took Its way south on Second avenue destroyed
everything TO Monroe street, where 1t was
brought under control. No lives were lost,
and no very serious accidents occurred though
It was scene Of the widest end most uncor-
trollable confusion. Men fell, exhausted by
the heat and smoke, while women tainted, APP
palled by the terrible visitation.
The losses and insurance cannot be definite
~ ascertained for several days as many OF the
losers lost everything, papers and documents
included. 1t is learned that Washburn Il Co.
have insurance as follows; Lincoln mill, $685.
700; plsning mill, 5000; shingle mill, 500;
office, 500; lumber shed, $4,000: dry kiln,
20, 800; total, $l43, 500. Their loss is believed
to be fully $175,000 and possibly 100000.
Assistance was summoned from st. Paul
aud Minneapolis, but 1t reached the doomed
city too late to be Of service except in saving
Gen. Washburn's mammoth saw and shinRie
MILL