The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-18
ENORMOUS LOSSES BY FIRE.
The Beautiful Town of AnOka Mimi,
Swept by Flames the Fourth Time.
The Entire Business Portion of the City
Wiped Out of Existence, Causing
Loss of Million Dollars.
ANoKA,s Loss.
A aIinnesota Town LOSES One Million pol.

ST PAUL, M1nn.a Aug. lo-tor the Iourbn
time in its history the city of Anoka is fire.
stricken, and the entire business portion for the
second time is entirely wiped out of existence.
The ruin is widespread and extensive At this
time it is utterly impossible to more than roughly
approximate the great loss, which is placed by the
most conservative at 81 900, 900 at least. From
the Congregational Church, at the corner of Main
street and Third avenue west to Rum river and
from Monroe street north to Van Buren, street.
is naught but heaps of smoking ashes and black
ened ruins. The alarm was given shortly after
2 o'clock this morning, and was promptly an
swered by engine company No. l, hose com
panies Nos. l and 2, and the hook and ladder
company. The cause of the alarm was found to
be fire in the skating rink of Kinnes & Van
dervelde, situated in the rear of the postofice
and high-school buildings Although the de-
partnent were quickly at work it was soon eyi-
dent that the flames were beyond control, and
that the adjoining buildings must go, and in
few moments the Campbell Foote brick block, in
which the postofice was situated was in flames,
followed almost simultaneously by the appear
ance Of fire in the high-school adjoining, and
Dowdell Bros. restaurant.
The flames communicated to the elegant new
brick belonging to H. L. Ticknor, and from
there across Second avenue to H. S. Plummers
dry goods store, and 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 on the south side, destroying Plum
mer's dry goods store, Cutters dry goods store
Ticknor 6 Co., drugs; Ryan, boots and shoes
and so on until the river barred its course in
this direction.
While devastation was being wrought in this
direction, appalling flames leaped from the
wooden buildings the north side of Main
street and enveloped the handsome and stately
structure lately erected by W. D. Washburn,
and m which were situated the Anoka 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 pitiless flames swept irresstibly.
From Washburn Block to the brick hardware
store of Putnam, Chesea 81 Lindsay, and the
First National Bank to Bridge square, the fire
speedily made its way. Thence along Bridge
square on the east side, sweeping away Daniels's
boot and shoe store, Abear q Wicklund's, dry
goods the Anoka Union brick block Peterss
drug store, and thence across jackson street
diagonally to the great Lincoln Touring mill and
elevator, consuming, ALSO the smaller Touring
mill near the bridge. two planning mills, one
single dry kiln, lumber shed and Office all be-
longing to w. D. Washburn & Co., the flames
being brought to standstl at lane ninety feet
from the mammoth Washburn saw and single
mills.
From the point where the fire communicated
to the Lincoln mills it went eastward to the cor
ner of Second avenue and jackson street, there
joining forces with the section which jumped
Main street, and tackled Jacksons Hotel and
stables, the blacksmith-shop engine house and
hans off OF fhoa Ioolxc
street and Third avenue.
That branch of the great eonfagratlon which
took its way south on second. avenue destroyed
everything to Monroe street. where it was
brought under control. No lives were lost and
no very serious accidents occurred, though it
was a scene Of the widest and most uncontrolla
BILE confusion. Men fell exhausted by heat and
smoke while women tainted, appalled, by the
terrible visitation. The losses and insurance
can not be definitely ascertained for several
days, as many losers lost everything, papers
and documents included.
1t is learned that Washburn & Co have in
surance as follows: Lincoln Mill, 500, 900; plan
ing mill S., O00 single mill, $780, small flour
ing mill, $l3, 800; bank, $4,000 Office, $780,
humber she'd 81, 000; dry kiln, $500. Total,
$143. 800. Their loss is believed to be fully
summoned from ST. Paul and Minneapolis, but
it reached the doomed city too late to be of
service, except in saving General Washburn's
mammoth saw and shingle mill
The fire is a severe blow to Congressman
Washburn. He had made the pretty little city
what it was. His loss is fully 5000, 900. The
fine large Lincoln Mill produced 300 barrels of
-four daily, and cost 100000 complete. The
Anoka Mill cost $4,000 Theopera.ho block
built by Mr.. Washburn, cost $45 000 His plan
ing-mill and lumber kiln make up another loss
of 500, 000 Under the confidence of his enter
prise, the citizens had built larger, finer stores
than are usually seen in small Western towns
A street railroad running through the place did
thrifty business.
The origin of the fire is curious. The propri-
eter of the skating rink, q Vandervelde, some
time ago put some young men and girls out of
the building because they were not respectable
persons The young rowdies began systematic
bounding of Vandervelde, and went so far as to
circulate villianous stories about his wife 1t is
the clearest inference that the destruction of the
city is due to this quarrel.
The merchants hesitate to rebuild until it is
known what General Washbnrn will do. If his
Touring and lumber interests remain as the heart
of the business in the place. large and creditable
buildings will be erected The finest iron bridge
over the river WAS considerably injured and is
impossible. The whole bank of the river
about seventy feet high-was afame at time
the slate rip-rap burning fercely all day, and
flaming out tonight now and then Engines
sent from St Paul and Minneapolis will do little
There were no fatalities in the course of the fire.
The flames were first seen at 220 A. NJ, and at S
o'clock the city was swept Merchants who got
out their stocks of goods saw the wind change
and the fire burn them where they were piled in
the street All that was saved could have been
loaded on a half dozen drays. A drenching rain
set in at o'clock this afternoon, or there would
have been new dangers tonight
The total insurance is $l65, 1876, including $l21
800 on Washburn's building. The insurance is
divided among companies as follows:
State, of Des Moines- .-....-.--.--...-.- $8. 300
Springfield, Mass. Observation-Disclosures. 1875
st. Paul Fire and Marine .--...-....--.... 5000
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