St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-27
A MIDNIGHT FLAME
Which Aroused and Lighted Up
the Upper Part of the
City.
Kellogg, Johnson & Co.'S, Boot and
Shoe Factory Burned this
Morning.
The Loss About $4,000 and Insurance Over
$60,000--Sixty Men Thrown
Out Of Work.

An alarm sent in on box 461 at ~ :26 this
morning was caused by the taking fire in the
BASEMENT from some unknown cause, of
the large four story boot and shoe factory of
Kellogg, johnson 81 Co., structure 100 feet
in length on Won Minden street, and sixty
on Western avenue, being situated on the
side of the large stone quarry at that point.
On account of the impossibility of finding
water anywhere in that locality, the fire got
under Roadway without hindrance, and at
rs the whole structure was Quilted, the fire.
men being barely able to procure water to
save the brick block of Patrick Doherty, di-
rectly opposite on the Won Minden street
front, with the aid of chemical No. 1.
The flames lighted up the horizon with
most fearful and werd illumination. Great
crowds of people were gathered on the
grounds, and the heat from the confagra-
ton was so intense that one could not stand
within 500 feet of the burning structure.
Eighteen hundred feet of hose
Immediately on the arrival of the
cistern located at the corner of Goodrich and
Fort streets, which just about reached the
corner of Won Minden and Western avenue,
and considerable delay was experienced in
getting more hose to reach the fire, and the
distance was found to be so long that the
stream lost its force. Two engines
were finally massed at the cistern, which
gave force enough to the stream to save the
Doherty block from the fire.
Chief Black asserted if he could have got
water on when the first hose was laid from
the cistern he could have saved the building,
but as it was, with the nearest hydrant 5000
feet distant, all that could be done when
water was obtained was to save the Doherty
block.
Dennis NJ. Noonan was the Waterman Of
the factory, or at least slept in the building.
He says that he was all over the factory at
9:30 and 10 80 last evening, and that there
was not sign of fire. He was awakened by
the smoke, and lost his clothes and personal
effects, being barely able to get out. He
says he is confident the building was on fire
both in the basement and the roof when
he got outside the building and that it must
have been fired by lightning or an incen-
diary, his opinion being the former.
The fire was so hot when discovered that
no one dared trust himself in the office in
the story above the basement on the Won
Minden street side to get at the company's
books which were plainly to be seen lying
upon the desks.
At about quarter to one O'Clock there was
a terrific explosion in the building which
threw the burning timbers and sparks high
| in tho OR 70 no nv, fbo
bursting of the steam boiler which was 10
Gated in the basement, and so fercely did
the flames continue their destructive work
that at Ealf-past one nothing but the smoke
stack remained to mark the site of the fac
tory, except the ruined machinery.
The factory gave employment to from
sixty to seventy persons. A very large stock
of leather was in the factory and from 400
to 500 cases of boots and shoes in cases were
ready for shipment.
The wholesale house of Kellogg, johnson
& Co. is located on the corner of Fourth and
Waucouta streets, and their business has
been established here about two years.
The loss on the building is estimated at
$4,000, on the machinery s25, 900, and on
the stock of made-up work and leather $50,
00O making S91, 900 in all.
1t is due to the fire department
to say that they put forth every
exertion to reach the fire with water at
the outset, and when they found the structure
could not be saved, to protect the buildings
/ fronting it, which caught several times, and
were only saved by very prompt work on the
part of Chief Black and Assistant Hide
brand.
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.
Mr.. P. West, superintendent for Kellogg
& Johnson, was seen by GLOBE reporter at
2 o'clock this morning at his residence, No.
$50 Wabashaw street. He was aroused from
a sound slumber, and was greatly surprised
to learn of the disaster to his firm.
In reply to inquiries he stated that the stock
on hand Sept l, cut and uncut, amounted
in round figures to S4S, 900. The building
was constructed nearly year ago at a cost
of S12, 800, and the real estate, engine, boil
ers and machinery, were valued at $40, 900.
Independent of all else the machinery, he
thought, was worth all of $22, 900, making a
total loss of $50, 800. AS to the insurance
he was unable state the exact amount,
but according to his best recol-
lection he placed the total insurance
at from $50, 900 to $40, 900. The building,
stock and finished work were all covered and
insured separately. When asked If the fac
tory would be reconstructed, he replied that
he had no doubt work would be commenced
at once.
NOTES,
Only two streams could be got on the fire
in consequence of the building being so far
away from the hydrants. The chief stated
: that if be could have had water when he first
got to the fire, he could have saved every
thing
Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour,
at 80 there was an immense crowd on the
: grounds, considerable portion of which
/ consisted Of women.
Mr.. West, the superintendent, knew
nothing OF the fire till he was awakened a.
} his residence, on Wabashaw street. opposite
Plymouth church, by a GLOBE reporter
None of the proprietors knew anything OF
the fire.
The fire famed up so that it looked as
| though the whole OF the west part of the city
was on fire.
Hopes of Peace at Lima.
| PANAMA Sent 17-Advices from lima