St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-23
FOURTH STREET FIRE.
E. F. 0sborne's Steam Fitting
. Establishment in Ruins.
By Well Directed Labors of the Fire
men the Manitoba Headquarters
and Adjacent Stores Es-
cape Destruction.
Loss on Building and Contents, Total $780,
900; Insurance So, 900; Origin Of the
Fire COnjectured to be Com
bustion.

Attwenty minutes to IL O'Clock last even
ing an alarm was sent in on box % caused
by fire in the John Wann four story brick
block, between the Msnitoba Office building,
on the corner OF Fourth aud Wacuota streets
and DeCoster & Clsrk's block, occupied by
Strong, Hackett s. Co, wholesale dealers in
hardware, on the west.
The burned building was &C.
cupied by Eugene F. Osborne heat
ing and ventilatiug machinery and
mandatory and Herman Winters saloon.
The FIRE started in the boiler room in
the rear Of the basement, and in an almost
incredible space Of time swept up through
the rear stories to the roof, breaking out
near tall boiler boiler iron smoke stack on
the outside Of the structure.
At ten minutes to eleven O'Clock there
was a fearful volume of flame
ascending into the air from the roof
which blown in great sheets oy furious gale
OF wind almost reached across Fourth street,
aud it was the opinion of all present that not
only the whole block between Slbley and
Waco1ta streets must burn, but also the
Sherman house and blocks on the south side
of Fourth street
At IL O'Clock one of the most fearful and
threatening scenes lately witnessed in this
city ensued when the fire
which had been well kept down in the
rear by several streams, burst out into Fourth
street In a torrent of flame which seemed 10
be famed from behind by thousand furies.
At this point the extension ladder Of No. 2
was burned of like reed aud the bottom
portion saved by throwing it over upon the
block on the other side OF the street, it being
curled up by the heat like u serpent.
But general alarm bad been sent in and
just about this time, when a great conaagra-
ton for lower town seemed inevitable, aud
there was great hopes expressed by bystand-
ers that Min nespOlis had been sent 70 for
help, the open assertion being made on
every hand that no Ere force
in 81. Paul could hold down the
fry fend licking everything up
before It by thorough GOODNESS and systematic
work the department poured deluge of
water In upon the flames from front and rear
in exactly the right spot, and the monster
began slowly and sullenly to yield, while
at the same time thoroughly guarded the
Manitoba and DeCoster Il Clark's structure
from being fired on the roof.
The strong fire walls Of both the adjoining
structures held out well, and
the late fall of snow upon
the roofs Of these buildings, Of course,
materially aided the hremen, v lille the latter,
such was the perfect hurricane OF burning
brands and sparks. saved ali the property be-
tween Fourth aud Third streets.
THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT..
It was the verdict OF quite a large
number of prominent citizens
who watched the progress OF
the FIRE that it was handled in vigorous and
most efficient manner. To begin with the
wind was blowing gale and the drift of the
snow was almost binding. When the fire
was first discovered an alarm was turned in
from box No. %. About the same time
another alarm was turned in from box M. pa
the effect being 10 cut the circuit aud the
gong turned in box No. ID at Seven corners.
Chief Black drove half way up to the latter
location before the mistake was discovered
On reaching the scene OF the FIRE Chief Black
saw that destructive conaagration was i'm
minent, aud he at once ordered general
alarm.
This brought out the entire department. and
the work OF fighting the flames commenced
in real earnest The brave and persistent
manner in which the fire was fought and
finally confined to the building where it
started, is deserving Of the high
est eneomiums. For the first twenty
minutes or half hour after it had
started the entire block looked as If it were
doomed, while the windows OF the wholes ale
houses across the way and nearly book
distant were beard to crack under the pres
sure.
At this time the pyrotechnic display was
one Of great splendor. Dense volumes of
smoke rose from the building,
and sparks were thrown skyward
as II from a furnace. Now and then a
column of smoke and sparks would be caught
in descending eddy and showered on the
bousetops aud streets below, the effect being
magnificent.
Several members OF the fire department
covered themselves with glory by their
bravery. Among these we're Chief Black,
who distinguished himself by his
nerve aud GOODNESS, Assistant Chief Jackson
and several others whose names were not as
certained. About twenty minutes past IL
o'clock the flames seemed to defy the efforts
of the department and with the strons gale
blowing, it seemed as though the entire block
was to succumb.
At this juncture q ladder was run up to
the roof and couple of brave fremen as
cended to the top Of the building in safety.
They had scarcely reached the cornice ere
the fire gained renewed energy and for a
moment the top of the building was
envelOped In a binding mass of smoke aud
Kissing flames. A cry went up from the
crowd, and loud yells we're made for the fire.
men to come down. To make the situation
more critical the top of the ladder took IRE,
and by this time one Of
the men had started to descend.
1t was feared that he would be sufficated,
but force of men seized the extension
truck and ran it across the street. Tue lad
der with the pendant man swung over and
he reached the street just as the top Of the
ladder burned and fell of.