The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-21
THE FIRE FIEND.
A TOWN SWEPT BY THE FLAMES
A MILLION DOLLARS OF
PROPERTY DESTROYED.
Origin and Incidents of the Con-
fiagratiOn Rapid Progress
of the Fire.
Names of Some of the Losers
and Their Losses, Which
are Heavy.
A Fire in Chicago and Quick
Combustion of Much Valua-
BILE Property.

81. L AUL, MINI, August lO.-I Vi
the fourth time in its history the city
of Anoka is fire-Stricken, and the en-
tire business portion for the second
time entirely wiped out. 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 con-
sentative at million dollars, 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 smok-
ing ashes and blackened ruins. The
alarm was given shortly after 2 a, m,
and the cause was found to be fire
in the skating rink of Kinney 81 Van
dever, situated in the rear of the
post Office and high school building.
Although the department was
quickly at work, it was soon evident
that the flames were beyond control,
and that the adjoining building must
go, and in few moments the Camp
bell brick block. in which the post
Office was situated, was in flames, fol-
lowed almost simultaneously by the
appearance of fire in the high school
adjoining, and Dowell Bros. restau-
rant. The flames communicated to the
new brick belonging to IL. l.. Tick
nor, and from there across Second av-
enue to II. s. Plummer's dFy goods
store, and across Main street to the
row of wooden structures occupied
by various branches of the trade, up
Second avenue, taking several resi-
licences and the Merchants hotel,
down Main street On the south side,
destroying Plummer'S dry goods
store, Cutters dry goods store, Tick
nor 81 Co.'S drug store, Ryan, boots
and shoes, and SO on until the river
barred its course in this
direction. While destruction
was being wrought in this direction
the flames leaped from the wooden
buildings on the north side of Main
street and enveloped the handsome
and stately structure lately erected by
w. d. Washburne, and in which was
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
River street, and along both sides of
| Second avenue from Van Buren, to
Monroe street the pitiless flames swept
irresistibly.
From the Washburne block to the
brick hardware house of Putnam,
Chelsea & Lindsey, and from the First
National bank to the Bridge square,
the fire speedily made its way; thence
along Bridge square on the east side,
sweeping away Daniels boot and shoe
store, A. Bear 81 Wilkland, dry goods,
Anoka Union brick block and Pelton's
drug store; and thence across Jack
son street, diagonally, to the great
Lincoln Touring mill and elevator,
consuming also smaller flour mill
near the bridge, two planning mills,
one shingle mill, dry kiln, lumber
shed and office, and all belonging to w.
d. Washburne & Co., the flames being
brought to stand still at a lane,
ninety feet from the mammoth Wash
| burne saw and shingle mill.
At the corner of 2nd avenue and
Jackson street the flames jumped the
street and tackled Jackson's hotel and
stables, blacksmith shop,engi inc house
and jail, exhausting itself at the cor
ner of Jackson street and Bird avenue.
That branch of the great confagra-
ton which took its way south, on End
avenue, destroyed everything to Mon
roe street, where it was brought I'M
der control. No lives were lost, and
no very serious accident occurred,
though it was the scene of an intense
and most uncomfortable confiagration.
The men were exhausted by the heat
and smoke, while women tainted, ap-
palled by the terrible vision.
The losses and insurance cannot be
ascertained for several days, as many
losers lost everything, papers and doc
uments included. 1t is learned Wash
burn q Co. have insurance as follows:
Lincoln mill, $4,000; planning mill,
5000; single mill, $1,000: small flour
mill, $13,5OO; bank, $4,000; office of
the mill and lumber shed, 1900: dry
kiln, $500. Total, $143,5OO. Their
less is believed to be fully $4,000,
with possibility of 100000. AS
sistance was summoned from ST.. Paul
and Minneapolis, but reached the
doomed city too late to be of any ser
vice.