The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1884-11-21
A DISASTROUS BLAZE.
The Continental Hotel Mt Fargo Com
pletely Destroyed.

! Inc continental Hotel Mt Fargo Com
pletely Destroyed.
At about 2:l5 O'Clock Monday morning fir,
was discovered in the wood shed near the OF
tank, back Of the Continental hotel, In Fargo
The fire rapidly communicated with the mair
part OF the immense wooden structure, and III
remarkably short time, flames were shooting
upward hundred feet or more.
Speaking OF the fire, the Republican SAYS
All honor is due Dewitt Upham and Charles
Wing, the clerks of the hotel, a. by thei,
prompt action in arousing occupants Of the
rooms, not one Of over one hundred persont
who were in the hotel were burned or injured
IN any great degree. One servant girl jumped
from second story window in the rear. uut
Dr. Mckay and another party who happened
to be there, caught her and broke the fall. &c
she was but slightly injured. One occupant
said there did not seem to be much excitement,
at least persons whom he heard speak, did 60
IN suppressed tone. John P. White, who
occupied room 40 in the third story, says he
TOOK plenty Of time to dress, and saved his ef-
feets. He nat Mrs. Alice Scott at the foot Of
the stairs, and she implored him to yet her
trunk in room Sc if possible, a. most of her
effects were in it. He went to the room and
got most OF her things. By this tilne the cor
rldors were full Of smoke. w. G. Adams &C.
eupied room ~ and he thinks ho must have
been one of the last ones aroused, as smoke
was i'll his room. He escaped with only part
OF his clothing on, and lost a fine gold watch
and chain, most Of his clothing, valuable pa
pers and $500 or $500 in money. He got out
his trunk, but there was little in It,
The cause of the fire is involved in mystery,
1t is thought to have originated either in the
water closets on the second floor, or in the
wood shed, but how it started no one seems to
know. 1t is said, however, that something
that sounded like the explosion Of lamp was
hoard shortly before the flames were discover
ed, and the general suppositon il that this
caused the fire. Others think that 1t was of in
cendiary origin, but for this belief there seems
to be no good ground,
The value of tho building and furniture
when 1t changed hands year ago, was $62,-
WV; since that time at least $4,000 worth of
improvements have been added, and quite re-
Gently $4,000 worth Of supplies were placed in
the store rooms I'm the building, stock and
furniture, the total insurance was $4,000.
The total loss will not exceed $4,000.
The Continental hotel was erected In the
early part Of the year 1880 by Ex-Mayor J. B..
Chapin, at cost Of $4,000. The work of
construction began on the 10th Of February of
that year, and the building was opened to the
public on the 18th of May, Oh the evening Of
which day Mr.. Chaplin gave grand opening
ball, which was attended by 1O7 couples,
Tickets OF admission sold for SO each. AT
that time there were no buildings north of 1t
Oh either side Of broadway, and very few north
OF Northern Pacific avenue, the only ones be-
tween First and Second avenue being those
now occupied by Perry Bros, Mr.. T. D. s. Nc
DonnelPs building, and the Continental sa-
loon. The hotel remained in Mr.. Chapin's
possession and was conducted by him until
tho 4th OF October one year ago, when It was
purchased by Messrs. w. A. Kindred, w, A,
Yerxa and J, S. Huntington for se2 500.
These gentlemen at once gave it thorough
renovation, added many new improvements
and conveniencas, and engaged as manager
Mr.. Samuel Matthews, who had charge Of it
until 1t was last night destroyed by fire. II
has long been one Of the most popular hotels
III the city, and a. a landmark will be greatly
missed.
MI. Kindred stated to Republican reporter
ILLS morning that it will be replaced in the
spring by three-story brick structure, the OK
cavating for which will be completed this
wintAr