St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-25
A BIG SALTWATER BLAZE.
The Mower Block Burned to the
Ground.
A Rumor Afoat That Man Lost His
Life.

SALTWATER, May 24.-The largest confia-
grations witnessed in Saltwater for many
years, excepting the prison fire in 1884, &C.
Cured tonight. The Mower block q three
STORY frame structure measuring 50xI00 feet,
ana u 1wo-story frame building adjoining,
bounded by Chestnut and Second streets and
Union place, were laid in ashes together with
nearly all OF their contents. The Mower block
anu tne frame buildings adjoining were
owned by Mrs. John Mower, and were among
the oldest buildings in Saltwater. The build
lngs were erected In 1848 ut a cost of $4,000
Inc IRE was discovered at 9:40 by some
parties who were passing The first flames
were noticed issuing from the rear of the
building and spread rapidly. In less than three
minutes the department was on hand and soon
nad nve streams playing on the flames
| Wltmn ten minutes after the fire was first
| discovered the entire buildings were en-
Veloped in flames, and soon burned to the
ground. For time the heart OF the city APP
peareu 10 De in danger, and it was feared
mat assistance would have to be asked rom
| 81. Paul All the adjoining buildings
ana those opposite on Chestnut, Second and
Union were badly scorched and many win
dows broken. The contents of several of
tnese were removed, so alarming was the out
LOOK The first floor of the Mower block was
| occupied by Anderson 81 Carlson's saloon,
st. Croix Boom cOmpany's office, L. e. Joy s
| insurance Office and the Domestic sewing ma
chine office jointly. The basement under
joys office was occupied by the Cafe Bruins
| wick, Peter Skillman, proprietor.
On the second and third floors were thirty
| rooms. Mr.. Skillman, Sam Hadley, Conductor
! Fowler, Bob Netzer John Spleen and several
| other parties occupied those on the second.
| Only two of those on the third were occupied,
one by Tom Humphrey. An artist who oc-
| cupfed one of the two rooms on the third
moved out only day or two ago, else he
would have been ,, iii
HEAVY LOSER.
The two-story frame building adjoining the
Mower block was occupied by Edward Con-
hahn, dealer in furniture and secondhand
goods. Anderson & Carlson's goods were
worth $1,000, insured for $1,000; partially
saved. Everything in the boom office except
the safe, huge one, was removed. The
Boom company carried no insurance. joys
goods, partially saved, were fully insured
small amount of Skilman's goods, worth
$4,000 and insured for $500, was saved. Con-
haims stock, worth $4,000 and insured for
$1,000, was all burned. Only small amount
of contents on the second floor, and none on
the third floor were saved The total loss is
not known, but is roughly estimated at
$4,000. The insurance is not over $4,000,
all held by Joy in different companies, Pit
man, a colored barber, who rushed into one
OF the upper rooms to rescue goods, was
nearly suffocated and escaped with much diff
ficulty. He says positively that in escaping
he stumbled over the
PHOSPHATE BODY
of q man who must have persisted in the
flames. w. d. King, druggist, also says
that one or two men entered the building and
did not reappear. Sam Hadley in endeavor-
ing to save his effects was rendered insensi-
BILE by smoke and was so severely burned
about his face as to require prompt surgical
attendance. Billy King of the Farmers
livery has his face terribly burned
and several other persons were seriously
burned. Charley Hoolang, who was attempt
ing to save some of the effects, was obliged
to jump from the second story to save his
life, as also did several others. The f1remen,
about twenty-five in number, worked heroic
ally. AT the last moment a little kitten was
seen jumping from a second story window
and landed safely below. A lot of cartridges
belonging TO the Grand Army, stored away
in the building, exploded during the fire,
making report like Calling gun, occa-
sionally scattering the crowd. This building
was erected by John e. Mower and was for
many years one of the largest wooden build
ings in the city, occupying about one-quarter
of the entire block.