St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-30
St. Paul Visited Last Night by the Most
Disastrous Fire That Has Occurred
for Year.
The Immense Wholesale Establishment OF
the Ryan Drug Company Totally
Destroyed.
Flames Confined to the Building in
which They Started--Big Con-
hagration Averted-
The Loss Nearly a Quarter OF a Mill
ion Dollars and is Well Covered
by Insurance.
MANY Drugs Burned.


Ryan Drug company, the largest wholesale
drug establishment in the Northwest, and
resulted in total destruction Of the large
stock, and a heavy loss on the building.
Shortly after 7:30 o'clock still alarm of
fire was sent in to the department head
quarters by the mercurial fire-alarm.regist
with which the building was supplied, fol-
lowed Immediately by an alarm from box24.
The engines arrived at the scene of the fire
within a very few minutes after the alarm
was turned in, but the entire building was
In flames, and general alarm was imInedi-
ately ordered by Chief Black. which brought
out the entire force of the department. and
within fifteen minutes after the mercurial
alarm had been received at headquarters
every engine in the city had stream OF
water playing into the burning building.
Ii was easy to see at first glance that the
Ryan Drug company's property was doomed
to total destruction, and the efforts of the
firemen were directed to adjoining property,
and the possibility of Keeping the flames
confined to the establishment in which they
had originated. The
HIGHLY INFLAMMABI.E NATURE
of the contents assisted the progress of the
flames and they rapidly spread from floor to
floor of the large five-story building until it
was soon one mass of flames from base
ment 10 roof.
The building in which the Ryan Drug
company was located is double brick
building at the corner of Third and Wa
couta streets and running from No. 227 to
237 inclusive 1t is five stories in height
and extends back to the alley situated mid
way in the block between Third and Fourth
streets. One-half of the building, or that
portion situated on the corner, is occupied
by the firm of Foot, ShulZe
& Co., wholesale boots and shoes,
who were slightly damaged by water. The
other half was used by the Ryan Drug COM
pany. 1t looked at one time as if the i'm
mense establishment of Foot, ShulZe d Co.
was bound to go, so fiercely did the fire
rage, and it was only through the magnif-
cent work of the fire department that dis
astrous confiagration was averted. The 10
cation is one that is monopolized by large
wholesale firms, and if the flames had ever
once got beyond control there is no calcu-
lating the losses that would have been suS-
tanned. The insurance men, who were all
on hand and remained until the fire had
been extinguished, were loud in their
praises of Chief Black and the department
for their coolness and the effective manner
in which they handled the fire and kept it
from spreading to surrounding property.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
is somewhat of mystery, and it is not
clearly understood. 1t broke out, however.
in the laboratory, located in the front part
of the third story, and spread rapidly. 1t
was first discovered by the assistant book
keeper, Mr.. Shredder, who was in the
building, and was suddenly startled by a
loud explosion. He looked to see where it
came from and observed the flames shoot
from the laboratory room on the third floor,
and spread rapidly through the room
assisted and fed by the many combustible
and inflammable substances stored upon the
floor He made his escape from the burn
ing building as rapidly as possible, and
found that an alarm had been given by
officer Schaeffer and Pat Gibbons who had
also heard the report
OF THE EXPLOSION
and observed the flames as they burst out
of the building. What caused the explo-
sion or the fire is not known, but it was
probably spontaneous combustion of some
of the many chemicals stored upon that
floor and in the laboratory. Streams of
water were directed on the burning build
ing from every advantageous point. Fire
men carried hose to the tops of adjoining
buildings and played down and into the
flames, while five or six streams were
thrown into the fiery furnace from the
front, and as many more sent in from the
rear The floors were all badly burned
and fell through, partially. The walls all
remained standing, and are in good condi-
tiOn apparently, and will need but little
attention when the building is repaired.
i'll h,-4 4l,1D De-.
company was valued at about $175, 900,
and will be a total loss. The company
consists of Dennis Ryan, who is on his
way from New York to this city and who
is expected here to-day, Mr.. r. A. Bethune,
who is now en- route to Europe; j. A.
Bell and ii. B. SQuires. Messrs Bell and
Squres were at Merriam park at the
former gentlemans residence when the lire
broke out but were at once notified ano
reached the city shortly after o'clock.
Mr.. Squires and the chief bookkeeper. Mr..
Henry Nickel, were seen, but could not
give much information as their books were
locked up in the vault and Mr.. Bethune
who had attended to the details of insurance
was away. Mr.. Squires stated that safe
and conservative estimate of the value Of
the stock on hand yesterday was abou
SITS, 600. 1t was insured for about $780,,
600, or about rs per cent. of its value. Tht
vaults are uninjured by the fire, and th,
books will probably be found safe ant
sound to-day. The building is owned By
Mr. Dennis Ryan, and is valued at $62, 500
upon which there is $35. 900 of insurance
The damage upon the building Is probabl,
$40, 600. 1t is thought. as near as could b,
ascertained by Chief Black last night. tha
the walls are all right, although it is posi-
BILE that the front of the building may hay
to be taken down to about tn
third floor and built up again from
there. The adjoining building below, oc
cupied by Foot, Schnlze & Co., is ais
owned by Mr.. Ryan, and was damaged t
the extent of probably 50, 600. The build
ing ON the right toward Sibley street wa
slightly damaged also. 1t is owned by tn
THOMSON estate. Beaupre, Keogh q Co.
wholesale grocers. on the opposite side {
Third street, had their building slight
scorched and the metal cornice was some
what injured but $500 will cover their los
The loss by tater and smoke to the stoc
of Foot, Schulze & Co. is about $4,000.
INSURANCE.
The insurance on the building is distril
uted among several different agencies al
placed in a number of different companie
The entire insurance had been placed
John Rogers, Jr., & Bro, and those gentl
men at once opened their Office and pr
pared statement for the reporters. III
following are the companies carrying rlsl
on the building:
Mechanics, Milwaukee ee.........l$l o.
Fire Association, Philadelphia. 1,5
Fire Marine, Washington. ........... 90
Fire u Marine st. Paul. ....... 30
North British & Mercantile. England. SO
Mechanics, New York. 20