The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-13
WlNONA SCORCHED.
Fire Destroys the Saw Mills and
Is Yards Of the Laird Norton Com
pany at Winona.
Twenty-Five Million Feet Of Lum.
ber Destroyed, Entailing q
Loss Of 100000.

WrNoNA, Special Telegram: Tho Laird
Norton Lumber company has been visited
by another disastrous fire Its i'm.
mense lumber yards on the river front were
burned, together with several warehouses
and other buildings Nearly quarter OF
million dollars Went up in smoke inside of
three hours Shortly before 2 o'clock in
the afternoon smoke was tccn issuing from
one of the lumber piles back Of the black
smith shon. The fire tkon had such
headway that It seemed impossible
from tho outset to check 1t.
An alarm was turned in at
once, and the scrceching of mill whistles and
ringing of bells soon brought the entire fire
department and every hose company in the
city to the spot, while thousands OF laborers
aud business men lent their aid iu checking
the fire. But their efforts for time seemed
practically futile. The dry piles of lumber
were rouring masses Of flames, extending for
blocks III stretch. End it soon became mp
parent that the entire yard of the Laird
Norton company, and possibly the mills and
yards Of the Empire Lumber company and
winona Lumber company were doomed.
Mayor Ludwig telegraphed at once for aid
from La Crosse and St Paul. the former city
getting fire engine and hose company and
several men here by $3.50 o'clock. For u
while u t..ar seized everybody that tho
ENTIRE LUMBER DISTRICT
| would have to go. At the end of the Laird
Norton cOm(,any's yard slight space inter-
vened before the Empire Lumber company's
yards commenced. II soon became evident
that here the fight for supremacy must be-
made. and the gallant tircmcn braved the
scorchinR heat as best they could, sheltering
themselves by doors us they fought tile
fire away. 1t was not until after 8 o'clock
that the citizens rested assured that further
progress of the fire eastward would be nre-
vented. In the meantime the flames took
everything in their way. A brave fight saved
| the Laird Norton company's big Eaw mills,
dry sheds and planning mills although the fire
| fiend made heavy inroads into the blocks
cast of them. There We're dozens Of streams
| playing OH the fire from all directions but
the water only seemed to fan the flames into
greater fury. Chief Smith managed his men
| admirably ani is entitled to the highest
credit for the good judcmcn. he displayed.
About i:3O un additional calamity called
some Of the tiremen to the upper lcvcc. The
fine buildings occupied by the city pumping
| works took fire in the boiler room while both
pumps were working ut high pressure. The
roof OF the building was burned and the ma
chinery dcluycd with water, but the cngi-
neer stood at his post midst the smoke aud
flames and kept tho pumping works going.
Tho departments of Red Wing, Lake City
| and WabaAha
| WERE TELEGRAFHED FOR
| ut this juncturc, us it was feared that the
pumping works would have to shut down,
but later in the evening it was deemed I'M
necessary to bring them all down, and word
was sent for them not to come. At q o'clock
tue fire was under good control, although
burning ficrccly in its confined space. The
fremen were nearly exhausted with thci.
hard work. but Kept up bravely under the
heat The Lnird-Norton company put out q
fine spread for the boys supper. aud u dozen
streams ut u later hour tonight arc still
| playing on the flames The st Paul de-
Dartment arrived ut half past seven
on q special tram. Although the danger was
over 1t was thought best to hold them he 70 a
while for relieving the WAnona boys. Ahou,
@ o'clock the main pump ut the water works
gave way. The scene along the leyee to-
J night liz dcsolate one. with blocks OF half
| burned lumber und buildings, while
thousands of spectators form dark outline
to the burning debris. The frcmen arc still
| playing nearly score of streams on all the
burning material and guarding carefully the
property that was saved from tho fierce
flames Of the afternoon. As near as can be
estimated
THE LOSS OF LUMBER
is about 22, 5000 feet, 100000 feet Of
shingles and .l,OOO, 900 feet of laths. Be
sides this there were burned two brick store
houses filled with building paper, sasl., etc.
The total loss is IN Tho neighborhood oi
S3OO,OUO, while tho insurance foots up only
| $l7O,5OO. divided among twenty-five m,l-
tral aud semi-mutual companies. Although
tue oldest and wealthiest company In tho
Northwest tho l.urd- Norton company will
feel severely the loss ut this time Of the
year, with orders coming in brlskly and logs
scarce und high. The loss OF almost their
entire stock on hand comes US n depressing
blow. Two years ago the company
lost 100000 by the burning
OF their saw mill. Tho ira
are men Of wealth and influence throughou,
the entire Northwest and are noted for thci;
philanthropy and public spirit. The hun
dreds of hands that lent willing aid to them
| in their loss to-day shows how highly they
are held III the city they have 80 substan-
TALLY helped TO bu!d up. Among other losses
bv the fire are: William Miller. ice house,
| $3.50; insured for $500 Charles Green,
goods stored in warehouse, $3.50. j. McCun-
mel. house, TlOO. J. j. Harris, wool in store,
| 800 The origin or the fire is unknown
Charles Grafton. well known young
painter, willie assisting in tearing down a
lumbul pile, was thrown from tho pile by II
stream OF wa,Er, striking on the ground
~. l..