The evening world., 1891-11-18
ST. PAuL's 100000 FIRE.
Big Grocery and Hardware Houses
Attacked by Flames.
Hard Fight for the Department
Biazcs Among Sugar Barrels.
[srrc,.n To THE yvrsrxo wopnn. 4,

ST. PAUL, Nov. 1S.-St Paul last night suf-
fered one OF the most disastrous fires in its
history, the buildings damaged being those Of
Griggs, Cooper Co., wholesale groceries,
and Farwell, OZmun, Kirk & Co., wholesale
hardware. The total loss Is estimated at from
5000, 900 to s1,O0O,oOo. The losses are COW
cred by insurance.
The building occupied by the two flrms is o
brick and stone structure fve stories in
height. and has a frontage on Third street Of
800 feet and on broadway OF 200 feet.
Griggs, Cooper q Co. occupy two-thirds OF the
building.
The flames first made their appearance at
1l.44 O'Clock in the fourth floor OF Griggs,
Cooper Co.'s building. within less than
five minutes the Fire Department was on hand
in force but general alarm had to be turned
In soon afterwards. The fire was in the upper
stories.
Griggs, Cooper & CO.'S store is divided In
halves by. fire wall running from Third
street to the rear, and from Farwell, Ozmun,
Kirk Co. by party wall. The nremen
could therefore reach the flames from only
three sides, being cut of on the east by the
However, they mounted the ladders, bravely
faced the flames, which were almost licking
their faces, and sent the streams horizontally
tnc WINDOWS, JHuS 10 feaCn Ilc ectl-
tire ana east side OF the tlOUrs.
he rapidity with which the flames spread,
The binding volumes Cf smoke which tilled
the streets surrounding. th" rapid lusil ade
arms, but which were the explosion Of canned
goods, and towering flames and clouds Of
smoke above and the din from lire engines
made up most exciting scene.
The fire rapidly gutted the top floor, ana in
half an hour after the alarm was sent In the
flames were leaping through the roof.
The efforts OF the firemen were directed
towards keeping the flames confined to the
top floors.
They were only partially successful, how
ever, for at a rew minutes before / o'clock the
fiames.wcrhed down u rear elevator shaft and
set fire to a stock OF 1000 barrels OF sugar
which were put In last Monday. The sugar
burned fercely, and six streams were soon
directed on this, succeeding after an hours
hard work In drowning out the flames.
Through the roof the flames were COM
munlcated to the adjoining building, where
they made rapid progress.
AT $50 the Griggs, Cooper & CO. building
was in such a shaky condition that 1t was
A little later the wall II Farwell, Ozmun,
Kirk co.'s building fell outward.
The flames were under control at 4.30
O'Clock this morning, but were fast consum-
ing what remained OF the stock. No definite
Information Is obtainable rs to the cause OF
the fire.
The losses are estimated as follows: The
Farwell, ozmun & Kirk Co., 100000, with
$15O.OO0 insurance; Grggs, Cooper a. Co.,
loss 3350,0O0. with insurance of $3.50, 900,
and loss on building 100000, covered by
Insurance. Total loss, s950,0OO.
The Fire Department was considerably han.
dicarped by the weather, the mercury rang
ing around zero all night. Two engines from
Minnea polls rendered effective service.
courts. and will continue business in other
quarters.