St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-18

Kirk building. If the fire had ''siZzed''
uD to the pre- sent, from now on tue con-
flagration fairly outdid itself. For
whole block there was nothing but
fire. The fire in the Griggs-COoper
building was descending: it was
but question of time when it would
be Quilted. Streams of water were
playing around the whole block, but the
flames played still merrler. catching
and cracking up everything cOmbusti-
bic to be graSpPd, and raising their
heads in utter defiance of the watery
showers. Awe-inspiring as the scene
had been,it became more aWe-inSpirIng.
To add to the alarm of citizens, shortly
after O'Clock the fire alarm once more
sounded. The call. however, was from
Seventh and Jackson, where Karl Sim
mons drug store was quickly Quilted.
With the Griggs Cooper building
doomed, and every appearance that the
FarWell- OZnum-Kirk building would
quickly follow. new danger began to
threaten. A long line OF express offices
are ranged behind the block, and moth
ing but Skillfnl management could save
them If the Fdrwell- OZnum-Kirk build
ing was destroyed. Such a condition of
affairs helped the firemen to redOuble.
If that were possible, their efforts. If
water could do it the thing would
quickly have been accomplished. The
whole vicinity of Third street, from
Broadway to Sibley, and Wacouta
street, from Fourth street to Second
street, was taken up with engines and
apparatus of one kind and another. The
shrleking whistles of the engines, the
rushing of tiremen hither and thither,
and the mad prancing of horse made an
eXhilarating sight, which. but for the
terrible destruction going on a few
yards away, would have been very en-
tertaining. The noise naturally at
tracted considerable number of peO-
pie. The guests at the Merchants
turned out in force, dragging them
selves from their beds to see "a really
big fire." And they got their desire.
1t was big fire, the biggest. perhaps
at all events the most stuhbOrn-which
the st. Paul department has been called
upon TO tackle. There were also a few
gentlemen lust returning from the
charity ball'' and few pert misses re-
siding in the neighbOrhoOd. The cold
was intense. and, regardless of the dis
play furnished. which equaed in
its intensity and horror anything
that can be conjurrd by the
pyrOtechnic genius. the spectators
could not be prevailed upon to
stay any great length. At no time,
therefore, was there any great crowd,
and the firemen were in no way ham
pered in their work.
The blaze continued. 1t is true that
at times there was more smoke than fire,
giving birth to the belief that the end
was III sight. but the belief was pre-
maturely dashed to pieces. Once
more the flames flashed forth and
the situation was worse than be-
fore. Tie two buildings were doomed;
that was evident. If the department
could keep the fire from spreading be-
yOud the block they would then accom-
plish meritOriOuS work. The flames
had now entire possession of the two
buildings, from ground upwards. and
nothing but a lack of fuel could stop
their course. The entire block, within
the four lack-looking towering walls,
was trough of fire.
The firm of Griggs, Cooper & Co. is
composed of Chauncey w. Griggs, c.
Milton Griggs, David c. Shepard and
| Jason W. Cooper. As already stated,
| they conducted a general wholesale
| grocery business, and their ramifica-
tons extend from st. Paul to the coast.
! The establishment was at one time
operated under the title of YAM, GrIggs
| q Howe.
The firm of Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk &
| Co. is Differed 10y the following gentle
men: Aaron NJ. Ozmun, president:
| Freeman Z. Strong, vice president;
Robert A. Kirk, treasurer; W.T.. Miller,
secretary. The company, up TO some
| months ago. was under the presidency
of George l.. Farwell, who retired from
active participation in the business, but
still retains capital therein. He is now
the president of the new st. Paul stove
works.
AT 2:40 O'Clock. when the blaze was
at its height, with the flames raging
| furously in the east end of tie block. a
cry of warning burst from the specta-
tors. The entire east wall of Farwell.
| OZmun, Kirk IL Co.'S. building was
seen 20 bulge. Instantly the fire.
| men dropped their hose and retreated
beyond danger; next instant, with a
terrific crash, the entire wall gave way
and fell laundering into the open lot
adjoining. No one was injured. After
that the fire blaZed away with re-
neWed impetus, and huge pillar
of fire was projected higher than ever
into the sky, producing a spectacle that
for terror and sublimity was never
| equalled in st. Paul. at this time the
| great effort was directed to preventing
the spread of the fire to the pas
senger and express buildings in
I
trated to that end, and at this
writing there is positively 10 further
danger. The only remaining peril is
| now in the large walls winch are still
standing, some of them with very little
support and in very threatening atti.
tudeS. Every piece of apparatus in the
city was still at work at a. M. and the
fire was practically under control.
Loss and Insurance.
In the excitement of the fire and al
the late hour it was impossible TO ge
any elaborate or exact details of either
loss or insurance. Practically speaking
the building and the stocks of boil
firms are total losses. The former
burned clear through to the cellar. anC
nothing but the black walls remain
OF the several stocks, practically
nothing was saved. This being
the height of the jobbing sea
son, both firms carried therein
heaviest stocks, and perhaps 100000
each would not be too high figure
One of the firm OF Griggs. Cooper Il Co
thought that their loss would at least
foot up $350,000, while he believed
Farwell. Ozmun. Kirk q Co. car
ried at least 100000. The insurance oil
the former stock is about S2S5,OO0
Insurance carried by the hardware firu
will reach a higher figure, it is thought
though nothing definite can be learned
The building was erected about tire,
years ago, and cost in the neighborhoOC
of 100000. 1t is total loss, and vii
bring the aggregate destruction by fire
up to ronnd million dollars
Later it was ascertained that the stool
Of Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. was val
ued at $3G0,O00, consisting Of hardware
and cutlery. The insurance is 1921, 900
placed through the several city agencie.
in small amounts. The building is owned
by DC. Shepherd and valued at $3.50, goo
The portion on the corner was erected il
1880 and the eastern half added three o.
four years later. 1t carried about SlO0,
000. Griggs, Cooper q Co., or the firm
that preceded it. has occupied the build