Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-19
FIERCE FIRE IN ST. PAUL.
Two Large buildings Gutted-Loss Nearly
4 Million.

GBy telegraph % the Dispatch.l
Sr PArJI. MINI, November 1S.-St. Paul
last night suffered one of the most dlsas-
trous nres In its history, the buildings damagel
being those Of Griggs Cooper q Co., WhoIeshe
groceries, and Farwen, Ormun, krk 81 90,
yvbolesale hardware The total loss Is estimated
ut from 1000, 900 20 Sl,OOO,0OO, this covered by
Insurance. The block occupied by the Two utins
Is a brick and stone structure ilYe stories III
height md has a frontage on Third street OF oOO
80 md on Broadway OF 200 feet. Griggs,
Cooper q Co. occupy two thirds OF the bulldlng:
The danes first made their appearance at ll.st
O'clock In the fourth floor OF Srlggs, cooper u
Goa establishment, and Wltilh less thhu hte
rntnutes the fire department was on mana IN
force but general alarm had 70 be turned III
soon afterwarl. the Gro was IN the upper $40
res. Griggs, Cooper Co.'S store - qlViu l.S ~
halves by a are-wall running from Third street
10 tho roar and from Farwen, Osmun, hlrk q
Co.'S by another wall The fremen could mere
fore reach the names from only three sides, De-
ever. thoy mounted their ladders breyely, faced
the flames which we're almost licking their faces,
and sent streains horizontally tnroush the wiz
dows, thus managing TO reach the centre ahu .he
east side Of the floors. The IRE rapidly gutteu
line ton floor, and IN half an hour from the time
the alarm WAS sent in flames were leaplhg
heavenward through the ROOF.
The efforts Of tho hremon were onecten 10
ward keeping the flames confined 70 the Top
roors They we're only partially Successful,
however for at a few minutes before oclOk
the nAtnes worked down a rear elevator smart
and set IRE 70 stock OF 2iOOO oarIes % s1sS
stored on the second floor. 100 barrels OF when
were put In last Monday. The sugar burned
fiercely and ak streams we're soon difecteu on
this, the ilremen succeeding after hours OF haiu
work IN drowning out the ndmeA
Through the roof the flames were commune
cated 10 the adjoining store, where they maze
rapid progress The upper moor being an
afane tue fremen turned thor attention 20
saving the floors below, ana by dlnt OF marc
work for n time succeeded In connning most Oh
the damage 10 this door, though the loss IN this
department alone would roach fully SoVViOOV'
as the more coStly 6nd lighter grades VI halu-
ware we're stored on this moor.
Bnt the Gre had too firm bold 70 DC mus
easily vanquished. The flames crept uowhhaIu
IN the hardware establishments py he eIoss s
sbad. and one by one the third, second, and hrst
goors succumbed % the flames. me llre IN
Cricgs Cooper & Co.'S store at this tlme TOOK
frssh start and turned downward 10 the ground
floor. The IRE department Io1ght !aas Az, Dus
against terrible odds, and az $3.50 the building
wa in such a shaky condition that II was aah-
gerOus 20 approach IL closely
NARROW ESCAPE.
Tho fames set ere 10 the rear OF the frame
building used by the Northern PACING News Cohi-
panv and two employees named curry anu
Rouen attempted 90 extinguish this Whie
ti,.v VVere al work the walls tOttered, and the
crowd Al o tied ia terror 60 the two mon. Ihey
made a rusn iCr safety, end were meme 70 50 ~
for iust as they escaped the wall Of tne baIH,h,
MACS where they had stood but moment Do
iore was covered with pile Of brick and stone.
several attempts were made 70 save STOCK 10 the
less exposed parts OF the building, but without
avail. and complete destruction OF both STOCK
and Rnilding seemed inevitable
Inc block extended on the south SIDE OF mira
street from the corner OF W6eouta 70 WITHIN
ftty feet of Rosabel, was i've stories high aaa
belonged TO d. G. shepard. Twas estimated 70
Ia worm 100000. The iorses are estimated as
tnIIows, FarweH, osmun KIRK, S4oO,OOO; IN
snrapee sl6O.O0O Griggs, Cooper & 20, loss,
SS50. OOO; Insurance, S350.0Oo; loss on oulld,
Inc. s2O0OOO, covered by insurance. Iosai
49, s0Jo 600. The flames we're under cOntfoi
az haif-past o'clock this morning, but we're iast
cc1s,Iuine what remained OF the STOCK. NO
definite information Is oDtanahle as 20 the cause
~ the fife but 10 is thought 70 have Origlnate1
In sou,e unknown manner In the packins-ieOln
On me fourth door. The Are department. was
cansiderably handicapped by the weather, the
U,,rcury ranging around zero al night help
,ves called tor from Minneapolis while tne nie
,cas M ia height and Two engines IRON tnatc lty
rendered eflectivo service. GFiggs, cooper y
Co have secured other quarters and are rcady
Tor business this incoming a. though the ilre hel
nnt occurred. Both drfns saved al their pooks
ana aceounta. Farweii. Osinun a hirA VIII aiso
continue their business without interruption.