The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1891-06-04
Disastrous Fire.

Fire alarm was sounded Saturday
afternoon about two o'clock, when it
was learned shat the coal sheds and
barn back of d. e. Rice's farm
machinery house, wv. "A. Seely's old
quarters, were enveloped in flames.
The tiremen were on the ground in
good season, but for want of strong
pressure could not throw water very
effectively, and the wind blowing
from the southeast, spread the flames
with great rapidity. From the COM
mencement every one in the block
realized that there was great danger
of the whole block being swept away +,
even though the water service worked
the best possible, and sure enough
that is what happened, making one
of the most terrific little fires on
record; and it was bordering on super
human efforts that the flames were
arrested and not allowed to spread
upon the north side of the street,
which would have wiped out !,
second block--or more.
The following buildings were
burned I: The building occupied by
Mr.. Rice. owned by Geo. O. Carpen
ter of st. Louis, Mo-; the Great
Northern depot and u box cal: the
Dunn & Thompson mill and elevator
the Peoples Bank building. Inc 'uding
Judge LADDERS office and the Yves
tern Union telegraph Office on the
second floor; George w. Shortt's two
story store building, occupied on first
floor by John Ink & Co. with farm
machinery; Schuler Brothers double
store building with residence up
stairs; the Otterson building, used
as sample room by Merchants Hotel
and lastly the Woodruff & Giddings
store building, one Of the largest and
most substantial two story frame
buildings in the city. owned by G. c.
Lemoiner, somewhere in the east.
AS above intimated, it was nothing
short of heroi, work that prevented
the flames from crossing the street
and consuming Mr.. Crafts ware.
house and the Wahpeton Hotel
which, once surrendered to the fire,
there is no telling just where it
would have stopped, these being
severely chalred, although saved
And then west of the burned block
on the common, stood 50 cords OF
wood belonging to Thos. II. Fer
guson which were consumed.
The property destroyed cost at a
conservative estimate, at least SIS, 900
and was insured for something like
$4,000. We are unable to place any
estimate upon stock losses, and sinct
the mil and elevator were unoccuDied
Ii is fair to presume there was no in
surance on them at all. The iiremcn
and many citizens worked with the
greatest possible energy to save
goods, the buildings being occupied
for the most part with farm machin
cry, and miscellaneous pieces of ma
chlnery, only, being saved, the saving
at best is very little in proportion tc
j the loss.
i Mrs. Palmer. wife of the night
operator at the Great Northern depot
and probably the first person wls
. noticed the fire, the family residin!
over the depot, and she in the kitchen
heard the crackle of fire, and looki n;
out of her window saw through
, window in the coal shed back of Mr.
Rice's place and adjoining the barn
> was filled with roaring ant
! SETTLING mass Of flames, wlicI
} in fact burst forth before sh
3 had time to think twice and leape'
! upon the depot, itself. We had Il few
{. moments talk with Mrs. Palmer abou
: these facts.
3 1t is hard to tell just how the fir
:. originated, but one thing is sure,
RI was an accident.