St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-24
LAID IN RED RUINS.
Minneapolis Treated to An
other Fierce Assault by
Fire.
The North Star Boot and Shoe
Factory Wiped Out Of
Life.
Nearly Half a Million Dollars
Sail Upward in
Smoke.
Graphic Description Of the
Scenes and Incidents Of
the Blaze.

stitution in Minneapolis. is mass of
ruins. There is nothing saved. Some
of the walls are standing. but that is ALL
Those portions that are still upright are
so weakened by the action of the flames
and strained and warped they will never
do service as walls again.
At $50 last night Officer Novack,
standing ON the corner of Third street
and HenEepin avenue, saw burst of
flame from the windows on the third
floor of the North Star Boot and Shoe
cOmpany'S plant, is and % North Third
street. The next instant the whole
building was a seething cauldrOn of
flame. The building was then past saw
ing. There was not one moment from
the time the fire was discovered when
it was possible to save anything from
the flames. The whole block, five
story brick structure, was all on fire at
once. The fire started on the third
floor in the factory room. Some OF the
employees of the company were
at work on the first floor packing
goods. One of them went out OF the
room for something and rushed back in
an instant, telling his fellOwwOrkmen
that the building was on fire. These
half-dOZen men rushed out of the build
ing with their clothes and that was all.
They could take nothing with them.
There were but two alarms turned in
the first and the general. The water
tower came and was put in operation,
but 1t could do nothing but assist in
keeping down the fierce heat that rose
in waves and swept against the sides of
surrounding buildings, threatening
them with destruction. 1t was the fast
est, Tiercest fire that Minneapolis has
seen in a long time. Starting at $50, it
had within an hour destroyed $3.50, 900
worth of property and had been sub
dued. At IL O'clock there was nothing
left but the
Wreck of the Building
and the danger was over. About twenty
minutes after the fire started the fam
ing building looked like some grand
pyrotechnie spectacle arranged for the
celebration of nations holiday. file
Outline-of the big block was hidden be-
hind the clouds of rolling smoke and
writhing flames. Showers of sparks
were sent high in the air like eruption
from some monster volcano newly risen
from the sea TO terrify the hearts of
men. The north wind caught those
sparks and whirled them off over
the roofs of the buildings to
mess portion of the city. The sparks
fell in Hennepin avenue, rolling over
the tall buildings. verltable cataract
OF fire. At 11:20 the south side of the
wall fell down as far as the fourth floor,
knocking off portion of the rear wall
of twO-StOry building standing beside
it. A few minutes later the rear fell,
and in about another ten minutes the
north wall down to the second floor
almost went down. The inside of the
building had all been burned out by
that time. and what had once been stock
was but pile of ashes in the bottom of
the ruins. The machinery was all warped
and twisted out of shape and lying in
che basement.
The testimony of all who where any
where IN that vicinity when the fire
started goes to show that there was an
explosion of some kind. There is no
authentic account of any one having
heard an explosion that could properly
be called such, but tne building famed
up so quickly that there must have been
something besides slow starting and
gradually spreading fire. The whole
block was on fire in an instant. The
only plausible theory, and that is the
one advanced by an insurance man, is
that some of the materials used in lay
ing soleS in the manufacturing room
exploded. The insurance policies
of the company have attached a
permit allowing them to use gutta
percha cement, naphtha, benZine and
several compounds of an intiammable
and eX plosive character. 1t is thought
that the re must have been spontaneous
combustion among some OF those COM
pounds that set the fire going and scat
tered the flame all over the floors. The
explosion probably broke the windows
on the third floor, and that caused a
draught that spread the fire to all the
upper floors. If this theory be not { he
correct one no can tell how it started.
The total loss on the building and the
plant will be not less than $35O,OG0
The building was owned by the estate
of Hugh Harrison. 1t was erected four
years ago, that is, it was first occupied
at that time just after completion, at q
cost of 5000. 1t is thought to be
worth now fully S60,O0O The building
is total loss. 1t is supposed to be
fully covered by insurance. One in
surance man was found who said he
knew of $4,000 worth of insurance on
the building and others who were ac-
Quainted with the business of the late
Hugh Harrison said that it would be
found to be fully insured.
Mai. aeReIfinger Talks.
The North Star Boot and Shoe COM
pany is composed of G. H. Hefelfinger,
president: William S. King, vice presi-
dent; John A. Lucy, secretary; Pres
ton King, treasurer. 1t is one of
the biggest manufacturing concerns
in the Northwest. 1t did an ex-
tenSive business in all lines
of boots and shoes. Maj. Heffeifinger,
the president of the company, was
found at the scene of the fire last night.
He could not tell anything about the de-
tails of the insurance on the stock and
machinery, but he made some esti-
mates.
'Our stock and plant said he, "were
worth at the least calculation, $500, 600. We
were carrying heavy stock all through the
the building on every floor. The stock was
worth fully S250,000 The plant could not be
duplicated for less than $4,000 think that
we are well insured. / have not the exact
figures and will be unable to get at them I'M
less our papers are safe, which / very much
doubt. We have been carrying fully $500 600
worth of insurance. Some OF the policies
expired recently, and / cannot tell whether
they Rave been renewed or not. Some of
them undoubtedly have should say that
we have at this time not less than S275.-
The insurance is placed with every company
now without getting at my papers in the Of
hce. / am afraid that they are gone, too.
There does not seem to be anything left in
IT,