The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-15
Big FIRE AT MINNEAPOLIS.
Over Two Million Dollars Worth
of Property Destroyed.
Two Hundred Houses Wiped Out by the
Fiery Element and Fifteen Hundred
Persons Left meless-People Forced
to Wade Into the River to Save Them
selves.

.-"'NEAPoLs, Aug. 1.-two million
dollars worth of property went up in
flames yesterday afternoon Over 200
houses are burned and at least 500 per
sons rendered homeless. This is the record
made by the destroying element in the
short space of two hours. A kind provi-
dence, and not the fire department or the
feeble efforts of the owners of threatened
property, saved the greater portion of the
manufacturing and residence portions of
the East side. The fire had gained such
Roadway that no human agency could
quench it, and only a change in the direc-
ton OF the wind prevented an awful con-
flagration.
1t was little after 80 o'clock when a
Waterman saw small blaze on the river
sue OF D. b. Clark &s Co. IS factory, on the
south end of Nicollet Island, ut the head
of st. Anthony falls An alarm, quickly
followed by second and third, was turned
In, hut by the time the department had ar
rived the flames, famed by furious
south wind, had gained such Roadway
That all the firemen could do was to turn
their attention to adjoining property.
Where the fire first started is a mystery.
but 1t is thought 1t originated either in
lIenharts wagon works or in an ice house
belonging to the Cedar Lake Ice company
Immediately adjoining. Nearly all the
structures in this vicinity were of wood.
dry rs finder, and made splendid fuel for
the hames. Clarkes box factory was
doomed before even a stream of water was
thrown upon it.
Whlle this fire was Mt its height n spark
carried high in the air alighted OH Boom
Island, nearly half n mile above the fire on.
Nicollet Isl and. This island is occupied
as wood yard by the lumber firm of Mel
son, Tenney < Co. No one noticed the
spark fall, but the whole island was soon
ablaze. 1t was this spark that caused the
greatest loss. Quickly jumping across the
small stretch of water separating the isl
and from the main land the flames gained
footing in Nelson, Tenney & Co.'S lum.
Der yard, where there were piled some TO-
100000 feet of lumber. The fire fairly
walked through the yard and into that of
H. w. 3ackus u Co., adjoining Great
emberS flew through the air and started
lires many blocks beyond the places where
the frcmen were at work The. flames
were simply irresistible Brick and stone
structures fell rs easily victims as the
merest shells.
AT the corner Of Marshall street and
thirteenth avenue stood the mammoth
brewery Of the Minneapolis Brewing com
pany. This it seemed must surely 90, but
at this time the wind changed, and al
though the brewery was surrounded by
wooden buildings it was saved, and it is
the only structure between the river back
10 Marshall street. distance of three
blocks, that escaped the fire The big
brewery acted as a sort of shield and in n
measure protected the property to the
north. Had it burned, nothing could have
prevented the fire from running north rs
lar as 1t could find anything to burn.
Thomas Sa lone, an old man, fell dead
from heart disease, caused by excitement.
Several fremen were injured. 1t is be-
lieved that all the occupants Of the houses
escaped with their lives. They were all
warned in time, and none need have been
lost. 1t is rumored that two or three men
were penned in by the flames while trying
to rescue some of their propert "
About 6 O'Clock last evening the fire
jumped the river, and for some time the
wesA side sawmill district was in great
danger. Fortunately the flames were ex-
tinguished before much damage was done
AT III O'Clock last night the east side ruins
were still ablaze, but the fire was under
control.
Hundreds of people were either t. e recip.
tents of charity or slept in the open air last
night. Many saved only the clothes on
their backs.
between the Plymouth and Twentieth
avenue bridges, on the east side of the
river. there luts out into the river a point
OF land upon which some 100 people, prn-
cipally laborers and sawmill hands, reside.
The fire soon cut off their escape by land,
and they were in imminent danger of be-
ing burned to death. No boats were at
hand, and the residents were forced into
the river i'll order to save their lives
Previous to this they attempted to save
their personal effects. Bedding, tool
chests, furniture and even clothing were
thrown into the river the owners hoping
that they might be able to recover them
some time. All this time great crowds
nhed the bridges and watched big fiat
boat making slow Roadway toward the I'M
fortunate people in the river. The heat
was most intense, and many Of the men
IN the water were compelled to duck their
heads under it to prevent the flames from
scorching their faces and heads. One
brave fellow stripped himself and brought
a number of his neighbors across the river
before the flatboat arrived, when all were
rescued
Ii is reported that Mrs. Thomas Salone
an old lady who was bedriddcn, was burned
in her home. The charred remains of a
boy were found in the debris.