Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1893-08-17
This City Experiences the
Most Disastrous Fire in
Its History.
A Dozen Buildings Destroyed,
Including the Newly Built
Capital Hotel.
Metropolitan Block Burned and
Several Residences Go Up
in Smoke.
Brave Work Of Firemen AVertS
More General COnfla-
grafton.
Origin of the Flames Supposed
to be InCendiary.-Fire
Notes.

E
to be lnCendiary.-Fire
Notes.
From Mondays Daily.
jamestown sustained q severe loss from
fire yesterday afternoon, and it was only
after the most stubborn fight in the his
tory of the fire department that gen.
eral conflagration was averted and the
flames placed under control. For time
the entire northern part Of the city was
threatened with destruction and repe-
t,tlon of the recent Fargo disaster was
generally feared. Famed by a
gale of wind the flames leaped
from building to building, ran along
the sidewalks, ianited the grass in
many door yards, and melted brick blocks
with the same ease that they consumed
frame structures. But an unlimited
water supply, furnished by Jamestown's
invaluable artesian we'll, and the superb
work Of the clty's we'll disciplined fire.
men, finally baffled the fury of the flames
and confined the property loss to an
amount less than 500, 900, when it might
easily have reached more appalling fig
ure.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed
upon the members of the several compa
MES for their persistent and we'll directed
lnbors; nor should the valuable aid of the
firemen from the insane asylum and
Northern Pacific round house be over
looked. Their prompt assistance did
much to prevent the destruction of the
buildings on tho east side Of. the street,
opposite the Capital house, and the ac.>
tive efforts Of citizens materially helped
in saving other property in the path of
the fire.
The fire started in the old skating rink
at the corner Of Fifth avenue and Third
street, opposite Lloyd's National bank,
and dlagonally aoross from the msgnid-
cent Opera house block. When discov-
cred, about 2 O'Clock, flames were burst
ing through the root of the old frame
structure, and BY the time an alarm had
been turned in the building was roar
ing furnace. 1t wss at once seen that
the Capital house, adjoining the rink on
the north, was doomed, though the fire
shutters were Immediately closed and
two streams Of water were turned on the
building. The effort to save the property,
however, was useless, as the flames from
the rink soon had the superb three-story
brick structure in their grasp, and it
burned to the ground almost as quick as
bundle OF paper. The building was
erected last year and newly furnished
throughout. Nothing was saved except
number of trunks and articles Of wear.
ing apparel belonging to boarders and
the hotel employees. The walls fell with
crash within twenty minutes after the
fire got hold of them, and sent sheet of
flames and cinders flying in every d,rec.
ton.
The Capital house annex, one-story
wooden building adjoining the main ho-
tel on the north, was easy prey for the
raging flames, and next in order came the
residence and dressmaking parlors be-
longing to Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. Nelson. All
were reduced to ashes in few minutes.
Then the flames leaped the vacant lots
to the Metropolitan block, and the real
danger began to fully dawn upon the
mass Of excited people thronRing the
streets.
The Metropolitan block was a fine
three-story brick, erected as hotel in
1882, but recently occupied in the upper
stories as living apartments by quito
number OF people. On the first floor were
the Offices Of the Alliance Hail Insurance
company, and the armory Of Company
d, North Dakota national guards. The
basement was occupied by the Daily and
Weekly Capital. Messrs. Warnock 4
Davidson, the publishers, sustained q
total loss on their plant, aside from some
5000 insurance. Everything else in the
block was total loss, except that the
members Of company 81 saved all their
arms and uniforms. All records were
destroyed, and quite quantity OF .mmu.
milton stored in the armory. When the
shells began to explode there was zen.
ersl scattering Of the crowd, and TO the
roar OF the flames was added The din Of