St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-23
RED WING IS SGORCHED.
FACTORY or THE CHARLES BETcHER
COMPANY DESTROYER.
LAKE CITY ASKED FOR AID.
For a Time 1t Seemed as if a
Large Section Of Red Wing
Would Be Destroyed, But the
City Was Saved by the Fire
men and a Timely Change in
the Wind.

Special TO The Globe.
RED WING, Minn. Sept. 22.-The
most terrible con1agratiOn that has vls-
tied this city in years started early this
afternoon. laying an immense amount
of property in ruins and throwing
large number of men out Of employ
ment. The fire originated in the sash
and door factory Of the Charles Betchef
Lumber company, and almost before
the first alarm sounded that great
wooden structure was one huge mass
of flames. When it became known
in what a dangerous locality the
FIRE was the greatest excitement TOOK
possession of the people. The flames
had gained such headway and the Wlnd
was SO brisk thai nothing could be done
10 check the fire when ii first broke out.
Around the sash and door factory was
large quantity of dry lumber, which 1t
was Impossible TO save. The fire broke
out in dozen places among the piles,
and cracking flames soon reduced VaiU-
able property 10 ashes. At this point ii
became apparent that the FIRE had the
upper hand. The wind increased from
the northwest. and the situation became
MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.
The surrounding barns and residences
seemed 10 be doomed. Bellcher's large
barn, the residence of ). b. Foot on
West Main street and other houses
caught fire in the roof. but people were
on hand TO put out the flames. Even
upon Fourth street houses caught fire
every now and then. A telegram was
sent to the Lake City fire department
for additional apparatus. The most
heroic work was performed in saving
the immense mill. This was the key
TO the situation, and as the flames
We're spreading the mass Of spectators
stood breathless as the fire advanced
closer and closer to the great wooden
building. If it should burn. there were
buildings and timber behind that 1t
would be impossible to save. The power
house Of the ely water works, which IS
the next structure to the east, would
probably burn, and there would then
have been no means but the steam FIRE
engine when the supply in the reservoir
had been exhausted. The men on the
mill comprehended the situation fully,
and the main efforts of the firemeD were
directed 10 this valuable property. For
more than an hour and half the fire
hugged close TO the mill, and rained
cinders and burning lumber upon the
roof, and the walls, which were so hot
rs TO throw much OF the water of as
steam, the men AT times being
ALMOST SUFFOCATED
from the fiery breath of the awful
furnace. but, thanks TO the andaunted
courage of the FIRE department, the saw
mill was saved. The wind, too, fort
unately changed little, without which
il would not been in human power TO
stay the fire. The nre cut off telegraph
Communication with the Twin Cities.
The ties on the Milwaukee line were
burned and the rails were twisted out
of shape, and traffic over the line was
abandoned. The Minneapolis d
St. Louis tracks and those of
the Dakota, Red Wing d Southern
were also Obstructed. At $50 p. III. the
fire was practically under control. All
the lumber between the mill and the
factory is lost, also nearly all north of
the Minneapolis " st. Louis tracks.
The loss is variOusly estimated at from
$50, 600 TO $4,000. but IL is impossible at
this time 10 form an estimate. The lnsnr-
anee is about $4,000. The fire origin
ated in the engine room of the factory.
Late this afternoon Charles A. 6etcheI
estimated his loss al about s25, 00O.