Democratic messenger., 1893-08-19
TWO MILLIONS IN ASHES.
FIRE DEVASTATES THE EAST
SIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS.

Hundreds of Houses Destroyed and
Fifteen Hundred Persons Made
Homeless = Many Factories and
Lumber Yards Burned-Sparks
Carried Half Mile.
Two million dollars worth of property
went up In flames a few afternoons ago, al
Minneapolis, MINI. More than 200 houses
were burned and at least 1900 persons were
made homeless. A change of wind saved
the greater part of the manufacturing and
residence section of the East side.
The fire started in J. B. Clark 4 Co. IS box
factory. on the south end of Nicollet Island,
Mt the head of st. Anthony's Falls. An alarm.
quickly followed by second and third, was
turned in, but by the time the department
had arrived the flames. famed by furious
south wind. had gained such headway that
all the firemen could do was to turn their at
tention TO adjoining property.
Nearly all the structures in that vicinity
were of wood. dry as tinder, and made splen-
did fuel for the flames. Clark's box factory
was doomed before even stream OF water
was thrown upon it. Next TO it. north, Len
hart,s wagon works and the Cedar Lake ice
houses were wiped out of existence. Further
north are Linties 4 Connells boiler works.
and here the heaviest loss on the island took
place. This firm had IA stock valued at over
$50. 900 aud not cent of insurance. The
other losers are fairly well insured.
While this fire at its height \ spark,
carried high in the air, alighted ON
Boom Island. nearly half mile above
the fire on Nicollet Island. This island
is occupied as wood yard by the
lumber firm OF Nelson, Tanney h Co.
The whole island was soon ablaze. Quickly
Jumping across the small stretch of water
h.s fuI fh.aF, in lam thu
flames gained footing in Nelson, Tenney &
company's lumber yard, where there was
piled some i0. 900, 900 feet of lumber.
The fire fairly walked through the yard
and into that of J.. W. Bachus & Co. adioin.
ing BY this time il was impossible TO stop
it. even had the whole Fire Department been
on hand. Great embers flew through the
air and started fires many blocks beyond the
places where the tlremen were at work.
The flames were simply irresistible.
Brick and stone structures fell rs cas-
ily rs the merest shells. Beyond the
lumber yard were the two mills belonging to
T. W. Backus & Co. OF these nothing re-
mains except the smokestacks and a mass oi
twisted machinery and charred timbers. J.
II. Chattentons post mill went the way oi
the others. as did the sash and door factories
Of Fulton K Libbcy and J. W. Wilcox Il Co
At Marshall street aud Thirteenth avenue
northeast, is the mammoth brewery OF the
Minneapolis Brewing Company. This, !,
seemed. must surely 20. hut the wind changed
and although the brewery was surrounded
By wooden buildings il was saved. and 1t j:
the only structure between the river ant
Marshall street. u distance of three blocks
that escaped the fire.
Most OF the residences burned We're frame
buildings. occupied by the employees OF the
mills and iaboring men. Large number:
saved their household goods. All the avail
able fire apparatus in the city was in USE. ant
st. Paul sent two engine companies in re
sponse 10 calls for assistance.