Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-08-19
BLAZE AT MINNEAPOLIS.



Great Lumber Yards Burned Hundreds
Rendered Homeless Loss, S2.0O0.0OO.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Aug. 14.-About
100000 worth of property went up in
flames yesterday afternoon. Over 200
houses were burned and at least 1900
persons were rendered homeless. This
was the record made by the destroying
element in the short space of two hours.
The fire had gained such headway
that no human agency could quench it,
and only a change in the direction of
the wind prevented an awful contiagra-
ton.
1t was little after 80 o'clock when
watchman saw small blaze on the
river side of j. Il. Clark & CO.. S box
factory on the south end of Ncollett
island at the head of st. Anthony falls.
Al 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.
While this fire was at its height a
spark carried high in the air alighted on
Boom island, nearly half mile above
the fire on Nicollett island. This island
is occupied as wood yard by the lum-
ber firm of Nelson, 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 island
from the main land the flames gained a
footing in Nelson, Tenney & Co.'S lum-
Der yard The fire fairly walked
through this yard and into that of E.
Backus & Co. adjoining.
At the corner of Marshall street and
Thirteenth avenue, northeast, stood
the mammoth brewing company. Had
not this great structure stopped the
furious flames which ragged around il
nothing would have prevented the fire
from extending as far north as it could
have found anything to burn, Situated
as it was, directly in the path of the
flames, with wooden buildings on eacf
side of it and blazing lumber yard t.
the rear it seemed as if this magniti
cent edifce, costing $500, 900, would bt
added to the long list of property de
stroyed
About o'clock the fire jumped tn
!. river and for some time the West sid
saw mill district was endangered, bu
, the flames were extinguished befor
, much damage was done.
At 10 o'clock the East side rui n
, were all ablaze, but the fire was unde
control. Hundreds of people wer
. either the recipients of charity or wer
sleeping in the open air Many save
a only the clothes they had on thei
, backs.
The flames kept on their way an
were not subdued much until they ha
reached Sixteenth avenue north. At thi
q point tiremen and citizens combine
managed to stop the flames to "a certai
S extent. From Thirteenth avenue
G Sixteenth and from the river to Ma
> | Snail SuTcep WdS IL sccuHlhS Hiaoo
= flames. In all about fifty families o
l. cupied this portion of the territory.
The scene at this point was pitif'
e one Family after family remained
le their homes until they We're obliged
e leave by the intense heat No OF
l. seemed to have insurance on the
is property, and as they were all POT
l. they strained every effort to get VIII
l. they could to place of safety.
Il Il. w. Backus & Co. place their 10
h at over 81 100000 They state that the
T. had 90, 900, 900 feet of lumber, 'wor'
Of S75O,OOO alone, and that this is tot
ct loss. Their mills are also gone al
a. these they claim were worth $3.50, oC
re 1t is impossible tolearn their insuranc
but it is thought they are protected.
ly Later it was reported that MI
n Thomas Salone, an old lady who W
OF bedridden, was burned n her HON
he The charred remains of boy were al
X. found in the debris
H.