The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-08
FARGO'S LOSS, $4,000.
The Dakotan City Uondagration
Not Yet Subdued.

FARGO, N. D., June s, 1888. EARLY this
morning the flremen were still working
as hard as ever to stop the mad course OF
the flames which burst out in this city
last night. Practically, one-halfsof Fargo
is wiped out, only one-half of the busi-
ness houses being left. The trestle was
burned on the Great Northern, SO no
trains can pass.
Only one telegraph wire was available
during the nights progress of the fire.
The Fargo oifice was burned, anu mes
sages have to be sent from Morehead.
Every insurance office was burned. aud
IL is impossible TO get accurate state
ments of the risks carried, as the books
are all in the safes among the ruins.
Only one bank was saved, The First
National.
A section in the middle of the city
from Robert street and Front street,
south. four blocks wide and ten blocks
long, is hlackened plain of ashes, with
not dozen buildings left standing. The
fierce south wind drove the flames like
prairie fire. Brick buildings seemed to
melt away into heaps of crumbliug
sand. and it was impossible to force
enough water through the maius to fight
the fire.
Plenty of help is now at hand. Grand
Forks having sent three hose companies
by special train. Wahpeton Hose Com
pany made the run III forty-five minutes
and Casselton sent a steamer.
Over 5000 people are homeless, aud it Is
almost impossible 60 verify reports OF
accidents.
James Flynn, the eight year old SOP of
former Alderman. is reported burned;
also three children.
Photographed Gilbert and an unknown
man were cut eff from the stairs in the
ind rf hA nj
to save some Masonic property. Prac-
tically only one hotel is left, the Head
quarters. The fire has burned all around
H. but, so far, it has been saved. Moore
head hotels are alread full of refugees.
President James Hill telegrs phed to
open the Grand Hotel at Moorehead for
the tiremen.
Only two groceries are left in town.
The three-story Citizens Bank, which
had just opened, made d very hot IRE.
The fire was started by hot ashes
thrown out from the Gem Restaurant,
ignitng some looss paper back OF House
mans dry-goods store. Somebody left
the front door open. and within three
minutes the wind was driving the flames
through the building.
During the next fifteen minutes the
flames ran two blocks west, taxing the
brick buildings and all, then jumped
scross the street to Magills big machIn-
cry warehouse. contaiuiEg $1,000 worth
Of twine and s., 600 of machinery.
North and east of this, for two blocks
each way are the big machinery depots.
mostly two-story wooden buildings, and
at this time of the year they are filled 10
the roof with years supply OF farm
machinery for North Dakota.
For perhaps quarter OF an hour the
firemen kept the flames from crossing the
railroad track, tnen first on one roof,
then on another, tongues or flame broke
out, as the whiriinR fire settled on the
shingles. Inside of half an hour the
whole space for four blocks was whirl-
wind OF flames.
Every open space In the city Is filed
with confused collection of household
goods, buggies, merchandise, legal Ii
Draries, etc., which had been hurriedly
carried out, and numbers of people slept
the night out on bare ground by the side
of all that was left of their personal
effects.
The militia are on duty and will guard
the property as much as possible.