The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1893-07-22
FARGo's TERRIBLE FIRE.
OVER 100000 WORTH OF PROP
ERTY DESTROYED.

OVER 100000 WORTH OF PROP
ERTY DESTROYED.
Homeless and Several Lives Lost
The Work Of Rebuilding Will Be
gin n Once.
Fargo. N. D., Special, June 8.-The
city of Fargo presents a scene of woeful
d%esolation. No pen picture can describe
the great devastation by the fire Gend,
and the people are in despair. The very
heart of the business portion of the city
has been totally DESTROYED and licked
clean off the earth. The proud business
blocks, bar ks, stores, in fact every build
ing that was a source of any pride to
the people, is now smoldering in ruins.
One hundred and sixty acres of houses
have been burned according to estimates
of en- experienced railroad contractor.
About 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon
the fire alarm was sounded and it was
reported that some ashes thrown from the
Little Gem restaurant on Front street
started the fire in the rear of Herzman's
store. The department was promptly on
hand, but q strong wind from the south
west famed the flames until one blaze
developed the row of wooden structures
east of the Union block adjoining. The
gun store of the Schofields could not be
saved. the fire taking in the contents,
Including q keg Of powder and innumera.
der was followed by the continuous and
repeated crack of the cartridges. The
wind carried the fire across the street,
and soon had reduced Magill's great
warehouse to q heap of ashes: 1t then
jumped over the elevator building and
Darling. Angels, Francis & Southland,
The fire then went back. licked up the
telegraph. Office and doubled its course
and tackled the Red River Valley Nation.
al back. a brick block across the alley
from Johnson & Sons. Meanwhile sparks
had set the Forum Office on fire in a dozen
places a dozen times. The boys took
b turns in rS setting na n tyP and and putting ting o sto the
plumbing. shop, the Forum. Tyler's and
then the loan agency brick block. In this
were the Great Northern ticket office.
On the corner of Northern Pacific avenue
and Broadway the Fargo Loan agency
occupied the first floor and p. Clapp and
N. A. Hildreth had Offices up stairs. In
the basement was Gordon's barber shop
and bath rooms The fire destroyed the
entire block and contents.
East OF this was a row of wooden
buildings, all Of which went, including
JeWett's. Pickton's. Hildebrant's and the
entire block of machinery depots and
warehouses: behring's. McCormick's,
BaG R;s,, etc '5c On the alley east Of the
1MtcKinstry. Terry. Davis and &. b.
Wood, also II machine shop. all Of which
went: 1t was thought for a time that
the fire could be stopped at Northern
I'aclhc avenue. but it leapad across that
wide street. devouring the strand hotel,
G9ates, barn. the bowling alley. Wynn's
o. tail1 n 1all. Bowers cigar store. and on
TO broadwa!y into the Merchants bank
n the entire east side of Broadway I'D
70 the Great Northern depot and beyond.
Inc fire also crossed Broadway into
f1oines clothing store and ran north
Among the Ruins,
Fargo, N. D., Special. June S.-The
nre is more disastrous in proportion to
the size of the city than the great Chi
cage con1agration. 1t originated through
the thoughtless act of h careless boy EN-.
ployed in a small restaurant in the bust.
ness portion of the city. He threw hot
ashes out doors. The wind scattered the
glowing Goals far and wide and in nm
instant the restaurant was in flames,
Then the high wind caught burning
boards and hurled them on to the roofs
of the business buildings. which ignited
Mt once. The fire spread with startling
rapidlty and inside of forty minutes half
a mile of buildings were ablaze, while
the confusion was frightful. The people
were almost frantic. and to the general
horror of the scene a lightning and
thunder storm added its fury. The
Fargo ire department could not fight the
ire with II success, and the chief at
once telegraphed to Grand Forks and
Wahpeton for aid. These departments
responded to the appeal, but when they
arrived the picture of desolation was
complete. Towards daylight the fire
burned itself out for lack of more ma
terial. The lightning having ceased and
all electric wires being down the city was
plunged into inky darkness, and 1900
people were cropping their way about
hunting for friends and shelter. Some
had succeeded in saving O few articles
Of clothing and furniture. and these they
guarded until daylight came. Then be.
San the search for temporary accommo.
6ations.
James j. HilEs Generosity.
Just in the nick of time came a :elc.
gram from James ]. Hill in~strucring tina,
the Grand Pacific hotel just across thu
river in Mcorhead be opened and placed
at the disposal of the u~nfortunates. II
was promptly filed with homeless PEG
ole. who but a few hours before hai
been happy aid well to do citizens. Til,
Great Northern at once rendered the uss
Of fifty box cars for storage PURPOSES
and tonight these are almost filled
Only one fatality has been reported
One man was seen to 60 into the thirl
story of q building to rescue his goods
The block was all ablaze and ne pait
no heed to cautionary cries. The crowl
waited for him to reappear, hut hi
wa seen no more No one in town to
night knows who the mar WAS, and 4
will probably never be known, for tina,
building is now a heap Of hot embers
the most astonishing speed. The housel
caught so rapidly that the people wer'
thrown into direst confusion, and the,
have not vet recovered. The city it en-
tirely upset. 1t is practically deat
letter. No power on earth sould hav,
saved it in the face Of the gale that wa
blowing. The Fargo Forum and the Re
publican Offices were among the first II
90. The fire performed several guee
feats. notably that Of leaving the Head
Quarters hotel untouched. 1t was across
the street from where the Ere began ana
IL q veritable fire trap. Some of tn
homeless are now quartered there, other
are with neighbors and still more ar,
lodged in fiat cars. deserted buildings
etc. Moorhead generously threw. opef