New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-09
FARGUS LOSS THREE MILLION
OVER 5000 PEOPLE HOMELESS.
PRACTICALLY ONEHALF OF THE CITY DE
STRoYED-FOUR CHILDREN REPORTED DEAD

STEOYED-FOUR CHILDREN REPORTED DEAD
AND SEVERAL FIREMEN INJURED.
Minneapolis. MIMI, June 8.-Thc fire at Fargo was
still burning iercely this morning. DOCK In the
middle OF he city from Robert,t. and Fronst south
four blocks wide and ten blocas long Is blackened
plain Of ashes with not dozen buildings left stand
ing. The fierce south wind drove the hames Ike a
paire fire. Brick buildings seemed to melt away
into heaps OF crumbng sand. and II was impossible
force enough water through the mains TO hgDt
the fire.
A conservative estimate OF the loss is $3.OOo.OoO
With not to exceed one-quarcr Insurance. over
5000 people homeless, and 1t Is almost impos'
sble to verify reports OF accidents. James lynn,
the eightyearold son Of Il former Alderman, Is re-
ported burned also three other children photographer
Gilbert and an unknown man were reported cut or
from the stairs In the third story Of the Cllapin
Iiock trying to save some masonic property.
The fire was started by hot ashes from the Gem
restaurant thrown out behind igat.ng some loose
paper back OF Housemanns drygoods store some
body lett the front door OPEN Inside OF three
minutes the wind had driven the flames through the
building and burst out the roof. For perhaps a
quarter Of an hour the hremen kept the flames from
jumping the railroad track then first on
one roof then another tongues OF flame
broke out as the whirlng fire fakes set
tied oil the shingles. Inside half an hour
the whole space for four block was whirlwind Of
flames. the property consumed being valued at a
millon and quarter OF dollars. Next Coles stable
caught fire. and the Opera House block soon followed,
while the Grand Hotel burning In the east.
THE Daily Forum" building next TO CO. then
the Red River National Blink building. In the resi-
dence district north the Grent Northern tracks the
fire left a clean track four to five blocks wide and
ten blocks long, while Isolated fires could he seen n
mile north, caused by flying cnders. Then the wind
changed q little again and the flames caught the
Minneapolis and EOrthcrh Elevator. containing 100000
bushels Of wheat, Quilted the North side school, ana
set the Greet Northern depot on fire several uines,
but he flames at the latter eXtinguished. 50 The
Fargo Republican" Office. Bristol il sweets whole
sale house. the keeney block Eddys Bank the
Mears Bank Of North DakotI, the Mortgage Bank and
Knights Of Pythias Hall soon succumbed. and the
flame, made shsrt work OF tho two blocks between
Mears and the Citizens Bank and Just further
west the three-story brick Chaplin block four story
Columbia Hotel and big brick Hagaman block occu-
pied by f. NJ. RathwOrth. Wholesale grocer The
flames took shoot north toward the Great Northern
freight depot. burning the Methodist Church on
Ro5ert-st and a large number OF residences ana small
shores. The secret sociaties IufSred severely,
Masons, Tempars, Knights Of Pthias. Knights OF
Honor, Cantons, Rebekahs Grand Army, United
Worlcnen. Woodmen all losing halls with nearly all
the property.
Every open space is filled with collection Of house
hold goods and merchandise. Numbers OF people
we're sleeping the bare ground by the side OF all
that is left Of their personal effects. The militia
duty and will guard pop sTyo as much Snsa p0s
only 0nc-halt the business houses 0elhg lett. Inc
trese burned oil the Great Northern so no
trains can pass. Every insurance office was burnel
II Is impossible 10 get an accurate statement OF rsks
carried, the books are In tn" safes among the rni
IS saved. the First National several firemen were
injured By falling bricks.