St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-14
AMONG THE RES
Moved Down by Flames in 8
Iwinkling-Some Losses.

Moved Down by Flames in q
Iwinkling-Some Losses.
The onward, irresistible rush of the
terrible sea of flames was witnessed
with the direst apprehension by the
residents of the thickly settled residence
portion of the city, which seemed in the
direct path of the fire fiend. All efforts
to check the swift progress of the flames
seemed frmtless, although the ,tiremen
were doing their best and going into
the Jaws of death to perform their
duties.
There was scene of the most pa
thetic and graphic nature enacted, as
swiftly and surely the greedy monster
crept toward the humble cots and cot
tageS of the laboring men and the nore
pretentious homes of the better-faring
people. Men, who by day toiled with
uncOmplaining perseverance, stood in
the street with blanched faces
as the fire drew nearer and
nearer to the modest little homes
which protected wife and family, and
which during the coming winter would
prove welcome haven from Icy blasts.
and others clinglDg helplessly to their
skirts wrung their hands in frantic
grief as they saw their homes about to
be reduced to piles of smoking ashes.
Yet they were impotent to in the slight
est degree avert the threatened calami-
ty.
Then the moment came when the de-
structon of these hundred and more
homes was certain. The first roof had
caught fire and was a mass of flames.
and the wind was carrying the burning
embers directly toward and upon the
Others. The frenzy of despair then
turned into a frenzy of action. Men,
who had seemed helpless as the fire ap-
preached, were transformed into SAM
sons of energy when the flames were
upon them, and there was rush into
the doomed homes to save what goods
and household effects the limited time
would allow.
Immense piles of goods were soon
heaped upon the curbstone, to be imme-
diately carried off to places of safety by
the hundreds of moving wagons which
seemed to appear as if by magic OH the
scene. Huge, numbering dump wagons
were also pressed into service and per-
formed active work in the salvage of
household effects. There was no time
to lose. In many cases even when the
contents of the modest homes had been
moved into the streets. the flames were
upon them to lick them up before they
could be moved. A dozen houses were
90, Of ha =
uever be known which was the first to
ignite from the brands coming from the
lumber yards.
Onward crept the fire with ever in
creasing fury. Its advance was accom-
panied by terrifying roar, which could
be plainly heard above the din Of the
engines and the tramping hoofs. The
Ominous noise carried CONSERVATION
into the hearts of the thousands of spec
tators as we'll as to those to whom the
fire meant rnin. There was no telling
where the cOnf1agratlon would end, as
the wind was fast increasing to gale;
flaming brands as large as mans hat
were being carried for blocks into a dis
trict which only an hour before was full
of Sabbath quiet.
Soon the roof of the first dwelling
fell in, and the crowd turned its atten-
ton to another. aud then another, as in
quick succession the frail though CON-
Portable homes of the laboring men
were consumed. 1t was impossible to
watch any one of the houses at once, for
hundred were soon in flames. The
iremen, wrapped to the~chin in rubber
coats, their mouths protected by
sponges, advanced into the sea of fire,
only TO be rebuffed and to be forced to
recede. Again they rushed forward, to
meet the same resistance. Another
crash told of the collapse of one IN ore
home. and of another family bereft of
shelter.
House by house, block by block the
flames advanced until there was a full
mile of seathing flames. A squad of
firemen could be seen busy at work
upon some doomed building. There
came crash, and the structure went
to the ground. There was no need of
staying at that post longer, and the