The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-15
ACRES In ASHES.
The Fire at Minneapolis Sunday the
Most Destructive In Twin City
History.
Hundreds OF Houses, Millions or Feet
OF Lumber and Several Mills
Destroyed.
sonny Loss Amounts TO Over Million
Dollars-Of Incendiary
Origin.

MINNEAPOLIS, Ang. lG-The most
disastrous FIRE in the history Of the
Twin Cities was that which swept
down upon Minneapolis Sunday after
noon and in few hours had licked up
over 1000, 900 worth or property and
sacrificed human life to its fierce fury.
The property destroyed included ave
saw mills, two sash and door factories,
. carriage factory, boz factory. boiler
factory, two ice houses, . brewery
plant. 100 dwelling houses and 100. 000,-
600 feet of lumber. The district burned
comprised the lower half Of Nicollet
island, all of Boom island and section
of the city along the east side Of the
river from Boom island to Twenty
second avenue north. The
Heart Of the Lumber District
Of the city was the path chosen by the
confagration. and toe lumber and
buildings which had been rendered 10
dry as tinder by the hot weather Of the
past few weeks, was easy fuel to the
flames. and it was beyond human effort
to save them. But the amount Of prop
erty destroyed is not the worst feature
OF the ruin and desolation. Fully 1000
men are thrown ont OF employment.
and most of them lost their homes and
all their earthly possessions in the
flames. The affiiction ct this time is q
double calamity, and throws additional
gloom over the community. Most of
these men had families dependent on
them for support, and with one fell
bow have been thrown upon the ch ar
ity of the world.
CareIessness Caused It.
The fire started In an Ice house on
Nicollet avenue, where o number OF
boys have been In the habit Of gather
ing every Sunday to drink and smoke.
They were there Sunday, and the blaze
was doubtless started BY . lighted
cigar which had been carelsssly thrown
away. IL spread with lightning rapid
ity. and in few moments the whole
building was aflame. a stable filed
with hay In the rear of the Ice house
was the next building TO 60. and In q
very short space of time the whole
island was threatened with destruction.
It was then the fremen arrived and be-
gan a heroic battle with the flames.
Soon breeze, which had been blowing
all day, began TO come in rapid sweeps
and
Carried the Flames
to building after building In swift suc-
cession. Before the icehouse and stable
were half consumed the 2-story frame
factory of the Union wagon works was
afre. II was old and dry as punk. and
the streams Of water which the firemeu
poured upon 1t were OF no avail.
From there the flames quickly
swept to ]. r.. Clarks's box factory,
which was soon In ruins. Next tc
1t on the north Lenharts wagon works
and the Cedar Lake ice houses were
wiped ont OF existence.
Farther north were Lintge q Con.
nell's boiler works and here the heav.
lest loss on the island took place. This
firm had stock valued at over 45O. .O0f
and not cent Of insurance. The othe,
losers are fairly well insured.
II was while the firemen were busy
at work on Nicollet island and had
secured final control Of the flames, tha,
q astartled exclamation came from thu
thousands Of spectators that surrounded
the scene. Some Of the firemsn stopped
from their labors to look up. only L
discover that the work had only com
menced, For just then lurid tongu,
Of fame shot up from the midst OF ths
lumber yards and saw mills on Boon
island, and soon second alarm wen,
over the city. calling the firemen K
save that section.
Boom island is several blocks up the
river, and the theory which was at frs
!. suggested that the wind had blown Gin
ders to that section was soon abandoned
when it became known that this secont
fire had besn
Started by an Incendiary
and was eating It's way into the heart d
the lulnier district. A general fir,
alarm was sounded, and the whole cit,
awoRe to the realization that i
was threatened with destruction
Quickly jumping across the small spac'
OF water separating the island from til,
mainland
The Flames Gained q Footing
in Nelson. Tenns & Co.'S lninbsr YARD
where were iiied some 1O.uUO.0n0 fee
OF lumber. Tho fra. Noghed through
this yard and into that of EN- Baekn
ID Co, adjoining. BY this time It wa
impossible 10 sup il even had th
whole department been an hand
Great embers hew through the air an,
started fresh fires " The aamess Mer
simply irresistible. Brick and ston
structures fell as easy victims as tn
merest shells. Beyond the Iumbe
yard We're the two mills belonging t
=. w. Backus & Co. or thesa>notlin,
remain except the saokes.a lts and
mass OF twisted iHacbinery and charre,
timbers. j. B. CLattento1l's ceda