The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-08-18
BYFIRE AND FLAME
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH
OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
A Kind Providence and Not the Fire
Department Saved the Greater
Portion of the Manufacturing
Part of Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 14.-Over million
dollars worth of property went up IL
flames, Thomas Falcon and an unknown
child were killed, $50 houses burned and
at least 1 800 persons are rendered home
less. This is the record made by the
destroying element in the short space of
two hours. A Waterman saw a small
blaze on the river side of ]. B. Clarke &
Co.'s box factory on the south end OF
Nicollet island at the head of St.
Anthony falls. By the time the depart
ment had reached the flames, famed by
a furious south wind, had gained such
Roadway that all the firemen could do
was to turn their attention to adjoining
property. Where the fire first started is
mystery. Nearly all the structures in
this vicinity were of wood, dry as finder
and made splendid fuel for the flames.
Clarke's box factory was doomed before
even stream of water was thrown upon
it. Next to it on the north Lenhart's
wagon works and the Cedar Lake ice
house were wiped out of existence.
Farther north were Lintges 6 Connell's
boiler works and here the heaviest losS
on the island took place. This firm had
a stock valued at $50, 900 and not cent
of insurance.
Fire Carried Half Mile.
While this fire was at its height
spark carried high in the air alighted on
Boom island, nearly half a mile above
the fire on Nicollett island. This island
is occupied as wood yard by the lum-
Der firm of Nelson, Tenney & Co. It
was this spark that caused the greatest
loss. Quickly jumping across the small
stretch of water surrounding the island
from the main land, the flames gained a
footing in Nelson, Tenney 6 Co.'s lum-
Der yard, where there was some 10000
feet of lumber. The fire fairly walked
through this yard and into that of E.
w. Backus & Co., adjoining. By this
time it was impossible to stop it, even
had the whole fire department been on
hand. Great embers flew through the
air and started fires many blocks beyond
the places where the fremen were at
work. Many wooden structures, gen.
orally occupied by the employees of the
mills, were destroyed. Few owned
their dwellings and their principal losses
will be their personal effects.
People Forced Into the River.
Hundreds of people are either the
recipients of charity or are sleeping in
the open air. Many saved only the
clothes on their backs. Between the
Plymouth and Twentieth avenue. north,
bridges, on the east side of the river,
jots out into the river point of land ON
which some 100 people, principally lab
orers and saw mill hands, reside. The
fire soon cut off their escape by land and
they were in immediate danger of being
burned to death. No boats were at
hand and the residents were forced into
the river in order to save their lives.
All this time great crowds lined the
bridges and watched fiat boat making
slow Roadway toward the unfortunate
people. The heat was most intense and
many of the men in the water were COM
PEELED to duck their heads under the
water to prevent the flames from
scorching their faces and heads. One
brave fellow stripped himself, and IN
aided, brought number of his neigh
bors across the river before the fiat boat
arrived when all were rescued.