Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-06-23
HALF A City IN ASHES.
FARGO, NC Il DAKOTA, LAID
WASTE BY FLAMES

CareIessness Starts Fire That Burns
for Night and "a Day and De-
stroys Property Valued at 50, OOO,-
OOO-Thousands Made Homeless,
and Several Lives Lost.
The loss by the fire which ragged at Fargo,
North Dakota, all night, is placed ar S3.000,-
600 at least. The insurance is not ene-quarter
of that amount.
Over three thousand people were left home
less. James Flynn. the eight-year-old son OF
a former alderman. was burned. also thre9
children. Photographer Gilbert and an IN
known man were cut of from the stairs in
the third story of the Chaplin Block, tryingto
savesome Masonic property. Practically only
one hotel was left. the Headquarters. The
fire burned all around it. Only one restau-
rant was left in town
Large numbers of people had to sleep in
the courthouse and school houses on the
South Side. Only two groceries are left in
town one being Yerxess. upon which the
principal efforts of two companies We're di-
rected all evening in order to save the Head
quarters Hotel The three-story Citizens
Bank, just opened opposite, made very hot
fire.
The fire was started by hot ashes thrown
out from the Gem Restaurant igniting some
loose paper back of Housemans dry goods
store. Somebody left the front door open.
Inside of three minutes the wind had driven
the flames through the building and they
burst out of the roof. During the next AZ
teen minutes the flames ran two blocks west,
taking the brick buildings and all, then
Jumped across the street to Magill's big ma
chinerv warehouse. North and east of this
fo- two blocks each way were the big ma,
chinery 6epotS, mostly twO-stOry wooden
buildings, and at this time filled to the root
with years supply of farm machinery for
North Dakota. all of which were destroyed
For perhaps quarter of an hour the fire
men kept the flames from jumping the rail-
road track. then first on one roof, then on
another, tongues of flame broke out as the
fire flakes lodged on the shingles. Inside
half an hour the whole space for four blocks
was vhirlwind of flames. the property con-
sumed being valued at 81, 25O,O 900.
The firemen tried to cOnfine the flames
south of Northern Pacific avenue, Int the
wind was carrying cinders over a distance OF
two blocks. 1t had been expected that the
three-story brick Red River National Bank
building would arrest the flames, but the
roof fell within a quarter Of an hour after the
flames attacked it.
The fremen fought stubbornly, but the
flames rapidly crept up the east side of
Broadway, though they we're prevented
from crossing the street. The fire took
a sudden start to the northeast in the
residence district north of the Great
Northern track, where it left clean track
four to five blocks wide anS ten blocks
long, while isolated fires could be seen
more than a mile north, caused by flying Gin
ders. Then the wind changed little again
and the flames caught the MINNEAPOLIS and
Northern elevator, containing 100. 900 bushels
of wheat burned out the North Side School,
and set the Great Northern Station on fire
several times. but the flames there were ex-
tingushed. The east side of Broadway was
burning at both ends. six blocks apart.
Three-quarters Of an hour from the time
the Columbia Hotel caught nothing was
standing but walls. The brick Citizens
Bank building for long time resisted the
flames, bat at last they crept west OF 1t ana
burned Elliott's Hotel, stopping two build
ings west at City Hall, which was burned out,
The secret societies suffered severely, Ma
sons, Templars, Knights OF Pythlas,
knights Of Honor. Cantons, R-~ekahs,
| Grand Army. United Workmen. and Wood
| property. Every open space was filled with
a confused collection Of household goods,
buggies, merchandise, legal libra
ries, etc, which had been hurriedly carried
there. Numbers of people were sleeping on
| bare ground by the side Of all that was left OF
| their personal effects. The militia were on
| duty and will guard property as much as
| possible.
Practically half of Fargo was wiped out
| only one-half of the business houses being
| left. The trestIe was burned on the Great
| Northern, 50 that no trains could pass. The
firemen at midnight were trying to extin-
guish the flames along the line of the
| Northern Pacific, to allow the section crew
) to relay the rails and let trains through.
Only one telegraph wire was available dur
! ing the progress of the fire. The Fargo Of
| fee was burned and messages have to be sent
| from Moorehead. Every insurance Office vas
| burned. It was impossible to get accurate
| statements of the risks carried, as the books
| were all in the safes among the ruins. Only
| one bank was saved the First National. Sew.
eral ttremen were injured by falling bricks.