St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-11
H'Szzsss3
GREAT FIRE IN ANTWERP.
The Hanseatic House Is Destroyed
by Flames.


ANTWERP, Dec. 1O.-The Hanseatic
house, or Mansion Hanseatique block,
which caught Gre this morning. was one
Of the historical landmarks of the city.
1t was 265 feet long and 212 feet broad.
The building was begun in 1864 and
completed in 1868 from the plans of
Cornelis de Vrien. Originally it was
used as warehouse by the Hanseatic
scities. and bore the inscription: ''Sacri
Romani Imper Ii. Domus Hansea Teu-
tonic," and displayed the armoral bear
ings of the three league cities. The
Flemings styled 1t the "Osterlings
huls." The Hanseatic cities in 1868
coded the warehouse to the Belgian
government in payment for all river
duties levied on their vessels. The
Mansion Hanseatfque stood between
the Grand and Petit basins, constructed
by capital between 1904 and 1918 at a
cost of many millions of francs. At
midnight two men, believed to be the
incendiaries, were seen to leave the
warehouse and run along the quay. At
the time there was not the slightest in-
dication of fire, but it was only few
moments after the mems disappearance,
that the flames were seen to burst forth
in all their fury.
Within an hour after the fire was first
discovered the entire building was
wrapped in flames. The north end of
the city, where Mansion block is stu
ated. Is given up largely to the docks,
which cover over $50 acres, and are sur
rounded by great network of railways,
which daily bring thousands of trucks
to the harbor, and whence they are sent
to all parts of the continent. The Petit
basin, or small dock, has accommoda-
tions for 100 vessels, and the Grand
basin. or large dock, accommodations
| for 200 vessels. Both docks were we'll
/ Tiled with shipping when the fire broke
out. From all vessels sailors came
ashore in great numbers. and as soon
as the flames spread they were
| joined by the military and the police.
Great crowds of spectators lined all the
streets of the grand and petit basins,
completely filling the Quays Ste. Aide
Condo, Godefroide, Napoleon and st.
Laurent. All the streets leading TO the
scene of the fire were also packed with
people. The seamen and soldiers and
police made strenuous efferts to gain
control over the flames, but all they
could do was of no. avail. The fire
| quickly assumed gigantic propositions
and blazed furiously, threatening the
entire city. At the hour of sending
this dispatch the warehouse was still
burning, and the fire will probably last
for several days.
The building has been Quilted by the
flames, and it is feared that the walls
may fall at any moment, The ware
house belonged to the city. aud was in
sured for one million and a quarter
francs. One of the firms which occu-
pied the building, claims that Its loss In
grain will amount to one million francs.
The warehouse contained eleven mil
lion kilogrammes of grain ard two hun
dred thousand kflogrammes of Iinseed-
A part of one of the walls has just
fallen Q1:30 p. n.y. There was great
scattering of the spectators to get out Of
danger. One unfortunate, policeman,
was buried in the debris and was in
stansiy killed. Many persons were
wounded.