Huntsville gazette., 1893-08-19
MILLIONS IN ASHES.

Least 92 900, ,OOO- Fifteen Hundred Peo-
pie Homeless.
MINNEAPoLIs, Mimi, Aug. 1.-Two
million dollars worth of property went
up in flames yesterday afternoon. Over
200 houses are burned and at least
1,500 persons rendered homeless. This
element in the short space of two
hours. A kind Providence, not the fire
department nor the feeble property
owners saved the balance. The fire
made such headway that no human
agency could stem it.
1t was little after 1:30 o'clock when
a watchman saw small blaze on the
river side of j. B. Clark & Co. box
factory, on the south end of st. Nicco-
let street and St. Anthony's falls. An
alarm was turned in. but by the time
the department arrived the flames.
famed by furious south wind, had
gained such headway that all the fire.
men could do was to turn their atten-
tion to adjoining property.
Where the fire first started is
mystery, but it is thought it origin
ated either in Lenhart's wagon works
or in an ice house belonging to the Cedar
Lake Ice Co.
Clark's box factory was doomed be-
fore even stream of water was thrown
on it. Next to it, north, Lenhart's
wagon works and the Cedar Lake ice
houses were wiped out of existence.
Farther north were Lintges & Con-
hnil bo
est loss took place. This firm had a
stock valued at over $50, 900 and not
cent of insurance.
While this fire was at its height
sparks carried high in the air alighted
on Boom island nearly half a mile
above the fire on Niccollet avenue.
This island is occupied as wood yard
by Nelson & Co. The whole island was
soon ablaze. 1t was this spark that
caused the greatest loss. Quickly
jumping across the small stretch of
water surrounding the island from the
mainland, the flames gained footing
at Nelson, fanny & Co.'S lumber yard.
where there was piled several million
feet of lumber
BY this time it was impossible to
stop it, even had the whole fire depart
were flying through the air and started
fires blocks away from the places
where the firemen were at work. The
flames were simply irresistible. Brick
and stone structures fell as victims as
readily as the merest shells.
Beyond the lumber yard were the
two mills belonging to E. Backus &
Co., and nothing remains except the
smoke stack and mass of twisted ma
chinery and charred timbers. J. B.
Chatterton's post mill and J. w. vii.
son & Co.'S mill also went. The fire.
men were powerless to render anv as
sistance, for to reach Twentieth
avenue it would have been necessary
to pass through a furnace. The
bridges, too, were on fire, and there
was nothing to do but hope for the
best until some parties could make a
detour of three miles and reach the
fire.
Along the east bank of the river
were located the mills and lumber
yards, which were burned, while east
of them were located many stores and
residences, most Of them frame build
ings, occupied by the employees of the
mills and laboring men. Few owned
their dwellings, and their principal
losses will be their personal effects.
Large numbers saved their household
goods, which they stacked in piles,
over which they stood guard to pre-
vent their being carried away by
thieves.
At the brewery, where the fire was
checked, the citizens did much to aid
the firemen. With garden hose and
blazes, and with the change in the
wind all danger was practically over,
and the fire was allowed to burn itself
out. All the available fire apparatus
in the city was in use, and st. Paul sent
two engine companies in response to
calls for assistance.
Between the Plymouth and Avenue
North bridges on the east side of the
river, there juts out into the river a
point of land upon which some people,
principally laborers, and saw-mill
udHuS reside Inc 0re soon cut OFF
their escape by land and they were in
imminent 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 Previous
to this they attempted to save
their personal effects. Bedding, tool
chests, furniture and even clothing
were thrown into the river, the own
ers hoping that they might be able to
recover them some time. All this time
great crowds were on the bridges and
watched the boats making slow head
way towards the rescue of the people
in the river.
The heat was most intense and MANY
of the men in the water were compelled
to duck their heads under the water
to prevent the flames from scorching
their faces and heads.
One brave fellow stripped himself
and, unaided, brought a mum Der of his
neighbors across the river before the
flatboat arrived, when all were res
cued.