St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-31
SCoURGED BY FLAMES.


lumber fed itself to the merciless flames.
MEN WE'RE CALLED SCABs.
The office OF the company was swal-
lowed up, score Of wagons took them
selves back to dust and number Of
small warehouses and storehouses lost
themselves In smoke. While men were
rushing to and fro and working like
beavers to get the freight cars to
place OF safety, there were score or so
OF strikers who stood by with their
arms folded. They jeered and hooted
at the men that were working and yelled
"Scab! scab!" No attention was paid to
them and their yelling had no more effect
than the baying of dog at the yellow
moon. For blocks around the people
were obliged to wet their buildings and
fight fire. When the explosion occurred
several huge brands flew across to the
corner of Washington avenue and
Fourth and lighted on the roof of Tur-
ner hall. 1t took dint of hard work to
put out The incipient blaze. and the
sturdy Germans who have the care of
the building took good care from that
time out to allow no more sparks or
| brands to land on their beloved build
Ing
The several blocks of warehouses.
storage HOUSES, wholesale implement,
carriage and engine establishments
were in danger for several hours of
being caught in the maeistrom of flame,
but, as luck would have it, they were
saved. Several of them caught fire on
hna of of
aimed. put stop to any damage. The
crowds which gathered at every con-
ceivable point hindered the firemen not
a little. and Mayor Eustis, very much
excited, walked down Fourth avenue
and ordered the policemen to keep the
people back. Don't take any lip from
them. but keep them back" he shouted.
A dense smoke enanated from the fire,
and the entire city wore a murky, be-
clndered aspect during all last night.
The Sky assumed the color of a deep
crimson and for miles around the fam
ing signal was noted. Last night the
scene was picturesque one. The lum-
Der had burned down to small heaps
and for that stretch Of blocks, from
Fourth avenue to the Plymouth avenue
bridge, the scene was that of
AN OCEAN OF FIRE.
Along the tracks were skeletons of
freight cars glowing brightly, the
flames licking up the framework and
sizzling around the boxes, which were
filled with oil and grease. ATT o'clock
the fire was practically under control.
though there was imminent danger that
other property in the vicinity might
become ignited and burn. When the
light OF the day was On the firemen
could work TO better advantage, but
when night came. pail of black fell
over everything. rendering it extremely
difficult to move about.
The fire department labored under
more than one disadvantage in fighting
this fire. In the first place the yards
are by no means easy of access, and in
the next place the water protection is
wholly inadequate. The city council,
while spending thousands of dollars in
improving streets and what not. have
neglected to accomplish anything that
would conduce to the protection of the
lumber district. But one small spur
point on Fourth avenue where the mills
and yard are located. and the conse-
quence can easily be seen. During the
fire the engines operating IN that Sec
ton Of the yard found it difficult to
secure sufficient water supply, though
in some cases they might have sought
relief in the river.
During all of last night the departs
ment remained at the scene of the fire
and will probably be found ON duty
there today, and even tomorrow. An
absurd rumor was started during the
progress of the conflagration which OBJ
tanned considerable credence. 1t was
that some man had set fire to the lum-
Der, and that the citizens of North
Town had caught and hung him to a
telegraph pole. It was insisted by hun
dreds of people that the rumor was cor
rect, and an investigation was begun.
which, however, resulted in finding
nothing of the kind.