St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-30
CHARGED TO INCENDIARIEs..
Fire Department Had Hard
Work to Save Surround
ing Property.
LOSS Issa ABOUT $4,000.
Brooks Brothers Yard--The
Loss Is Covered by In
e' aa1s surance.

Union Park was visited by bad fire
yesterday at 1890, At that hour an
alarm, of fire was turned i'll from Box
652, which called out the apparatus from
Merriam PARK When that portion of
the department arrived on the scene it
was seen that more machinery was
needed in.order to avoid serious con-
tlagration, and a second cali was sent.
which brought the companies from
Hamline. BY that time the fire had
assumed threatening proportions, and a
call for help was sent to headq uarsers.
Chief jackson ordered out Companies
3. aud 8 and started personally 10 look
after the work of the department..
The was in Brooks Brothers lumber
yard, located off Prior and Uni
versity avenues, Union Park. 1t started
while all tine men employed were at
dinner. aud had maize some Roadway
when discovered. Everything was as
dry as finder, and the flames HAD plenty
of material to feed upon. One after
another, Pile after pile of lumber was
wrapped up in fiery furnace until
finally four solid blocks of lumber, piled
nouse-high, Werea biazlng mass.
Chief Jackson quickly realized that
pronp: action was necessary to head off
the fire from surrounding districts. In
close proximity there were millions of
feet OF lumber stacked in the other
yards. and part of the apparatus was
moved to that side, heading the fire off
to the south of the burning yard. Here
the department was successful. ard
kept the fire confined to its place of
origin. TO the east there were rows of
resldene IS and large frame structures.
it became apparent that if the fire ever
got foothold there it would be all day
with the entire neighborhood. Allow
ing the flames to feed upon the doomed
material. all efforts were directed to
saving the surrounding property. The
large mill of Brooks Bros. had close
call, but it was finally saved. The heat
was intense beyond description, and
greatly hampered the work of the de-
partment.
The people in the neighborhood be-
came greatly alarmed and
Commenced to Move Gut
of their houses. The nearby open lots
and the pieces of timber were literally
packed with household effects of all
descriptions, and women and children
were seated upon their moyables. anx
iously watching the progress of the
flames. But the fremen made one of
the best and most stubborn of fights in
the history of the city. and succeeded.
almost contrary to all expectations. in
n
proper. 49,. =
1t took several hours. however. and
not until 7 o'clock did any of the COM
panieS receive orders TO return to their
respective stations. One engine COM
pany was left at the scene to guard the
smouldering mass from breaking out
anew, and thereby endangerIng the
property surrounding the burnt dis
trict. The residents of the entire neigh
b0rhood were unstinted in their praises
over the magnificent work of the fire
department. Many did not expect to be
able to sleep within the walls of their
homes last night, and were grateful be-
yond measure to see the department so
successful. -
There was difference of opinion as
to the origin of tile fire, but several per.
sons were positive that it was of incend-
larry origin. One woman said that she
had seen two men acting in mysteri-
Gus manner at the further end of the
yard while the employees were away for
| dinner. They left shortly after she saw
them, and in less than five minutes the
| fire broke out.
The yard was not as full of lumber as
usual, as the season was rather late and
the firm is doing good deal of its BUSH
ness directly with the saw mills, having
its large orders shipped direct to its
| customers. Brooks Brothers estimated
| their damage in the neighborhood of
$4,000. but could not give the exact
figure until consultation of their books
| had been made, which was out of the
| question during the excitement incident
| to the fire. The losses are covered by
| insurance.
The only building destroyed was a
large shed,in which the dry and dressed
| oak lumber was kept. Had the yard
| been full to its usual capacity the losses
| would have been great, and it would
| have been a matter of doubt il the other
yards could have escaped scorchiug.