The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-28

OF oats. The total loss on building and
contents will be about $9O,00O There
was $50, 500 insurance on the buildine
and $19,50O on the oats.
The plant had-been In full operation
all day. The structure was as dry as
tinder and the flames spread with
marvellous rapddity. Eight minutes
after the fire was discovered near the
elevator shaft, torrent of lurid flames
was pouring from the turret, $50 feet
above the ground AT no time was the
fire department in possession of the ad-
vantage for the character Of the ground
made it impossible to make a fair fight
The elevator was located at the base
of a precipitous bluff 100 feet high, and
only so feet Of it's massive hulk rose
above the street level. The fire soon
made the bridges and approaches to
the building unsafe and the f1remen
were compelled to confine their efforts
to directing streams into the fiery vor-
tex below them, and to protecting ad-
Joining property.
The fire was discovered at sharp 6
o'clock in the end nearest the Wabasha
street bridge, and at its base. The
wind assisted in the work of ruin. The
gale came down the river in a clear
sweep, and striking the bluff was re-
verted upward This reflex and up
ward trend created a tremendous draft
which carried the flames upward in a
twinkling and spread them over the
structure with amazing speed.
The West Publishing company's big
concern loomed up in the lurid glare
less than $50 feet away from the burn
ing elevator, but the fact that the
wind carried the flames directly away
from that busy institution caused no
uneasiness in that direction. The
watchmen Of the publishing concern
Immediately closed the fire shutters Of
ly unharmed. AT times its sides steam
ed and smoked from the terrific heat,
causing some apprehension.
Rogers block had a close shave, Chief
Jackson ordered two companies into
the building and one onto it's roof, and
from the windows and caves a torrent
Of water was poured down into the
burning elevator. This was practically
the only point of vantage of value. The
water kept the flames from encroaching
too closely upon the store buildings,
but the occupants of the places moved
their stocks into the street for safety.
The fire was the most picturesque
seen in ST. Paul for many a day. The
beauty and thrilling grandeur were all
lest to spectators on the East side,
owing to the fact that the elevator
was hidden under the great limestone
bluffs. But from the West side it
presented a picture Of indescribable
brilliancy. Hundreds Of people at
tempted to go across the Wabasha
street bridge in order to watch the
destruction of the great building from
the West side, but every attempt was
foiled owing to the shower of falling
brands and the intense heat. Backed
up against the black bluff behind, and
with the half frozen white river in
front, the picture had sufficient color
ing to please the most exacting eye
Great clouds of steam arose from the
river under the influence of the heat
The shower of sparks which sailed
heavenward presented a pyrotechnic
display eclipsing any invention of man.
The glittering embers, borne upward
in the terrific vortex Of hot air, poised
a moment in mid air, and then drifted
rapidly toward the southeast, falling In
clouds upon the bridge or the ice foes,
or losing life in the waters Of the river
The falling of the tall cupola hurled
millions of embers into the air, like the
explosion of gunpowder.
MORE IN DETAIL.
1t was two minutes to 8 o'clock when
Patrolrnan Houska, whose beat is in