St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-03
sCORCHED BY FIRE AND DRENCH-
ED BY WATER RENDERED.
NEARLY WORTHLESS.
Loss OF NEARLY S75o,OOO.
Largely, If Not Fully, Covered by In
surunce-Ffremen Do Good
Work.

oIiOS GU, the WHEAT IIldUe Worthless anu
damage to the extent of nearly
three-quarters of million dollars caus-
ed.
The fire was discovered by the watch
man at 7:S0. He at once turned in an
alarm, and soon several engines were
on the scene. Another alarm had been
turned in by a policeman, from Wash
iHgton and Sixth avenues north, who
saw smoke issuing from the structure.
A number of pieces Of apparatus were
rushed to this point, which is quite
distance from the elevator, thus causing
! quite a delay in getting the necessary
| streams of water upon the burning
structure. When the fire was discover
ed it was in the stair tower situated
in the north end of the building. 1t
shot up to the roof rapidly, and when
the department arrived. on the scene
flames were breaking through the roof.
Nothing could be done by the depart
ment to arrest the progress of the
flames in the interior of the building,
and a successful effort was made to re-
lease the wheat from the bins in order
to save the walls from bursting out.
AT this time the wind was blowing
from the west driving the fierce flames
toward the other elevator, and sudden
ly a cry was heard that Elevator AL
was also on fire. Chemicals were at
once taken to the roof and in a short
time the incipient blaze was eXtinguish-
ed. One large stream was detailed to
keep 1t thoroughly drenched with wa
ter. The wind in a short time changed
to the northeast, and then very little
fear was entertained for this structure
Sparks, however were flying toward
the residences on Hawthorne avenue
and chemicals were kept busy constant
ly eXtinguishing roof fires.
The progress of the fire was swift, and in
short time the corrugated iron sheeting
began to fly through the air, endangering
life and property, but, fortunately, through
the vigilance of the fremen, every piece
was watched. The south side wall first gave
way, and was soon followed by the west
wall. The north wall stood out for a long
time, but finally crumbled away before the
fierce onslaught of the flames. The west
wall stood bravely, and piece by piece fell
from the top. The wheat kept pouring over
on the railroad tracks and was soon covered
by thin coating of ice. At times during
the fire the building could not be seen on
account of the steam that arose from the
burning wheat.
The first alarm was followed by a second
and third alarm was turned in. All the
chiefs were present with nine engines and
the same number of trucks. The building
was thoroughly drenched with water, but
1t seemed to be powerless to arrest the
flames.
Just before noon, after having burned for
five hours, the fire took on an aspect of the
picturesque. The throng which watched 1t
was fascinated. The outer walls had burned
away, except in one or two places, leaving
the honeycomb appearance of the interior of
the elevator open to view. The wheat in
| the outer bins or cells had been discharged
onto the tracks and lay in a yellow heap.
| The interior was still intact. Little by little
the fire ate its way into the base of the bins
on the interior. The crowd watched with
| breathless interest. -
| At o'clock in the afternoon many of the
bins on the extreme interior had resisted
the flames which had fought them for eight
| hours. 1t is therefore hoped that some of the
grain will be found in good condition
high wind made the work of the firemen
almost futile. In the railroad yards four
streams had been combined into one vet
this powerful torrent was scattered into mist
before 1t had gone fifty feet from the huge
nozzle. 1t will take another days work to
entirely quench the flames.
The origin OF the fire is a mystery. The
time OF actual discovery appears to be in
dispute 1t is said the Waterman had been
| gone put ten minutes when flames were dis
covered by the engineer of yard engine
The report of the Waterman service indi
Gates that the night watch turned in his
last report according to rules
LARGEST IN THE NORTHWEST
Elevator Az was one of the pioneers of tho
large-siZed grain holders in this citv Ire
companion, AL, which was built in 1875 was
Tue largest structure of its kind in the North
mest' aug marked an era in the grain bust
ness. II mad capacity of about 800 600 hush
els and was looked upon as a monster. A
rev years later however, it lost it's prestige
owing 10 the erection of Az the building
/ nrrg,a
, m4ton titis anorning went up In smoke This
tlon as It's companion, had half again more
capacity, and was decided improvement in
construction and arrangement. The first of
Che modern gigantic elevators was pretty
Inuch OF an experiment in some directions
and all the Objectionable features were oh,
waited or improved when the next one came.
Elevator Az had capacity of 200 900
bushels; cost nearly $3.50, 600, and lowered Xxx
feet into the air. For long time these two
elevators were among the sights of the citv.
Inc original builder and owner was the Min
neapolis Elevator company, and its interests
are now held by the Minneapolis Terminal
| Elevator company.
Both buildings are leased and operated by
VIVIAN Dusen &c Co. The firm had O75 600
! bushels of wheat in the burned building Of
which 600 bushels is owned by the Wash
purn-Crosby company. The bulk of the grain
is owned by the Van Dusen firm Nearly
| all was No. 1 northern, and the total value
is close to $500, 600.
William G. Ainsworth, the general man
dSer OF the elevator company, states that
there should be handsome salvage AS
| soon as 1t was seen that the building was
doomed, the chutes were opened and the con-
tents were let out on the ground so that the
fire should not get under the bins and rem
| der the wheat absolutely worthless The
wheat is now lying in big heaps over the
railway tracks. AS yet they are untouched
! by fire, but water has done much damage
| The salvage is estimated at 10 cents per
bushel at the present prices, but is likely to
be much less. 1t is entirely too early to
estimate the salvage as yet.
| The insurance amounts in the aggregate
| to S75S,0O0 This is divided between wheat
| and on building, as follows:
Wheat G. W. Van Dusen Co. s9s 500
Wheat Washburn-C Crosby company . 125, 900
The policies on buildings cover both ele-
vators and the boiler and engine house be-
! tween them, under a uniform form which
| gives about a third more insurance to the
| larger building-the one which burned It
| is probable that the companies will pay total
| loss on the elevator, though it may possibly
| be decided that it can be rebuilt for less than
| the proportional amount covering it.
AS to the loss on the wheat there is much
| difference of opinion, and the percentage of
| salvage will not be determined for many
| days.