The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02

ment smoke poured from every part Of the
three-story building, almost as IL the fire had
started from different points at the same in
slant. Officer Hoffman hurriedly turned In
an alarm. and followed officer Rasmussen
into stairway leading to the two upper
floors Both policemen knew that number
OF families occupied apartments over the
store, and realized that no time was to be
lost in getting them out of danger The cries
or the officers and the unceremonfous break
ing in of doors, with warnings to hy were the
in the block had Of the fire. Twelve families
had homes in the building. Some were en-
PERTAINING friends in New Years celebra-
lions. while others were preparing to retire,
but so sudden had been the outburst OF the
fire that none knew the danger until they
rushed into the Railways in terror at the
warnings OF Policeman Rasmussen and HoT-
man. The smoke had not penetrated their
rooms. but in the halls 1t was sitting. HOW
the people could have remained in ignorance
of the fire SO long is mystery. But the
danger once realized, the scene became con-
founded with confusion. Men rushed to the
street carrying children and dragging women
after them, while screams and cries were
heard throughout the building. No one had
time to save any of their personal effects,
and none knew how many had failed to eS-
cape from the building. Some Of the cooler
in the block. and learned that all had gotten
out except aged invalid living on the
third floor with his wife. AS half a dozen
pe&3le rushed to the stairway to rescue the
them down stairs. No one was injured, but
the severe nervous fright resulted disastrously
to several women and children, Of the
former of whom tainted after reaching the
street.
The fire was remarkable for two rather I'M
usual condolences. Henry A. Norman was
the guest of Chief Jackson at supper last
evening. and had just accompanied the chief
to headquarters when an alarm came in from
Fifth and Cedar streets Mr.. Herman rode
with Chief Jackson to this fire. and while
from the West side was turned in. When
Assistant Chief Cook started across the river
Mr.. Norman jumped into his carriage and
reached Chicago avenue and South Wabasha
street in time to see the flames shooting from
his store.
The fire was exceedingly difficult to handle
1t seemed as though the entire building
afiame. and a general alarm was sent in.
By the time the department got to work the
flames had gained considerable Roadway and
seemed almost beyond control.
Somewhere in the crowd which gathered,
il the belief Of members Of firm is correct
the fire bug who applied the torch stood
watching his work with fiendish glee. Vol
umes of smoke poured from the store floor
on all sides. while sheets of fame leaped
from rear windows, showing the seat of the
fire to be in this direction. On the upper
floors windows were cracking and falling to
the pavement The building stands all alone,
but the fact that the fire appeared to be on
all sides made the work of the fremen diff
hcult. Entrance could not be gained to the
store because of the dense smoke and as
the flames had not broken through the roof
they could not be attacked from this point.
Vt was much as though the store was a huge
furnace with raging flames inside the i'm
penetrable walls
The fire doubtless started in the rear of
the ground floor working it's way forward and
upward from this location, and 1t was here
that the firemen found the most advantageous
point Of attack. Rear steps run to the third
hoor of the building, on the outside and car
rying lines Of hose up this way, It was pos
slble for the department to obtain sem want
age ground. dozen streams were grled
on the flames from here, but it seemed as
though the glazing flames only succumb2d at
one point to break out afresh at another.
Several times when the fire almost
drowned out in the it burst forth again
In the front of the building or on the sides.
Once the flames shot up through the roof
but well directed efforts of the firemen ell
minated danger in thil quarter. Once the
entire department, called out by the general
alarm, got to work, it was not long before
the fire was practically under control, though
portion of the stock not ruined by fire
more or less damaged by water. Only at
different places did the fire extend beyond
the basement and first floor so that in most
cases the loss of the families living up
stairs will be confined chiefly to that caused
by smoke and water:
valued at $40, 600, and the building which is
valued at $4,000. L, is estimated that the
and $4,000 while the building Is believed
to have been damaged to the extent Of S.
000. The insurance is placed with John Rogers
Jr. & Bro, S. S. Eaton, J. Q. Haas & Co.,
and several other local agents OF insurance
companies. That on the stock according to
Henry A. Herman, is $50 600, while the build
ing is insured for $15,O0 The aggregate loss
of the jewellers in the block, it is thought
will not exceed $500 Little Of this loss
is protected by insurance. There is a furnace
in the basement Of the building and 1t is
believed by some that the fire started from
this cause, but Henry A. Norman and John
Norman are both firm in the belief that it was
the work of incindiaries. The fact however,
that the seat of the fire seemed to he in
the southwest corner of the store, the same
location Of the blaze last July, the Hormans
claim is evidence against the furnace theory
the heating plant is almost in the center
of the building. Both gentlemen speak high
ly of Chief Jackson's management of ihe
fire and attribute the saving OF the building
from total destruction solely to his general
ship.