The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-27
FIRE HORSES FEEL THE WHIP
A PRETTY RACE IN RESPONSE
TO AN ALARM
die the RibbOns-Run Their
Horses From the Central station
to r.. e. CObb's COmmissiOn House
on Third Street-A Small Blaze
$1,000 Damage to Building

The position in the fire department,
referred to in another column, by
which two chiefs claim to be the au-
thoritatiVe heads of the department,
was responsible for a pretty race yes
terday afternoon between Chief Jack
son and Chief Cook, In response to an
alarm calling the department to a fire
in r. e. Cobb's commission house, 81 33
West Third street
Both chiefs were in the upstairs Of
flee at central headquarters when the
alarm came in With the first tap of
the gong each jumped to his feet and
sped to the ground rfoor, where their
respective conveyances were in wait
ing.
Chief Cooks horse and buggy was
nearest the door, and he got out some
what In advance of Chief Jackson, the
latter having to wait until several
pieces of the heavier apparatus started.
Once on the street, however, Chief
jackson gave free rein to his horse,
and was flying after Chief Cook at top
speed, passing engine, hook and lad
der trucks and hose cart with the speed
of the wind
The prettiest part of the race was up
Cedar street from Eighth to Third
streets, where, with straight stretch
OF five blocks, the two fire fighters
drove their horses at headlong gallon,
Chief Cook kept his lead of a quarter
of a block to Sixth street, when Chief
jackson called upon his steed of wears
service for an extra burst of speed.
The big bay responded like a thor
! oughbred. Thrusting it's muzzle al
most straight with it's body and lying
pack its ears, the rangy horse jumped
faster and farther at every leap.
AT Fifth street Chief jackson was
oo hoo G
Cook and his flying sorrel Then both
horses and drivers seemed to enter full
ly into the spirit of the race No whip
fourished over the flying steeds, but
an encouraging word or twitch of the
rein called the best speed from each
animal.
Spectators forgot about the fire, as
they watched the race, without under
standing the incentive for victory, and
when Chief Cook pulled up for the
Ih1rd street turn Chief Jackson was at
his side. Both chiefs smiled as they
dismounted from their buggies ana
hurried to the scene of the fire, each
realizing the promptings for the race.
and both apparently satisfied with the
dead heat"
The fire was in the basement of the
commission house among a lot of
loose excelsior, and was burning fierce-
ly when the department arrived. For
tunately it was in the front part of
the building, where streams could be
turned full upon the flames through
basement windows and coal holes, and
the fire was eXttnguished with a; prob
able loss of between 81, 900 and 81 500.
most of which was due to smoke, which
filled every part of the three story
building.
The firm has an ammonia regriger-
ator plant in the basement, where over
800 pounds of ammonia are stored, and
it was feared. from the incipient fierce
| ness of the fire that it might cause an
explosion, but the flames were pre-
vented from extending to the part of
the basement occupied by the plant
The fire is believed to have been
| caused by a defective electric light
wire. The loss is covered by nsur-
ance $50 III sf@
An incident of the fire was the res
cue of two six weeks old bull puppies
! from the burning basement by William
Kennedy, an employe of the firm. Mr..
Cobb values the pups highly, and him
self being fond of the young CANNES,
Mr.. Kennedy braved the suffocation Of
the basement and the heat of the
flames to save the dogs.