The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-03-01

From Saturdays Extra:-
Last evening at about $50 the fire
alarm was sounded, smoke having
been seen issuing from the building
on Sheridan street occupied by Han
non s. Snellman as saloon and Sit
uated only about four feet from the
new hotel now in the course OF con-
struction.
1t less time that it takes to tell it,
the department had two streams
playinp on the burning building in
which the fire seemed to break out all
over at once. The two streams were
little later supplemented with two
more and shortly after the Chandler
fire bows under the direction OF E..
Morcum arrived and also hitched on
the hydrant on the Scott corner.
This made i've streams and to say
they were strong would be putting it
mildly, they were simply powerful,
either one being strong enough
TO throw water over the high
hotel structure. The streams
were continued for over an hour, two
from the rear, two from the side and
frons and the Chandler light hose in
the in terior of the hotel building.
The building in which the fire orig
mated was completely burned out the
two side walls and front remaining
standing. At one time hopes OF say
Ing the hotel building we're entirely
abanded by almost everyone, only
Chief Gleason and the fire boys with
their hose on the roof and the boys in
the interior not losing hope. Water
uas not scarcity and the entire
ueighborhood was flooded.
After an hour or more OF hard fight
ing i'm which the department was
ably assisted by a few bystanders. the
main fire was under control and the
blaze in the garrett OF the hotel was
extinguished.
The work done at the fire was OF the
first class and cannot be beaten in
cities much larger than Ely. Had
the fighters lost control of the ire on
the hotel building, God only knows
where it would have stopped. AS it
was the entire western end OF town
vas in imminent danger and the in
habitants were packing their goods
for instant removal.
The Ely Cash Grocery company.
outside of the burned buildings, will
probably suffer the most serious loss
By reason of the not over gentle re-
moval of their large stock. Breakage
and vandalism are worse deStroyers
than fire, but the company say they
are grateful the fire did not reach
them as their insurance is very light,
and their losses through breakages
etc, will be borne more easily than a
hre loss. All the other business and
private houses on the street were
ready to move, all believing that the
large hotel building if burned would
throw fire and heat enough to ignite
the entire western end.
The buildings to the east Of the
burning one we're at all times in dam
ger the same as the large one on the
west. The residence owned by r. S.
Miller and the Jacob Pete building
were ignited several times but always
Aampened before any Roadway could
be secured by the fiery elements.
r. S. Miller this morning presented
John GlOde. treasurer, for the Fire
Department with check for $500
which gift is duly appreciated by the
members. Words of praise, drinks
and cigars were literally bestowed
on the fire boys.
We have heard nothing defuite as
yet regarding the originatiOn Of the
IRE. M. Vail, the owner OF both the
burned and hotel building when seen
last evening. could not give theory
rs 60 the starting of the fire more
than it began in the upper story Of
the saloon building. Mr.. Wallis loss
is estimated at about $1,000, partly
covered by insurance.
Thus again was conflagration
which seriously threatened the town
narrowly averted by the prompt ac-
tion of our efficient fire department
and the good water supply. At one
time during the progress of the fire,
the word was passed among the by
ISLANDERS that the water was PLAYED
out and CONSERVATION was pictured
in every face. There was a slack in
the stream but only for minute and
il was while some broken lengths of
hose were being replaced with whole
ones. Even today some of the busy
bodies have it that for five minutes
no water was forthcoming, This is
not true, at no time were there less
than two streams playing on the fire.
Regarding the water in the well