The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-25

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One of the most disastrous fires that
has visited the business district of
Minneapolis in several years tonight
destroyed the Minneapolis Tribune
plant and building, 81, So and 81 Fourth
street south, the Johnson building, oc-
cupied by a branch house of George
Benz & Sons, of st. Paul, No. 80, and
the Svenska Poster building, No. 3d..
The total loss will aggregate more
than $25O,O0O.
For time it was feared that all Of
newspaper row" on Fourth street
and the surrounding buildings to the
rear Of the Tribune plant, occupied by
the S. E. Olson company and the Yer
xa grocery, would be destroyed by the
flames. The spread of fire was only
prevented by the most heroic efforts
of the firemen.
FIRES ORIGIN.
The fire originated on the second
floor Of the Tribune building, in rooms
occupied by the Tribune Job Printing
company. The flames were discovered
by pedestrians passing along Fourth
street at 10:40 o'clock. At that time
w. ]. Murphy, general manager of the
Tribune company, was in his Office
On the first floor, and the knowledge
that the building was on fire reached
him first, and he at once hurried up
stairs and sounded a general alarm
throughout the building. He remained
on the upper floors until all of the en-
ployes were safely out, and. then left
the building.
The fire department responded
promptly to the alarm sent in. The
first alarm was followed by a general
call, which brought all the down town
apparatus to the scene, and before 1850
o'clock a dozen streams of water were
playing in the building, but it was sew
eral minutes before effective work
started owing to the fact that the hose
were run to the third floor instead of
the second.
TRIBUNE BUILDING DOOMED.
In the meantime the flames had gain
ed great Roadway, crawling up the
two elevator shafts, and at II o'clock
flames were bursting from almost every
window in the building. 1t was evident
that the Tribune building was doomed
and the firemen turned their attention
to the surrounding property
Great fear was entertained that the
fire would get to the big Olson depart
ment store across the alley in the rear
CT the Tribune building, and While the
firemen were using every effort to pre-
vent this the flames crept across the
alley to the north, setting fire to the
building owned by Albert Johnson and
occupied by George Benz & Sons. So
quickly did the flames eat their way in
this direction that before they could
be stopped the plant Of the Svenslsa
Amerikanska Posten, at SO South
Fourth street, was badly damaged.
FLOORS FELL.
Shortly before midnight the floors
fell, carrying with them the ten type
setting machines, which were at the
top of the building. AS they fell the
flames shot in the air hundred fee,
ard there was scurrying in all direc-
tons Of the immense crowd that sur
rounded the burning building
Hardly had the excitement caused by
fol Of
the north wall of the building fell out
ward with a deafening crash. 1t was
feared for a moment that a number of
people had been caught beneath the
falling wall, but Investigation proved
that all the f1remen that had been
working in the alley had escaped.
At 1890 o'clock the fire in the sur
rounding buildings had been put out,
and that in the Tribune building was
practically under control, although a
dozen lines of hose and the big stand
pipe continued to pour tons of water
into the building.
TRIBUNES LOSS.
w. J. Murphy. general manager of
the Tribune and principal owner, was
seen by The G l o b reporter about 1
o'clock He said: Both the building
and plant were owned by the Tribune
company. The loss on the former will
amount to close to $4,000, as the build
ing is almost a total wreck. The con-
tents consisted of ten type-setting ma
chimes, valued at 100000, and two
presses worth $4,000. The rest of the
stuff in the building was probably
worth 100000 The machines are a to-
tai loss, and l fear also for the presses,
although they may not be a total loss.
81 estimate my entire loss at $4,000.
with $S1, 900 general insurance and $10,-
600 on the machines. Our greatest loss
will be the files, as they are totally de-
stroyed and cannot be replaced
The job printing company occupied
the second floor, with the Walter s..
Booth company and the Crawford COM
pany, bookbinders. The loss to these
three concerns Is estimated at S25, 1000,