The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-03
DEBRIS BURNED By CITY.
HEROIC ACTION TAKEN AT COLD
STORAGE RUINS TO PROTECT
PUBLIC HEALTH
INSURANCE MEN PROTEST
They Declare 1t Their Intention to
Hold the City Liable for Any
Loss by the Fire of
Yesterday.

Health Commissioner Ohage yesterday
ordered Health Officer Jansen to apply a
torch to the cold storage ruins and in
few minutes the scene of the big fire OF
over a week ago was repeated.
The flames rose high in the air and the
spectacle entertained nearly as many peo-
pie as did the first fire. The fire depart
ment had engines stationed at points
where the most danger was anticipated
and they kept the fire under control The
wind was blowing quite briskly from the
southwest, and could not have been more
favorable to furnish suitable draught,
and it blew in just the right direction
to keep the flames from endangering prop
erty seriously.
At 1850 the torch was applied. The
ruins were covered with straw and over
hundred gallons of kerosene were thrown
on the straw In very few miutes the
heat was intense The building of the
Minnesota Soap company was kept warm
and when the firemen turned the stream
of water against the side of that build
ing nearest the fire, a cloud Of steam
arose and the boards were soon dry again.
The fire was confined to the cold storage
portion of the building and the bonded
warehouse adjoining was not fired. When
the flames had reached the pile of egg
cases, a yellow smoke issued from the
ruins and for time the smoke Of two
different colors was a pleasing spectacle.
At 2:15 the floor of the second story fell
in and every one looked for the great
walls to collapse. but they remained in
tact At 3 o'clock the blaze ceased and
the ruins began once more to shoulder,
and from the damp condition of things
in the basement, 1t is expected that they
will shoulder for several days.
Fully 5000 people Witnessed the fire.
Third street was lined with people and
all around the ruins people surged to and
fro and pressed forward as If they really
wanted to get right up to the blaze. Those
on the top Of the hill were afforded a
fine view.
There were insurance men there with
their protests and there were citizens
there armed with petitions. DR.. Ohage
was the man Of the moment. If one per-
son wanted to see him, hundred did. He
came armed with authority, and he
obeyed the wishes Of the people.
In the forenoon President Schlenk called
on Mayor Smith and presented a protest,
claiming that there was much salvage in
the ruins and declared that he would hold
the city responsible for the damage if
the property was burned. He also said
that much of the building was in good
condition and that he would sue the city
for the damage done 1t. Prolonged litiga-
ton is likely to follow.
Health Commissioner Ohage had a num-
Der Of the leading physicians of the city
inspect the ruins before he ordered tho
fire started, and he was advised by all
of them that under the circumstances 1t
was the best thing to do. He also notified
the collector Of the customs department
ftn nnda ~ H. loI
must be removed by noon or they would
be burned. He received the reply that
the government had no interest in the
goods stored in the bonded warehouse,
that 1t is maintained simply as a matter
of accommodation to importers, and that
the goods were held until they were
rady for sale, when the revenue is col
lected and the goods removed. The Gus
toms department took no action
One insurance man was heard to say
that there was fully $4,000 worth of sal
wage In the ruins that could not be re-
moved because of the hasty mea2nres
adopted by the health department.
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance company holds mortgage on the
building and they served protest on
the health commissioner stating that thew
would hold the city responsible if the
property was fired.
Commissioner OEage could not be seen
yesterday afternoon in regard to the mat
ter as he left the city on an afternoon
train. The city attorneys are firm I'm their
opinions that the right thing has been
done. They say that the laws governing
the health department give that depart
ment a great deal of latitude that the
health of the city is of vastly greater i'm
portance than the interests of any indI-
vldual or set Of men, and that it will be
d-cult to show cause for this action being
unwarranted on the part of the city.
Inc cold storage company and the in
sulance companies interested In the ruins
of the recent fire yesterday filed a pro-
test with both the mayor and health COM
missioner so as to protect themselves in
any future contingency should the mat
ter get into the courts The protest Of
President Sehlenk follows:
The undersigned owner of the cold
storage plant, situated on Eagle street
in the city of st. Paul wherein a fire oc-
Cured July %, 1906 have just been in
formed by Justus Ohage, commissioner
of health, that he will, on the I'd day of
August, 1900. at noon, set fire to said
premises and destroy all that remains
therein at the said time hereby pro-
test against the setting of said fire on
the ground that the same is wholly I'M
necessary and may destroy valuable
property now remaining therein, as well
as the machinery and the walls of said
building now left standing, and I hereby
notify you that I will hold the city Of
st. Paul responsible for any damage that
may be occasfoned by reason of said fire
If the same shall be set by the orders Of
the health department or any other de-
partment of the city of st. Paul"
At several times during the time when
the blaze was at it's height the fire caught
on the roofs of neighboring buildings, but
the fire department quickly extinguished
it, and no great damage was done
The saloon of Oswald Wise, that adj
Joins the warehouse, was probably dam
aged most by fire and smoke The old
brewery across the street was ignited, and
for time 1t looked as If there was go
ing to be a big blaze. The foundry, own
ed by Henry Orme, was somewhat dam
aged, and sparks lodged In the lumber
yards Of Jefferson & Kasson. It kept the
department busy, for as soon as they had
extinguished one little blaze another
would start The damage done, outside of
Wises saloon, will not exceed 500.