The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-07
The Fire Department Criticized.

OF the fire said p. -
l saw 1t all and can speak very forcibly as
to the inefticiency Of the department. At $50
the fire was under control and at that time
the loss under $1,000. The owners ad-
Ylsed the department to see that the fire did
not Dreak out in the roof, as they feared
the names which had heretofore been con-
nned to the basement and first floors might
follow the sewer pipes Their advice was
olsregarded and as result the flames broke
out again and the building is now Quilted
with loss OF at least $60,00O l have seen
this same thing over and over again. The
,hre department ought to be out of politics.
Fire Notes.
Estimates of the various tenants show that
the total loss will be about SIC, 200 fully Gov
cred by insurance. Regain Brothers propre-
tors OF the restaurant in the Vendome block
were unable accurately to estimate the dam
age done to their stock. There was little
damage by hre save to the kitchen in the
rear, but the lunch and dning-room was
hooded and there was much damage by smoke.
me Cnadbourne and Braden insurance
agency, il the hotel Office, suffered loss of
about 5000 to office equipment, with no in
surance. Summerfeld & Co., who own a.
saloon next door, suffered quite a loss by
company Will suffer slight loss to chemicals
and supplies stored in their basement.
,t Mr do and Mr. Mrs; W w Brown who were
OF Armenia y. D., and were visiting in Min
fneapOlis. Mr. Brown is prominent In his
state and Is known as townsite king. He
rounded Armenia, and is one of the most prom
lnent citizens Of the place.
1,,i Dur thg the progress OF the fire, iremen,
with their heavy coats. hats and boots COW
cred with ice, were fed in the kitchen of the
Russell Coffee House, across Fourth street.
conrad, the cigar man, distributed cigars to
the 'laddies." - ;. -
the west side Of Fourth street in the same
Diock were flooded with water. Across the
mania bank and other buildings were also
inundated. Considerable damage was caused
IN this way
In Spears bowling all all Of the records of
the bowling tournament now in PROGRESS in
winch large number Of bowlers in the
northwest are Interested, were destroyed So
Tar as Is known, there were no duplicates.
Many guests at the hotel lost all of their
personal effects. In some instances these
included large number of diamonds and a
considerable SIDE amount Of jewelry: No approx
1mately correct estimate of the incidental loss
time.
Pr Dr.; and md, Mrs. Patterson. who lived at the
hotel, had very narrow escape from the
burning building. They were unable to save
any OF their personal property. DR.. Pat
terson's valuable library and office equipment.
which included an $500 electrical massage
instrument, was burned j. =.
Smoke from the Vendome building passed
through the walls into the Parker Hotel, ad-
joining and guests in that hostelry were
aroused. Several Of them suffered from in
halation of smoke. Two ladies were nearly
suffocated and had to be carried down stairs.
The Parker Hotel people left the building
scantily clad, carrying their baggage with
them. They found shelter in the lobby of the
Brunswick Hotel and in the Russell coffee
house.
Building Inspector Houghton made a cur
sorry inspection Of the standing walls imme-
diately after the fire. At first it was thought
that the massive front wall, with it's heavy
cornice work, was in danger of falling, but
later it was decided that there was no imme-
date danger on this score. The walls, there
FORE will remain for time at least. Mean
while the inspector will make more careful
inspection of the building.
Eldred Johnson, night elevator operator at
the hotel, when the fire broke out, ran the
aroused the sleeping guests. In so doing he
missed his only chance to save his personal
effects which were entirely DESTROYED