The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-30
UNION BLOCK SCORCHEC
BLAZE oRrGINATING ON SIXTH
FLOOl, DOES $4,000 DAMAGE
Most of the Tenants Lost Consider
ably by Water, Which Poured
Through to Lower FIoors-The
Firemen Made - Splendid Fight,

Fire damaged the Union block, Fourth
and Cedar streets, and it's tenants, to
the extent of $4,000 last night. The loss
by fire was compare lively small, the
greater part of the loss being due to the
water that flooded the lower portion
The fire broke out in the rooms of The
Art Engraving company, on the sixth
and top floor, shortly before 9 o'clock
Its origin could not be determined last
night, as the owners said there was no
fire of any kind in the establishment
when they left On the same floor is the
Platinum Photograph company and it
is thought that the fire may have orig
inally started here.-~When first seen
the blaze was coming out of r window
in the rear of the building on the east
side. 1t was burning some time before
an alarm was turned in.
When the firemen arrived two lines of
hose and a chemical were run up the
front Of the building on the fire es-
capes and the work Of fighting the fire
was commenced on the sixth floor At
no time was there any danger of it's get
ting beyond control. A five-gallon can
of gasoline which was on the sixth floor
exploded with a loud report and blew
out one of tire windows.
Break Through the Roof.
The large quantity Of water that play
ed on the blaze soon stopped its progress
towards The front of the building, but it
had a good hold on the roof and burned
it's way through. Another line of hose
was taken up on the Ce0ar street side
and used from the roof. By 10 o'clock the
fire was all out but owing to the, in
fammable condition of the building Chief
Jackson did not think it safe to leave for
some time afterward. This is the second
time in two years that fire has start
ed in the same place in the Union block
In both instances it started on the sixth
floor. The first fire occurred Saturday.
Sept. 29, 1900, and the damage to the
building at that time was $10,0O6.
Since then a new roof has been put
on, new floors constructed and steel cell
ings put in. To this latter is due a great
saving to the tenants in the present in
stance. The fire never got below the
sixth floor, except in the rear part of
the building, and the tenants upon the
lower floors have only water losses.
Water Flowed Down Shaft.
A large air shaft runs down the cen
ter Of the building ending on the second
floor, and while the firemen were work
ing large quantity of water came down
and flooded the lower floors.
Most of the tenants in the building
conducted printing establishments, ard
with the exception of the Webb Publish
ing company none carried a large amount
of paper stock. All the machinery was
well covered by the Insurance patrol be-
fore they were greatly damaged.
Unfinished Work Destroyed.
There is one feature of the loss that
cannot be estimated. Nearly every print
ing company in the building had sons
work partially completed, ranging from
printed postal cards to law books. How
much these were damaged will not be
known for several days.
The following are the tenants of the
building, all more or less damaged by
water:
First floor and basement Webb Publish
rig company.
Second floor. NJ Fox Bindery company,
st. Paul Trade Journal, H. p Hail. pub
Usher. A. 0. U. W. Guide, D. RamaIey,
publisher.
Third floor, Review Printing company;
J. @. Adams Printing comSanv: THE
Appeal" American Engraving company;
Union Advocate
Fourth floor. Perkins, Thomas Print
Ing company; G. A. Moeller Bindery
comrany; Samuel Carman Printing com
pany.
Fifth floor, Leather Journal Publish
ing company; Schubert Ruling company;
Poets Printing company and duck coat
manufacturer only partially moved into
the building.
Sixth floor Art Engraving company:
Abbot Printing company: Platinum Pho
IoSraph company.
Many o. the tenants could give no
estimate o. their loss last night as they
were unable to get into the building. The
following is partial list:
c. j. Schubert stock valued at 500.
insurance $500, estimated loss $500.
D. Ramaley, "A. o. U. W. Guide" in
surance $4,000. loss $500.
Fl. p. Hall, "St Paul Trade JolAnal.'
insurance 5000, loss $400
G. A. Moeller. insurance 1880. law
books belonging to Keefe. Davidson. in
su1ance $4,000 total loss So co.,
Review Publishing company insurance
$780, loss $400
Carman Printing company, L. Marr e
o Renz proprietors. insurance $2,5oO, loss
Carman Printing company, insurance
$1,000 loss $500.
J, Q. Adams "rhe Appeal insurance
$780, loss s100
The building belongs to Watson P.
Davidson. 1t is insured for $SS,0OO and