The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-28
DAVIDSON BLOCK IS
PARTIALLY GUTTED
Fire Which Breaks Out on Fourth
Floor Damages Building to the
Extent of $4,000.
INTENSE COLD HAMPERS THE FIREMEN

who had articles in the burning block
that were destined for outside points,
and they manifested their anxiety by
rushing madly around and making in
quirieS.
The burning building presented a
picturesque sight until the flames were
put out. The walls of the structure We're
apparently uninjured from the outside,
and were soon covered with mass OF
gigantic icicles that hung down many
feet. The whole side of the building was
after a short time covered, and reflected
the flames in all the tints of the spectrum
suggesting a miniature aurora borealis.
When the flames were at their fiercest
they Illuminated the entire lower section
of the town. The roof of the building
was composed principally of tarred ma
terial of so combustible a nature that
water had no effect upon it.
The fire for time was confined in the
building and a dense volume of smoke
poured out on the jackson street side,
making it almost impossible for the fire.
men to raise their extension ladders to
any effect. Time after time a fireman
essayed to climb in the face of the smoke
only to be driven again 10 the ground.
Failing in this, all attention was direct
ed to the rear of the building, where
there is a narrow alley with nearly a
solid roof Of wires, many Of which were
insulated. The insulation took fire and
the heat coming from the building caused
them to swing back and forth. The
water froze on them after a short time
and those that were not burning bore
long icicles that enhanced the beauty Of
the scene but made it more difficult for
the firemen to work.
Kept Fire From Spreading.
1t looked as if the Sommers supply
house and the Rothschild building were
doomed. but the firemen from the latter
managed to hold it in check and keep 1t
from spreading. The Rothschild building
is low one, and allowed the fremen to
| place the water accurately from the roof.
There was no person hurt and no mar
row escapes from danger. The tremen
were at their best all the time. When
the flames had died out the spectacular
| feature Of the eXent disappeared and
| the scene was one Of almost complete
| darkness, in which nothing was per-
| ceptible except a mass of spray which
| fell and froze Immediately The lights in
| the neighborhood of the block were cut
| or, and save for a few fitful CLEANS
| from the upper story of the block as
| some flames took new life nothing was
| visible. From all sides there came a
stream of people either running or walk
| ing as fast as possible only to collide
! with the ropes that mad been stretched
across Jackson and Fourth streets.
This is the second time the Davidson
block has burned. In March 1879 it was
completely gutted, only the walls stand
ing. 1t was rebuilt soon after the fire
and an addition made to it later. At the
| time of its first destruction IL was oc-
| cupied by Auerbach, Finch & Culbertson
The Davidson estate relinquished the
| ownership Of the block about four years
ago, when it became the property of
the Mutual Life Insurance company, Of
| Milwaukee. H. and Val J. Rothschild are
the local agents for the building.