The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-17

| tically all the buildings in Aberdeen
are constructed.
Every business man in the city is
loser, either by fire, water, removal
breakage or loss by theft. Not antici-
pating that the flames could get be-
yond the fire departments control,
many waited until the fire was close
upon them before starting to move
out. The streets were soon streWn and
Uttered with all kinds of material, and
the rush and haste of teams and peo-
pie in every direction caused great con-
fusion.
The fire started In the old Mack
building, on Hume street, owned by
Oscar Crane, which had been regard
ed as fire trap and dangerously con-
structed building. 1t was three stories
high and was occupied by numerous
single men, who cooked their own
meals, chiefly on oil stoves.
The flames started in room on the
third story, and the interior of the
building was a mass of flames when
the alarm was sent in.
From the Mack block the fire spread
to the fine new hose house and head
quarters of the fire department Great
volumes of flames shot into the air. and
the heat became unbearable a block
distant. In short time the flames
had jumped across the alley to Walk
er's saloon, and every building in the
block bounded by Heron and F and H
streets, including Kaufman's brick
building, went up.
Word went along every business
street to prepare for the worst, and as
far up as the Commercial block there
were hurried preparations to get out
of danger.
On the north side of Heron street
the fire jumped from the Anderson
block to the State bank, and every
store from that corner to Hays bank,
and all the buildings in the block
bounded by Heron, G, Wishkah and
H streets, were burned, including the
Central school building, Pfund's jewel
ry store, Fuller'S store, Brokers gro
Gerry, the city council chamber, Wheel
er Bros store. Lucart's Candy kitchen
and the express office. George Wolfe's
| dry goods store, in the Weatherwax
block, went next, and then came the
destruction of the finely equipped
| Crescent hotel.
The flames then jumped across II
street to Patterson & Locks Office
through every block to the Pacific ho-
tel, and this newly constructed hotel
was also destroyed. The fire jumped
from the block bounded by Heron
Wishkah, I and H streets to the splen-
did residence of Edward Hubert, on
Wishkah and streets. The opera
house, all the material and buildings
Of the New Hospital association and
| the residence of B. D. Dudley next
went.
In order to stop the further progress
Of the flames dynamite was used on
several of the buildings, upon which
| the flames were advancing. Telephone
| messages brought the fire departments
| of Hoquan and Montesano to the
| scene and they did effective work
All sorts of reports concerning the
death or injury of we'll known bust
ness men were current. While four
and perhaps more deaths have resulted
! from the fire, the accidents were COM
paratively few. The fire started at
| o'clock in the morning, and it was
| 2 p. m. before the flames were brought
under control.
Aberdeen has a population of about
1000. and the chief industry is lum-
bering. Several large sawmills are To-
Gated near the town. but the fire did
| not reach them.
When the fire had reached the Pull
man saloon several men were hurt by
| a wall giving way. Among the injured
was Fire Chief Koehler, who was rem
| dered unconscious, but later returned
| to his, duties. Coils Mckenzie was
| caught under the falling walls of the
Eagle dance hall. His back was bro
| ken and he died in a short time
The other fatalities were at the Mack
| building, where Charles Rolls. one
| legged man, was cremated. When the
| flames had completely enveloped the
building the spectators were Mortified
| by seeing Daniel Webster, a well
known character. appear at one of the
| windows. Before a ladder could be
raised to his aid he jumped Almost
| every bone in his body was broken.
| and he died after being taken to the
hospital. An unknown man was killed
| by falling wall