The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-26
SMITH { fARW[L[
LOSE $4,000 BY FIRE
Early Evening Blaze PIaysHavoc
With Crockery Stock in
Basement.
Smith & FarweII Have $4,000 Fire.

Smith G. FarweII Have $4,000 Fire.
Fire, smoke and water caused dam
age amounting to $4,000 in Smith &
Farwells store, Sixth and Minnesota
streets, last evening shortly after 6
o'clock.
The fire started in croekery store
room in the basement beneath the
chinaware and crockery department.
and burned up through a stairway to
the main floor, where it consumed part
of the floor and shelves along the wall.
The fire gained the ceiling of the
first floor, but the firemen, by quick
work, checked it at that point and
prevented it from reaching the second
floor, where it might have got beyond
control in the drapery department.
The blaze was discovered at $40.
a few minutes after the employees had
left and the store had been locked up
for the night. A pedestrian noticed
the flames from the Sixth street side
of the building and cried Fire"
Sergeant Murnane and Patrolman
Costello were at the corner block
below and the alarm was Immediately
turned in. The department arrived
quickly and soon several streams were
playing on the fire.
AS the streets were crowded at the
time a vast throng pressed about the
building. and the police were obliged
to string ropes about the corner OF
Sixth and Minnesota. Many persons
had reasons to regret their curiosity,
as they got in range of a hose that
burst on Minnesota street and were
given a chilly sprinkling.
Smoke from the fire filed the large
building in which the furniture store
is located, and volumes poured out OF
the windows on every floor.
Was Confined to First Floor.
The fire did not extend beyond the
storeroom in the basement, the stair
way to the main floor, and the wall
above. The smoke and the heat from
the flames, however, caused much
damage to the furniture, the finishing
of hundreds of pieces being ruined.
The blaze being in the chinaware
and crockery department, that section
of the store, after the fire was ex-
bull had been let loose. Most of the
destruction was caused by the heat, as
the firemen and the salvage corps
were careful in the close quarters In
which they were obliged to work.
Costly dishes, lamp globes, cut glass
and delicate chinaWare of all descrip-
lions lay about on tables and shelves,
ruined as result OF the intense neat.
Over six inches of water in the base
ment caused much damage among
stoves and furniture stored there.
Loss Covered by Insurance.
H. B. FarWell, of the firm, said he
thought the loss would not exceed
$4,000. 1t is covered by insurance.
"It is impossible to estimate the loss
accurately at this time" he said, ..as
it will be necessary to make a careful
inventory. The articles on the upper
floors are more or less damaged by
smoke, while the water has caused
great damage in the basement. A
large part of the crockery and china
ware is destroyed.
"The cause of the fire is not defin-
itely known. 1t started in the store
room, an enclosure in the basement
twenty-five feet square. There Is an
electric light in the room and there
fore no need for matches, and there
was no excelsior lying about. l be-
lieve that it started from electric
wires"