The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-14
Two Fircmen Crushed
 Under Wall. BLAZE UNDER CONTROL Originated in Photographic
 Supply House. ct. Paul Department Aided Local Fire men, but Bitter Weather and High Wind Deferred Their
 Work.

broke out in the photographic supply house of the o. H. Peck Company at 10:30 o'clock last night spread to ad- joinging buildings and caused loss roughly estimated at S3.000.00O.
 The Peck building was entirely gut ted, while the six story furniture house of Boutell Bros, one of the largest establishments of its kind in the north west was ruined and a number or smaller buildings were also destroyed.
 The Powers Mercantile Company, an immense department store just across First Avenue south was threatened with destruction. but heroic efforts on the part of the Minneapolis and St. Paul fire departments prevented its destruction, although immense damage was done to the stock by water.
 For a time the best part of the retail district of the city was threatened and the fremen seemed powerless to stay the onrush of the flames which were driven by a high wind from the north. By allowing the buildings already on fire to burn themselves out ard con- fining their efforts to adjacent build ings, however. the fire fighters had the confagration fairly under control at o'clock this morning.
 One mar was reported killed by com ing in contact with live electric wire and two firemen are also believed to have been killed. The fire was discov- cred at 10: 80 o'clock last night in Peck's optical instrument store. in the rear of Boutell Brothers establishment A small fire in itself, 1t got beyond con- trol of the flremen and attacked Bou- tell Brothers house furnishing estab- lishment. The big store, filled with draperies and rugs hung from display anro rsyac vara at l o'clock was hopelessly ruined
 Firemen Buried in Brick.
 With the firemen still working on Bouten Brothers building. the walls fell with9a crash. Two firemen were seen in the glare that lighted the whole city, to be buried beneath the ava lanche Of brick and mortar. One Of the men caught in the fall of the walls was a member of the salvage corps. The other was a fireman from one of the engine companies. The fire spread to the New England house furnishing establishment across the street from the Boutell Brothers store. Then 1t leaped to the Powers Mercantile Com pany's great department store.
 The district in which the fire oc- cured is closely built, most of the buildings being substantial brick and stone structures and some of them from an architectural standpoint the handsomest in the city. The high winds carried burning brands and sparks in all directions and many in- cipient blazes were lit within a radius of four blocks. The principal news papers of the city were located but block away from the scene of the fire and were for a time thought to be in imminent danger.
 The Northwestern National Bank. the Phoenix office building, the National Bank of Commerce and many other big office buildings were within the fire zone and for a time 1t seemed to be imminent danger. As 500 mas the ex- tent of the fire was seen an appeal for assistance was made to the St. Paul department and two steamers and crews were despatched by special train.
 The cold weather and the high wind deterred the firemen to a great ex- in their efforts to subdue the flames but fortunately the wind died down about o'clock and further danger of the conflagration spreading seems to tave been averted.
 The Three Fatalities.
 Three men killed, two firemen and one citizen the later by live wire and from six to eight million dollars worth of property destroyed in the re- sut of a confiagration, the worst in the history of Minneapolis, which began at 10 o'clock last night and at o'clock this morning is still burning but part 1y under control as the flremen seem to have the flames confined to three burnsng buildings, two of which are gutted and the third. the Powers De- partment Store. the largest in the city. damaged by water and fire to tho ex- tent of one or two million dollars.
 Because of the dense smoke it was impossible to get access to the burn ing buildings the heat being so intense despite the zero weather prevailing.
 The fire will, 1t seems, burn itself out. as the firemen are placing all their efforts on the surrounding property. which Is still not out of danger.
 In the front of the burning Boutell Brothers building there stands a street car totally demolished by a fallen eelc- tric line pole from which several live wires were burned. Only one man is reported killed by these falling wires though several were stunned.
 Without doubt the confagration is the most disastrous that has ever vis- fted this city, through the loss of life and property. striking the richest and biggest firms of the city. All business was suspended in newspaper row when it seemed that the entire block would be consumed but now that the fire has been placed partly under control work has been resumed and the papers will appear as usual.
 RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.