The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-14

reach. The crowd and the fremen un,
with bated breath while the latter
worked like demons with axes to make
apertures for nozZles.
They were Just in time. The flames
subsidized soon after the ornamental
cap fell and dense clouds of steam roll
ing out told Of the heat that was being
most opportunity subdued. But much
damage had been done to the Powers
stock by smoke and water. -.
By this time the Boutell building had
become a veritable raging furnace,
burning with incredible fury. Either
| because Of its construction or on account
| of the nature of the stock, this structure
was eaten away much more rapidly than
the Peck building: ~. =
| Engineer Laughs at Death.
Soon after midnight spectators were
horror stricken to see a large portion Of
the First avenue wall bulge out. When
they looked again, 1t had resumed it's
proper place, but as successive surges
Of flame beat upon It, the wall swayeda
the door of the building stood a fire
engine throbbing under a full head Of
steam. Beside the engine paced the
engineer, now testing his power and
again placing an Intelligent hand upon
the bearings of the machine. Appar-
emily h. was all vea s%d OF aes dan
l". %Baok l Back, Run!" they called,
pointing up at the drunken mass OF
The man looked up just as the wall
|. bellied out like full sail.
He took an oil can and flooded the
., guides Of the racing pistonrod.
, There was not a human being within
a hundred feet of him or within the
. danger zone of the wall. But he had
seen walls fall before and his bust
ness was to stick to his post: Then
!, there was another appalling vibration
= Of the wall and CHASTITY crunching al
. :, structure toPpled over. Still holdln@
V across Fifth street.
y The mass fell slowly at first, and BY
n the time it reached the ground the mai
n was we'll out Of harm g way. His en-
lanche Of brick and smashed into al
unacceptable mass Of metal.
- Two minutes later the Fifth stree
q wall fell with deafening roar an
g there was nothing left Of the buildin
IS but heap of heat-whitened brick 1
Is the basement. The corner plaster a
1t First avenue still stood to a. height Q
a three stories, like lonely, Jagged oil
IF elisk marking the grave of a nobl
vs. structure.
N A Rain Of Fire.
e. With the fall Of these walls, dange
rt was scattered broadcast thruout tt
ct business district. Showers Of embe
1t were carried to great height by tt
II, heat current, to fall upon roofs al
es awnings There was little wind al
re they went in all directions. Immune
able small fires were started within
radius Of two blocks: AS far away
Washington avenue the sparks literal
q rained down. The Phoenix buildil
ell was afre in a dozen places, but on
IN in the awnings and cornices. It "
5y;; the same with the Oneida buildi
ed across the street. Roofing boards thr
'ut feet long were carried, charred a
'ue blazing, to incredible distances, VIII
mt it was net unusual to see live Goals
pc, large as hens eggs in the fiery show
sal Women walked about with blazi
my opera hats, all unconscious of their p
Dry dieament, and telling other unfor
his mates of the lstter's similar mist
led tunes. Even the heavy hats of
the mon were not exempt, and the SIN
to of burning Woolens could be detect