The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-30
WHAT CAUSED
- ,-E-Es>b>-
it,: The l:l3|.[ b: BIG {: !. FIRE?
Continued rom First Page 8

testified that the wall was plumb with
out cracks or signs Of disintegration.
- IL did not consider that there was
any danger from the falling of the
wall,'' continued Mr.. Jones, "because
I considered that if the wall fell it
would fall inward, as the inside would
be most likely to<-be weakened by the
fre.'
''You think there is no blame to be
placed on the building inspector for
emo, / think not. He could not
have foreseen concentration Of wind
which probably caused the wall to be
thrown OVER
~ The Builder Testifes.
George Cook, Of Pike g. Cook, who
built the Peck and Bouten buildings
and the runways,' described their
construction. The wall that fell was a
some time. 1t might have, stood as it
building inspector was to allow the
wall to stand and to begin work on the
other walls which were plainly more
Asked if something should not have
been m done to brace the wall he replied:
you see. It was braced on, both ends
by the front and rear walls, also by
three floors Of the Croker hotel build
ing running back. fifty feet:::,
1.-THE building inspector did all that
he couldq''
"The building inspector was after us
with a sharp stick to protect the First
avenue wall and the rear wall Of the
Peck building"
Houghton Is Defended.
| G. A. P. Turner, expert in construc.
ton work, declared that the building in
spector could not have done more than
he did and was not censurable for not
bracing the wall on the Peck building
Mr.. Turner said that to guard against
similar catastrophes there should be a
general use Of freproof material in the
business district, particularly as this
was no more costly than ordinary con
struction. It was more expensive fol
fats and retail stores.
H.. Runway Doors Open.
Lieutenant T. K. Wilson of the fire
departm gave some interesting
evidence. He was on both the Fourth
and Fifth floors of the Boutell building
When the fire burst thru the runway
he was on the fourth floor. The blast
Of fire wave threw him against the
elevator guards and he managed to
stumble down stairs. He found the
doors on the fifth floor runway open at
both ends. So
ttDid you close them9' was asked
* I did not close the door on the Peck
end because I could not get across the
runway on account Of the heat
closed the doors on the Boutell end. The
/ latch was gone and we had to wire the
doors SO as to keep them closed. s.
/ John Simcoe, a fireman, testified that
! both doors were open and that it was
/ impossible to reach the one on the Peck
! end. While looking for a way to faster
! the other doors, Lieutenant Wilson
came running with piece Of wire anl
they secured it as well as they could
When the blast Of fire which. actec
almost like an explosion, came, he was
on the floor above. The flames shot uI
thru the elevator shaft with great
/ rapidity. He did not go until his ear
muffs and coat collar were slnged. He
was followed down the ladder by FREQ
j Kirchoff.
Both sincoe and Kerchof wer'
singed by the flames and partly over
come. by the heat and dense smoke q
They could not see anything OF Eel
flows after they had started for thu
4 ladder. Fellows was considered a goot
I, fireman, cool-headsd and careful.
How the fire Spread.
!, The testimony Of James Sullivan, AS
4 sistant Chief Joseph G. Hernlund. Dis