The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-15

WOulQ not give 81 cents IOr lAeIn now.
I'VE have goods in transit and in
warehouses and will be able to dupli-
cate our stock at once. When the in
surance is adjusted we viii resume
business. 1t is unfortunate that the
fire occurred at this time, for it inter-
feres with our Christmas trade and
We will be hampered to a great ex-
tent. We not only lose the value of our
goods, but the profits we might make
on the goods sold during the hoh
days"
How the Men Died
Jacob F. Miller, of the salvage corps,
was the first man to meet his death.
His company hurried to the scene as
soon as the '.still'' alarm was turned in,
and while some of his comrades were
battering the doors of the Peck es-
tablishment in order to gain an en-
trance, Miller attacked window in
the alley, and when he saw the flames
he turned on a stream from a portable
fire extinguisher. It seemed as if he
had extinguished the flames and he
swung himself into the window
The window opened into the elevator
shaft and instead of alighting on the
floor, he fell a distance of at least
twenty feet, and before his comrades
could reach him the basement, in which
there were two bales of excelsior and
a large quantity of empty packing
boxes, was a mass of flames.
1t was impossible for the firemen to
reach him, and, although every effort
was made, the men were forced to
abandon their efforts when the flames
burst across the alley and the totter-
ing walls threatened to fall upon them.
Miller was f0rty-one years of age,
and resided at SAG Jefferson street
northeast. He had been member of
the fire patrol for four years. He was
well liked and popular man with his
comrades and the members of the fire
department He leaves a widow and a
daughter two years of age.
The Death of Fellows
The death of John Fellows, of engine
company No. Is was tragic. He was
on the fourth floor of the Boutell build
ing, which was across the alley from
the structure in which the fire origi-
mated. With him were Lieut.. Tony
Wilson, Fred H. Kerkhoff and John
Simcoe. The flames broke out on the
third floor under them, and Wilson or
dered the men to save themselves
Fellows was fearful that the line of
hose which he was handling would be
lost and was not ready to leave when
his superior officer commanded him to
save himself
Never mind the hose. Get away"
was Wilson's command, and he started
for the window from where it was
possible to reach the extension ladder
He stopped at the sill and Kerkhoff
and Simcoe slid down the ladder Then
Wilson followed. Fellows never ap-
peared.
The ladder was kept elevated until
the upper end began to burn away and
1t was pulled from the place by a
squad of firemen, for it was then
known that Fellows was dead
Simcoe tells story to the effect that
when he ran through the fire he was
all but overcome by the flames, and he
believes that Fellows was burned long
before he had an opportunity to reach
the window.
Fellows had been in the fire depart
ment since 1901 and resided at 2909
Washington avenue north. Only two
weeks ago little daughter was born
and the father was congratulated by
his fellows.
Widow Is Notified
The duty of the men who were as
signed to break the news to the widow
was a painful one. At first she asked
If her husband was hurt. Upon be-
ing informed he was and told he had
upon going to the place.
Then she was told that he had been
killed in the fire and that his remains
might never be found. The poor wom-
an bore the shock WELL but last night
she was on the verge of nervous col
lapse and is attended by physicians.
Fire Engine Smashed
Engine No. 8, one of the biggest en-
gines in the fire department, was re-
duced to junk by the falling walls. The
engine was one of the first to arrive
at the fire and was stationed at the
corner of First avenue and Fifth street
1t was in charge of Engineer H. G. Nc
Leod and Assistant Engineer Charles
Baker. The fire chief warned the men
to be on the watch and to flee for their
lives should the walls fall. He himself
kept watch on the men, and about
1920 shouted to them to run.
They fed, and there was crash
The falling bricks crashed down upon
the engine and also carried away the
trolley wires along First avenue south.
The boiler of the engine did not ex-
plode or else there might have been
some further casualties.
The engine was placed out of COM
mission and yesterday morning was
dragged to the repair shop, where it
will remain for some weeks. 1t was
one of the best engines in the depart
ment and has been stationed at the
old headquarters building at Third
avenue north and Second street
The men who were working the en-
gine were alive to their danger and
kept close watch on the walls
Incidents of the Fire
There is no truth in the report that
John T. Ruane, superintendent of the
salvage corps, asked the firemen to
shut off the streams of water that were
being poured into the basement of the
Peck building in order to permit the
men of the salvage corps to go to the
rescue of Miller.
Street car traffic is maintained on
First avenue south, but the passengers
on the cars are by no means at ease
when they pass the tottering walls of
the Bintliff buildings. These walls are
expected to fall at any time.
When the walls of the Boutell build
ing fell George GamminS and Bob Da-
Wis were handling the nozzle of the
water tower and they narrowly missed
being covered with an avalanche of
bricks The tower was placed out of
commission, but there was no loss of
life on the apparatus.
All yesterday the gas escaped from
the main running into the Bintliff
building, and when darkness came the
scene was a weird one. There was
every semblance of great fire in the
ruined building, but no water was turn
ed on it. for the reason the fame was
only eating into the profits of the Min
neapolis Gas Light company and was