The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1905-01-21
Cause of fire, explosion.
Total property loss, Sl7 800.
Insurance, $40, 800.
Buildings damaged, three.
Features, efficiency of the new enlarged
water main on Broadway.

A disastrous fire that came near caus-
ing the loss of at least two lives was
started just after noon today by a ter
rife explosion in the basement of the
Fargo Pantoriun at Io3 Broadway. The
cause of the explosion remains mys-
terry although it is the general belief
that gasoline played an important part.
The force of the explosion was SO
terrific that the entire front Of the build
ing was hurled outward into the street.
The lives of pedestrians were eridanger-
ed by the flying particles of glass but
fortunately no one except the men con-
fined in the burning basement were in
jured. s...,. j., I.sg:.,.s. ..@s { 5& / &S
Within a surprisingly short time, the
fire department appeared on the scene
and three streams of water were soon
being played on the seething furnace
within the building. s... >.: r.. ~. n
The hydrant on Second Avenue was
found to be frozen when it was attempt
ed to make connection and some delay
was caused 1t was also some time be-
fore the steamer, could be got into ac-
ton. But in spite of these delays, the
department did effective work. i.
Early arrivals at the fire were horri-
| fed at hearing the frantic voices of men
penned in the burning basement. and ii
was feared, when the voices were no
longer heard, that the fire had claimed
| at least two victims. The men were AZ
| b. Johnson and w McGillis, employees
| in the tailor shop.
Just before the explosion Johnson was
engaged in some work in the dry room,
which is in the basement, McGillis was
standing talking to him when the ex-
lplosion occurred. Blinded by smoke and
flames the men rushed frantically about
attempting to escape, but for several
minutes they were unsuccessful
Penned in the basement, seemingly
with every avenue of escape cut off,
Johnson and McGilis took desperate
chances and sprang into the very heart
of the flames toward the rear of the
store. where door was located
With their clothes a mass of flames
and their flesh literally dropping from
| their bodies, they succeeded in passing
out of the building. Overcome by their
fight for life, the men were in critical
condition when they were carried into
The Forum Office.
In "a short time physicians appeared
and every effort was made to relieve
THE suffering of the men. McGillis was
the most seriously injured. His arms
and face were burned almost to a crisp
and the flesh on his hands hung nj
tshreds. His body was not seriously
burned.
Johnsoil's face was slightly burned
land his hands were burned nearly to the
bones. He was treated in The Forum
Office and was then taken to his home.
McGillis was taken to fhe Darrow
Hospital. His injuries while serious
| will not prove fatal.
Both McGillis and Johnson agree in
1.-THE statement that the explosion was not
caused by gasoline. Both men say that
laside from a small amount of the dan
gerous fluid which was kept upstairs for
the purpose of cleaning clothes, there
was not a particle Of gasoline iii the
lbuilding.
In the basement where the explosion
occurred was boiler which was used
| in heating the building. Gas pipes are
located in the building but no one ap-
pears to believe that the explosion came
from that source. III.
Mrs. Flodstrom, an ernploye in the
tailor shop, is equally certain that there
was no gasoline III the basement She
was upstairs at the time the FIRE started
and was thrown to the floor by the ex-
Iplosion
r @. Rockwell, manager Of the tailor
shop, stated soon after the fire that he
was positive that no gasoline was III the
building, He is unable TO account for
| the explosion
McGillis, who was SO badly injured,
twas employed as presser He is about
I35 years Of age and has only been iii
| the city a short time, He has wife
lin Davenport, Ia. She was notified 81