The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-06-22

ready to retire, hastily donned
their clothes and headed for
downtown. The streets we're
soon filled with an excited and
iIanxious populace.
AS speedily as possible hose
were attached to hydrants and
first one, then two, three, four
and finally five streams were
playing on the flames. Three
was used in the rear, where at
that time the fire was burning
the tiercest, and the other two
were placed in front and on the
sides, AS the blaze spread, two
streams were taken from the
rear, and men were sent with
one onto the roof of the Berman
building, while the other was
used to good advantage in check
ing the flames which were being
constantly blown by the wind
toward the Turf saloon.
1t was apparent from the very
first that it would be impossible
to save any Of the Naylor stock,
but with prompt work the En-
porium stock might be removed
from the building before it was
touched by the fire, and willing
hands were soon busy.
1t was a remarkable sight to
see men as thick as ants passing
in and out of the smoke filled
store, the outgoing crowd carry
ing great armfulls of dainty mil,
linery creations, laces, drygoods,
ladies' furnishings, etc. Some
times the workers fell and the
goods we're thrown in the muddy
street, but they were picked up
again and carried to a place Of
Safety
Many of the goods were stored
in Blooston's saloon, temporarily,
and we're later removed to the
empty room formerly occupied
by the Grill res taurant. The
store was stripped clean of
everything but the shelving long
before the flames broke out in
the building. The stock was not
damaged by fire, but much of it
was partially or wholly ruined
by the water and the rough hand
ling. Mrs. Berman estimates
the loss at fully 65 per cent Of
the cost of the goods.
AS soon as the, .Berman store
was cleaned out workers began
on the Turf and Bank saloons and
Oh Barker's drug store. There
did not seem any great danger of
the two latter places burning, but
in the excitement, everyone
wanted to do some saving, and
stock valued at several thousands
of dollars was hurried pell nell
into the streets. Most of the
goods from the drug store were
stored in the Lumbermens
National Bank. Mr.. Barker's
loss is great, as bottles were
broken and much perishable stuff
in the rush, While all
this was going on the fire engine
had been hurried to the city dock
and was soon pumping water into
the bydrant at the lake shore.
There was not enough hose to
allow connecting the engine d.
rectly with a hose line to the fire,
so the next best thing was done,
pumping the water directly into
the main. This gave tremendous
pressure at the uptown hydrants
10 which the hose lines were at
Jached. -.z..... 49,. .~-.
AS ton after ton of water was
hurled into the center of the
DANES with good effect, it looked
Is though the Berman store
might be saved, but the
ire had been eating it's way
gradually through the roof and
soon smoke broke out through
he front. A man was sent up
N a ladder to chop a hole in the
vail and SO give the fremen a {
nance to get action on the in
ide, but it was useless; flames
oon burst out from all sides. !
1t was then, under the direc- !
ion of Assistant Chief Pogue,
hat men attached hooks ard a !
ope to the fronts Of the Ma, lor :
nd Berman buildings AID pull ed !.
hem into tie street. Wien th VII