Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-10-09
ALARMING FIRE SUNDAY
ConfIagration Wipes Out
Three Business Places on
First Street s. e.

u - oSs 49, - -
An alarm was turned in shortly be-
fore IL O'Clock Sunday night for a fire
which proved to be the biggest one
this city has witnessed since the paper
mill burned down several years ago.
This fire started in the Dana Brown
barn from an unknown cause, and
spread so rapidly, pushed by heavy.
breeze from the south, that for time
it bid fair to sweep large portion OF
the business section clear down to the
river. The alarm had hardly been
Turned in before the whole barn was
enveloped in flames. James Brown
and two others had taken the horses
out and pulled out buggy, however,
before the fire department arrived on
the scene. When it was seen what
sort of fire the department had to
deal with, a general alarm was given,
a Pine Tree Lumber company hose
company also responding, and seven
streams of water were turned on the
confederation, which in the mean
time had extended to the F. A. Nelson
studio and the j. w. Berg hardware
store.
It was at first thought that the Berg
hardware store could be saved, but
when the fire caught onto the shed
back of Nelson's building and then to
some gasoline and pitch, which was
kept in it, the flames caught so
persistently on the Berg building and
created so intense heat that the fire.
men could not get to an advantageous
position to fight the fire back from the
hardware store. Another thing which
nut the firemen at an extreme dis
advantage in fighting the fire, was
their knowledge that there was up
wards of 200 pounds of dynamite
buried in the ground between the
Nelson studio and the Berg building.
AS it was the tiremen climbed on top
of the Berg building and did their
utmost to keep the flames from gain
ing on them on this building, but to
no avail, the streams of water going
up in steam before. it could reach any
vital point. When it became apparent
that this building was also doomed, a
number of interested spectators got
busy and helped save number Of
stoves, firearms and bullets and show
case containing knives, etc.
The fight was then made to confine
ings, and thus save the business Sec
minute It can be said to the credit
of the fire department that the tiremen
did splendid work. Several times
blazing pieces OF timbers fell on the
wooden buildings back of the Simonet
store and started blazes on them, but
each time a stream of water was
played on it and extinqulshed. Fire
brands were carried as far as the
lumber yards, and the Pine Tree
called out it's hose companies. 1t was
not until between two or three hours
strenuous work on the part OF the fire.
men before the fire was gotten into
control, and then but very badly
burned corner of the hardware build
ing was left to stand. The other two
buildings were burned to the ground.
Mesdames VIM. Tom and VIM
Batters report seeing three men go
into the Dana Brown barn some time
before fire broke out IN the building.
The men remained some time in the
barn and then were seen to go out
again. Not more that half hour
had elapsed after their departure be-
fore flames broke out on every side
of the barn.
Besides the barn, Dana Browns
loss includes a number Of sleds, some
harnesses and other supplies He
states the insurance will cover his loss
fairly we'll. A bus belonging to the
Buchanan hotel was also destroyed
with the barn.
F. A. Nelson suffered the total loss
OF his studio, with entire contents,
not SO much as one picture being
saved. Besides this he lost his horse,
which was stabbed in shed back of
his studio, and two buggies. He
carried $500 on the building, $500 on
contents, and $500 on horse and
buggies. Mr.. Nelson stated that his
heaviest loss is in the destruction of
from 25, 900 to 80, 900 negatives, which
he had on hand, dating as far back
as the time when E. A. Boyce con-
Quoted gallery here. Then there
was a large amount Of work COM
pleted but not yet called for. Mr..
Nelson expects to start up in his
elegant building on Broadway next
Saturday, having returned Wednesday
night from purchasing his new Office
fixtures and supplies.
j. w. Berg lost the heaviest in this
fire. He estimtes his loss at $40, 600,
which is partially covered by in
surance. Mr.. Berg carried SO, 600 on
his stock and $4,000 on the building.
Very little was saved from the build
ing, other than above mentioned Mr..
Berg will start up another hardware
store in the Moeglein building, until
recently occupied by the H. B. futile
4 Son book store, and will be ready
for business at an early date.
The Pine Tree Lumber company
deserves the thanks OF the citizens Of
this city for the timely help they
extended at this fire in the way of
furnishing additional pressure through
the water main, and sending one of
their hose companies to help fight the
fire.
BEAUTY IN COINAGE DETERIOR-
ATED.
1t IS strange fact that as the world
as progressed In every other depart
ment of life the one dominating factor