Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-10-27
Oldest and Largest Department Store
In the City is Now Smoking
Pile of Bricks. .1
GREATEST PROPERTY LOSS IN CITy'S HISTORY.
Will FOOT UP 100000.
K. J. Tara1Seth Co. not discouraged, but
Are planning to build bigger and
Better than ever.

Warren was visited by the most
destructive fire in it's history, as far
as property loss is concerned, on Mon
day forenoon this week. The large
department. store Of X. J. Taralseth
Co., the Oldest and biggest store in
the city was then burned to the
ground. The fire was discovered at
five o'clock in the morning when the
alarm was turned in, the fire depart
ment responding promptly to the CALL
At first there was difficulty to locate
the fire as the whole interior of the
building was filed with smoke and no
flame was visible. After a while the
firemen succeeded in locating the fire
in the basement, but owing to the
small, and low outside windows it was
found impossible to turn a stream CT
water directly upon it. 1t seems
that the fire had started in that part
of the basement which was under
meath the hardware and grocery de-
partments, where a large amount of
goods were stored, and the fire kept
burning between the joice without
any chance for the water to reach it.
In little while this floor gave way
and then the flames shot upward in
to the hardware department which
soon was consumed Notwithstanding
the streams of water that were pour
ed out. Up to this time it had been
thought possible to confine the fire to
the basement. From the hardware
department the fire spread rapidly to
the grocery department adjoining.
While the fire was burning in this
part of the building there were a Sc
ries of heavy explosions, and numer-
GUS smaller reports caused by barrels
of machine and other oils, ammuni-
tion and canned goods. One explo-
sion was strong enough to shatter the
heavy plate glass windows in the
store of the Warren Pharmacy oppo-
site, and in Natwick's confectionery,
besides cracking other window
glasses in the State Bank building
and the post office. The fire depart
ment practically had the fire under
control before it spread to the cloth
ing and dry goods departments but at
the critical moment the water gave
out. Even before this happened ef-
forts had been begun to save the stock
in these departments and great deal
was carried out, although greatly
damaged by heat, smoke and water.
When the water gave out the situation
was serious, as the adjoining build
ings were in danger of catching fire.
Fortunately there was little or no
wind, yet as different parts of the
building burned the flames would
sway, sometimes to the north threat
ening the State Bank building which
was ignited but the fire put out by
pals of water; then again the flames
would sway to the west threatening
the city hall which caught fire at the
upper windows, but this fire was also
put out by the bucket brigade; then
the frame buildings to the south of
the store were threatened and but for
the timely arrival of assistance from
Argyle it is believed nothing could
have saved the entire row, of buildings
in the block clear to p. H. Holm's s
corner. AS soon as the city water
gave out the hose was strung to the
river, and the steam engine brought
out. Unfortunately the engine, which
is seldom used now since the install
lation of the waterworks, did not
work at all. Argyle was asked to
send it's engine also Thief River Falls
as general conflagration seemed I'M
minent. The Argyle engine arrived
first, having made record breaking
run and soon good stream Of water
was again at the command Of the ire
men and the ire confined to the one
building which was eaten up gradual
II but surely BY the hre demon. BY
noon there was nothing left Of the