Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1913-10-09
ST. PAUL UNION
DEPOT BURNED.
FIRE STARTING IN KITCHEN
QUICKLY DESTROYED
BUILDING.
Ticket Sellers Forced to Leave
Money From Sales.

money FTOm SaloS.
St. Paul, Oct. 4.-(Special. -
Fire starting at 1902 last night
practically destroyed St. Paul's un-
ion depot, causing loss Of quar-
ter of million dollars. The train
sheds remain intact, but the build
ing is in ruins. The fire threatened
the destruction of the entire whole
sale district.
The fire started in the kitchen of
the station restaurant. Before the
flames were discovered they were
rapidly running to the wooden walls
of the kitchen and through the shin
gle roof.
BY the time the fire department
had arrived the entire building was
in flames. The firemen then turned
in a general alarm, which called all
the St. Paul fire fighters and equip
ment and one-half of the Minneapo-
lis forces. -lp.
Prompt action on the part of the
station employees probably saved the
lives Of a large number of people.
Immediately upon the discovery of
the fire the station master and po-
liceman ushered the 1000 people
from the building. The fire started
on the second floor and the people
did not realize the danger. Before
all had escaped the fire broke
through the ground floor.
The danger was then realized and
were still in the depot. A score of
people were bruised and battered,
but none seriously injured. Ticket
sellers were forced to leave the mo-
ney taken in during the day.
AS the fire had already gained
much headway. It was found practic-
cally useless to, attempt to extinguish
the blaze, and the efforts of the fire.
men we're turned toward preventing
the fire from spreading to the whole
sale houses adjoining.
A score of engines were pressed
into service to haul the passenger
and baggage cars from the station
yards. Hose hampered the engines.
One baggage car caught fire and was
hauled to the Seventh street bridge
where it was extinguished.
The union depot was ONE of the
oldest and most famous structures
in the northwest. 1t was the station
through which all transcontinental
passengers passed. Over 100000
people passed through the station
every year. Every railroad entering
this city used the station. For years
St. Paul business men have been urg-
ing the railroads to build new de-
pot, as the structure was out of date
and inadequate. Plans are now in
the hands Of James J. Hill and it is
thought that they will doubtless be
carried out Immediately, and q new
building worth $1.000.000 construct
ed. -
The fire was spectacular. The en-
tire city was brightly Illuminated by
the blaze and as far as Minneapolis
the flames could be seen.
The shingle roof and wooden par
titions fed the flames rapidly and the
fire lasted less than two hours.
Trains were stalled by the hose
laid across the tracks. It q thought
that it will be several hours before
trahic can be resumed on schedule.
Thousands Of passengers watched the
IRE with interest, yet knowing that
they were missing their trains and
losing their baggage.
None Of the nearby buildings
caught nre, owing to the protection
Of the dremen. Within q radius Of
three blocks 10 the famous st. Paul
wholesale district. About 20 large
buildings are valued at 350,000.0oo.