Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-15
FIRE DESTROYS
BARN; THE CITY
Is THREATENED
Smith & Sinclair Suffer Loss
Of Approximately
$4,000.
BLAZE
IMMENSE CROWDS.
Two Horses Killed in Fire,
and Much Property DE-
voured by Blaze.

A fire last evening that threatened
to destroy most of the city from Sec
ond street west, completely burned
the Smith & Sinclair livery barn, To-
Gated on South Second street. Tho
Fire was one of the largest that has
occurred in the city for several years.
and h loss is estimated at $4,000,
OF which amount only $4,000 is COW
cred by insurance. One horse, u
number Of vehicles, including an am
bulance and a hearse, were complete
impossible to ascertain the cause OF
the confederation. The fire spread
to tho adjacent Elliot building but
for the most part was confined to the
livery barn.
In a short time after the arrival
OF the fire department following an
alarm given at 9:45, upon the scene.
an immense crowd Of Grand Forks
and East side people gathered to wit
ness this fire that for a time looked
as if it would engulf the west end Of
the city. A small wind was blowing
which when the hose was turned on
the fire by the local department car
ried large sparks of fire over the
heads Of the crowd to the west end
,of the city. The fire first started
in some hay when burning would
arise in the form Of sparks when the
water from the hose touched 1t.
In answering the fire alarm the
local department deserves the credit
OF all. In a very short time after
the alarm was turned in, the firemen
were on the scene, and it was only
through their heroic and untirins
work that the. blaze was put under
after three lines of hose were
pouring forth all the water the city
pumping station could put IN the
h~ydrants from which it was drawn.
Adjacent Building Burns.
The Smith barn was a large frame
building occupying about n city
block n on this cou in q very
short time it was one mass of flames.
The flames once breaking out on the
outside of h livery barn lost no
time in spreading to the adjacent Ell
hot building. Through the remark
able work OF the fire department the
fire here was confined for the most
part to the roof. Inc did damage that
may approximate about 5000. II
Horse Burned in Fire.
At the time the fire broke out there
were a number of horses in the barn
belonging to the owner. Mr.. Smith.
as we'll as two other horses Belonging
Ito Charles Ryan and, Afeck BushAw,
respectively. The employees Of the
barn knew exactly where the barn
horses were and with considerable dif-
ficulty succeeded in getting them out.
Aleck Bushaw managed to get his out
also. but the horse belonging to Chas.
Ryan was burned to death. A hearse
and an ambulance together with the
barn carriages were also destroyed.
The damage on these would amount
to about $4,000. The value Of the
barn was placed at $4,000 which,
except for the $4,000 insurance. is a
complete loss. 1t is estimated that
about $500 worth Of feed was in the
barn at the time of the burning. All
the harness was also destroyed. al
were the telephone and electric light
wires just outside the barn.
Second Time Born Burns.
In 1907 or 1908 a similar fire com.
pletely wiped out the Smith & Sin
clair barn, destroying a whole city
block as well. At that time as head
OF horses were in the barn which
could not be saved. The fire last eve
ming was the largest that, has taken
place in the city for some years. The
destroyed the buildings near the be.
Mers avenue bridge IS we'll as the
bridge approach.
Mr.. Smith. the proprietor Of the
barn. and John Bowes had been sit.
ting in the office about IS minutes be.
fore the fire broke out. Mr.. Smith
closed up the Office about $40 ana
started on his way home. When he
arrived in Grand Forks he heard
the Fast side alarm, and noticed a
big blaze in what he thought to be
the direction Of the churches. For
the time being he paid no attention
to it and continued on his way home.
When he arrived near the tracks by
the Metropolitan ,theater he saw that
the fire was not as far south as he
had Imagined. He then fastened
hack to find his building one mass Of
flames.
Shortly after the night mar had
arrived In the building he went back
through the barn to Inspect It as u.s.
ual, and as he came n6ar the east end
Of the barn he saw q pile Of hay on
fire and fastened to turn In the
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