The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-05-28
EXCHANGE HOTEL
FIRE WRECKED.
OLD FAMILIAR LAND MARK
MASS OF RUIN AFTER
WEDNESDAY, FIRE.

Wednesday evening at about =
o'clock the Exchange Hotel, part
of which was constructed in 1888,
was discovered afre. The alarm
turned in brought the department on
the double quick and it only required
a few minutes before several
streams of water were playing on
the burning structure.
The fire was discovered between
he floors and partitions and was at
tributed to stove pipe which had
become overheated leading from a
tove in the lobby of the hotel, and
had attained considerable Roadway
before the arrival of the depart
ment. 1t spread rapidly to the
rooms on the upper floor and the
roof. Owing to the construction of
the building with double roof, one
of which was tin, the department
was considerably handicapped in
ghting the fire.
1t required almost three hours of
continuous work before the fire
could be controlled and at one time
six streams of water, estimated ar
1000 gallons minute, were play
ng on the building and neighbour &
structures. The system, including
he fire department worked like a
lock and not a hitch was encoun-
tered. This was the only real test
the water system has been put 90
since its installation and electrified
ion and it stood up perfectly under
he heavy strain and at no time was
it at its maximum performance.
The roof and the upper floors of
he hotel are mass of ruins. The
over floor was damaged by water.
II. G. Cox, owner of the burned
uilding and chief of the fire de-
partment was in Virginia at the time
of the alarm. He was notified by
telephone and in his car made the
trip to Ely in little over an hour,
arriving in time to take charge of
affairs and help control the fire.
Mr.. Cox estimated his loss at
SIS, 900 with insurance in the
amount of $4,000. For the past
few weeks, negotiations were being
ompleted for the sale of the prop
rty at the figure above quoted. His
ctual loss is given at $4,000
When seen this morning. he had not
formulated any plans for the fut-
ure but stated he might tear off the
upper story and re-roof the lower
part for tenants.
The burning of the Exchange falls
a heavy blow on Mr.. and Mrs
Cox as well as the city of Ely
Coming as it does at this time, just
he beginning of the tourist season,
the loss of the hotel will be heavy.
Our needs for hotel facilities have
more than trebled with the destruc
ion of the Exchange.
While unlucky in the destruction
of the hotel building, the adjoining
property was lucky in the lack of
wind on Wednesday. While little
breeze sprang up during the fire, t
was weak and did not carry to any
farming extent. With large
rame building such as the Exchangf
nd a heavy wind, the property loss
might have become considerably
larger had the fire spread to neigh
boring structures.
1t is estimated that 1000 people
were on the street and witnessed the
urning. 1t became necessary sew
raj times to clear out the crowd in
| rider to give the department room
which to work and to keep the
spectators out of danger. The
olice kept the crowd under control
The early start of the fire pre-
luded the possibility of guests be-
ng in the hotel. Had the fire start
ed later in the night, there might
ave been fatalities owing to the
rapidity with which the flames
spread.