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Minnesota Tales

Hennepin County Mirror, June 1, 1883, page 1

The Fire Record

Last week was a disastrous one to Minneapolis, there being no less that twelve fires, and a total loss of over $75,000. This week has been still more disastrous, on Monday alone there being eight fires, four of which were burning at the same time. Our fire department never before had such opportunity to show their mettle, and it is to their great credit that they never flinched. Under the cool and intelligent direction of Chief Engineer Stetson, the firemen worked with unparalleled skill and efficiency, and it is not too much to say that Minneapolis was spared a terrible and costly conflagration by the bravery and intelligence of the firemen of this city. The following is the record of fires from Saturday last up to noon to-day:

SATURDAY.

A barn belonging to P. Felt in the rear of Seventh street between Nicollet and Hennepin avenues, was totally destroyed.

MONDAY.

Monday aftermoon fire originated in the rear part of the residence of John Bryant, 1516 Second avenue south, which contained a wood house, summer kitchen, etc. There were all destroyed, and the roof of the main part of the house was somewhat burned. The furniture was all removed. The house was a new one, and was worth $5000. The loss amounted to $500.

A small barn on the east side was totally destroyed.

The butcher shop of John Lurz, at 1328 Washington avenue north, was also destroyed. Loss $150.

At 11:35 p. m., an alarm was turned in from box 12, by officer Frenet, who discovered smoke issuing from the rear of a building at 109 Washington avenue north, a two-story wooden building which soon connected to 107, another frame structure of one story. So quickly did the flames spread that it seemed as if the Windsor house adjoining must go, but by great exertion the fire was confined to the two buildings. The losses are as follows:

While the fire was under way an alarm from box 135 was given, caused by fire in Wheaton & Reynold's sash, door and blind manufactory, situated between First avenue north and the Manitoba railway tracks, Sixth street and Central avenue. The discovery of the blaze was made by Night Watchman Kendricks. It originated under the stairway of the shop at the northwest corner of the property. The alarm was turned in and then Kendrick, in company with Farnham & Lovejoy's watchman, fought the flames bravely, but nothing they could do could stop their progress, owing to the negligence in not providing hose and water, and nothing could be done until the arrival of the fire department, which was soon at hand. The buildings owned by Wheaton & Reynolds were: A planing mill, dry kiln, full of lumber, machine shops, boiler room, two main factories, sawdust shed, tables, and some small out buildings; 400,000 feet of lumber also burned. The loss and insurance by this fire is as follows:

The other fires were as follows: Merriam & Barrows, shingles to the value of $3,000.

Averill, Russell & Carpenter's paper mill warehouse, damage $8,000; insurance about $5,500.

John Martin's lumber yard; loss nominal, the fire being put out before much headway had been made.

A barn owned by Mr. Berry, and Mrs. Burn's boarding house were also discovered to be on fire, but extinguished without much loss.

All the tools owned by the workmen employed in Wheaton & Reynold's shop were destroyed.

NARROW ESCAPES.

The Journal says: "Chief Engineer Stetson had a narrow escape from death in the north Washington avenue fire Monday nught. In order to relieve the pipemen on duty in the upper part of one of the burning buildings, the chief ascended into the upper part and held the nozzle over a cross beam close to the timbers that support the rafters. While in this position a portion of the roof caved in, crushing his left arm between two timbers and holding him as if in a vice. The smoke and hot steam were almost suffocating, and to add to the horror of the situation, he was alone in that part of the building. Fortunately he managed to keep hold of the nozzle with his right hand, and by keeping the stream of water playing over his head, saved himself from suffocation. His lusty calls for assistance soon brought Charles Foster and Pat Quinn to the rescue. They worked like beavers, but for sometime without success. Finally Charlie Foster procured a window shutter and succeeded in prying the load off from the imprisoned chief, who the next day declared that he could not have survived three minutes longer in that position. His man, fortunately, was not injured beyond a severe bruising. Two firemen were on a ladder against No. 107 when the flames suddenly shot out of the front, completely enveloping it, had a narrow escape from burning. A stream of water was thrown upon them as the flames wrapped around them, and they tried to descend, but the flames were too hot, and they accordingly ascended to the roof of the building, whence one of them jumped down and across to a ladder against 109, striking it and descending to safety. The other staid on top of the building till the ladder which he had left was moved, when he descended in safety - the flames meantime having been checked.

TUESDAY.

A little after ten o'clock p. m., fire was discovered in the long three story building on Nicollet Island. The fire originated in that part of the building occupied by R. P. Lupton as a grist mill, but whether from the friction of the machinery or from the hand of fire bugs cannot be definitely settled. The latter theory has the greater number of advocates, however. The flames extended in a rapid manner to J. E. Osborne's feed mill, J. R. Cook's box factory, and C. E. Eastman's conveyor flight manufactory. The losses amounted to about $8,000; insurance $4,000.

At 12:30 Officer Krumweider discovered a fire in the rear of John Lepla's saloon, 118 north Third street. The flames were squelched before gaining any headway. The evidence of the work of incendiaries was plainly visible.

The department had scarcely finished their work here before a third alarm called the force to the east side, where the Third avenue hotel, corner of Third avenue south and Seventh street, was burned. The building, a two story frame structure, was owned by J. O. Therien and was occupied by Henry Schmidt as a saloon and boarding house. Mr. Therien places his loss at $2,300. The building was insured for $1,000 in the Mechanics. Mr Schmidt places his loss at $1,800, upon which there was $1,200 insurance in the North America.

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