KinSource - Tale of the Week - Gaudy Fire On Lower Hennepin

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Journal, July 26, 1906, p. 7

GAUDY FIRE ON LOWER HENNEPIN

DRUG STOCK GIVES RICH COLOR TO STREAMS OF WATER.

Flames in T. K. Gray Store on Bridge Square Call Out Many Pieces of Firefighting Apparatus and Paints Give Rainbow Hues to the Water Poured In and Out.

Rainbow waterfalls and little rivers of many colors that rippled across Bridge square seemed to work a spell over the thousands of persons who had gathered about T. K. Gray's paint and drug building, 108 Hennepin avenue, which was nearly destroyed by fire before 9 a. m. today.

For nearly an hour the entire block on Hennepin avenue between First and Second streets was threatened, as the flames were fanned by a strong breeze, and the strong firewalls prevented the fireman from fighting the fire to the best advantage.

A dozen streams of water were thrown into the third story of the building and rushed out of the windows and hallways again, gaudily colored with the dyes and pigments stored there. At first the water came out a beautiful orange and then changed to a light green as other pigments were dissolved. The fire itself was not in the least spectacular, but the crowd seemed satisfied when colored "waterworks" took the place of fireworks.

The flames were discovered on the second floor, in the rear, where they had gained a good start. The windows were all closed and the fire smoldered for some time unnoticed.

A telephone alarm brought the usual detachment of apparatus, but the first men arriving saw that the fire might prove too much for them and sent in a second alarm. In a few moments a dozen streams of water were being thrown into the windows from front and rear and the fire was under control.

The Economy and Saratoga hotels are on either side of the T. K. Gray building, and some of the late sleeping guests were aroused and told to run to the street. The heavy fire walls prevented the flames from getting into either of these buildings and at no time was a life in danger.

The second floor of the burned building is occupied by Dr. S. S. Wentworth. He had not been in his office when the fire broke out, and consequently there was no one on hand to take his instruments and other equipment to the street. The rear of the second floor and the entire third floor was stocked with paints, oils and drugs.

Braving the danger of an explosion, the fireman dragged their lines into the building and on the roof, and began to flood the entire building. So quickly was the work done and the flames extinguished that not even a slight explosion occurred. The hose lines once placed, the men could stand back out of reach of the overpowering fumes and wait until the fire was out.

It is thought that spontaneous combustion caused the fire. The loss has not been accurately estimated, but will probably not be more than $6,000 on the stock. The damage to the building was slight.