Daily globe. [volume], May 03, 1878, Image 1

About Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884

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VOLUME I.
-A-HSTD
truclioD!
AWFUL CALAMITY.
MILL EXPLOSIONS
AT MINNEAPOLIS.
TO 20 KILLED.
5
9 MILLS BURNED.
Theories as to Cause.
Mtro Glycerine
Or Purifiers Gas
Full Graphic Details
By "Globe" Reporters
[Special Telegram to the Globe. 1
MINNEAPOLIS, May 2. At jiiBt 7 o'clock
this evening Minneapolis was startled by a
most frightful explosion, which shook the
city from centre to circumference. The ex
plosion took place in the milling centre on
the canal that extends around St. Anthony
Falls, aad at once the question was passed
from lip to lip, "What can it be? In an in-
stant the entire city was out of doors, and
streaming toward the falls, while it became
known that the great Washburn "A"
mill had exploded und was a total
wreck. The Washburn mill was the largest
mill on the Amerioan continent, and with
tho exception of one in France, the largest
and moBt complete of any flouring mill in
the world. It contained forty run of stone,
cud employed regularly from forty to sixty
At this writing, there is no certainty of
ths cause of the explosion. Mill men gen-
erally unite in the theory that it was oc-
casioned by the igniting of the gas generat-
ed in some unknown manner by the r$id:
tilings purifiers.
The loss of life cannot be ascertained at
this moment, but was very extensive.
The explosion took place at the hour when
the day force of the mill had just been re-
lieved, ana the night force was just taking
their places. It is now thought that a por-
tion of the day force and a portion of the
night force have been killed, but as the mill
is a total wreck, levelled to the ground, and
the fire of Tophet raging among the ruins,
thero is no certain means of ascertaining the
particulars.
The GLOBE reporter is writing in full
view of the flames, and while I write, the
wind, which is steady and Btrong from the
northwest, has ignited the mill company's
i levator, and no possible power of the fire
department can prevent its total destruc-
lion.
Governor Pillsbury is on the ground, and
has telegraphed to St. Paul for assistance
from their firo department, as it is feared
tho flames will spread throughout the entire
milling district, and thus destroy the great
industry upon which the city is entirely de-
pendent.
At this hour, eight p. M., there have been
burned the following flour mills i
Pettit, liobiuson & Co. Cahill,
Ankeny & Co. L. Day & Sons Day & Boi-
ling Buell, Newton & Co.: Diamond mill, I
Norton, Hayward & Co. Washburn "A
and Washburn "B" mills.
Thero is no doubt that the explosion was
occasioned by the gas generated through the
operation of tho patent middlings purifier.
It is' said that a mill in Glasgow, Scotland,
blew up from a similar cause,
There went on trick at the Washburn '/A"
Mill twenty-two men, at 6:30 t. M., -none of
which have been heard from at this date.
The only names attainable at this hour are
M. P. Shier and bis younger brother, and
Frod. Merrill.
All accounts agree that the first explo-
sion took place at the Washburn A mill,
or the big mill, as it is called. Following so
close as to be almost simultaneous was the
explosion of the Diamond and Humboldt.
The watchman of the Galaxy mill, which
is among the destroyed, escaped unhurt, and
gives the most connected account of the
explosion. He says the first explosion was
from the big mill, followed in quick succes-
sion by those from the Diamond and Hum-
boldt. The explosion from the "A" mill
was so tremendous that it raised the entire
roof of the gigantic structure into the air as
a zephyr would waft an autumn leaf.
At 8:30.
The fire has now, 8:30 p. M., extended from
Sixth ave. south down the bank of the river,
taking almost everything in its path, to
near the Minneapolis and St. Louis railway
shopsmills, lumber yards, blacksmith
and machine shops, and miscellaneous man-
ufactures.
Mr. Case, assistant superintendent of the
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, thinks it
probable teat the freight depot and machine
thops of their road will be saved.
The glass in the Cataract House, eastward,
and the City Hall, northward, were broken
by the explosion.
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Up to nine o'clock the list of killed and
injured so far as ascertained, are as follows:
Big Mill-^Grinders, Chas. HenningFred
Merrill, Clark Wilbur.
OilerWin. Leslie, Cyrus Ewing.
MachinistsOle Shie, Walter Savage,
Patrick Judd, Ed. Merrill.
Day was thrown out of the window and in-
i
WatchmenHarry Hicks, E. W. Burbank"
one unknown.
Aug. Smith was blown out of the window,
hurt, but not killed.
Diamond millJohn Dover killed. David
Ward, gone out after a pail of water, and'
escaped unhurt.
Galaxy MillJoe Maim, in the tbird
Btory, after the wall was blown out, jumped
down into the canal and escaped unhurt.
Zenith MillTwo men. Widstrum
and Fred George.
In Pettit, Robinson & Co.'s millDean
jured but not fatally.
Mr. Day was the only man in the Fettit
mill at the time.
THE tNSUEANCE
on the Washburn "A" mill is $40,000 on
stock, and $170,000 on the building. Pettit,
Robinson & Co.'s mill was insured for
$45,000.
Up to nine o'clock, the number of mills
burned aggregated one hundred and three
runs of stone.
The Washburn "A" mill to-day ground
1,505 barrels of flour, and was preparing for
the night run when the explosion took place, i
In the "A" mills at the time of the explo
sion there were fifty .thousand bushels of
wheat, all of which was burned.
The opinion of J. A. Christian, head of
the firm of Christian & Co., who run the big
mill, does not agree with the theory that
the explosion was occasioned by gas gener
ated by the middlings purifiers. His theory
is borrowed from a similar incident in Glas
gow, Scotland, that the mills took fire on
the lower floors, by the friction of tho
stones that the elevators, of which there
were a large number, served as so many
ohimneys, and gas was generated by the
combustion, and finally exploded, throwing
the roof a hundred feet in the air.
This theory is not credited by such scien
tific men as are at hand, but on the contrary,
the opinion is very general that the first
theory is the correct one, that the gas gener
ated by the patent process tcok fire and ex
ploded like a powder magazine.
The last report of the board of trade in this
city shows sixteen flouring mills and 181
run of stones. The following miHs have
burned, or are badly damaged:
Washburn "A" Mill.
Washburn "B" mill.
Pettit, Eobinson & Co.'s mill.
Zenith mill.
Galaxy mill.
Humbolt and Diamond mill.
On latest reports, there seems to have
been only 97 run of stones' destroyed, so
it seems that only just one-half of the floor
milling interests of the city is rubbed out.
When, however, His considered that the in
terest is the most important in the city, the
full force of the disaster will be understood.
The ruU amount of insurance cannot be
ascertained at this writing, but those best
informed among insurance men state that
the probable amount of insurance is not less
than 50 per oent.of the loss, and generally
in the best of companies.
Rcsumn of the Disaster.
Visiting the scene of the fire at 11:30,1 found
the firemen working at the debris, yet too hot
to undertake to recover the dead remaining in
the ruiae, numbering, according to the best in
formation, thirteen.
One body recovered was near the front of the
Diamond miU wreck. When first seen by the
m%n who had arrived at the scene, he was yet
alive, and able to move, but wedged in by the
flames, where he perished in the sight of those
unable to help him.
Unfortunately at this point the hydrant was
clogged, so that several minutes elapsed before
water came through freely, otherwise it is fair
ly possible that this man could have been res
cued alive, but it was act possible that he could
have survived his injuries apparent when first
seen.
THE FEARFUL EXPLOSIONS.
No dceeription can convey a nil idea of the
force of the explosions, two of which wore dis
tinctly heard all over the city. Millers uni
formly attribute the explosion to the flour
dust which was distributed through the atmos
phere of the closed rooms, and the milling ap
paratus caught from contact with the Same, or
from friction. The principal force of the ex
plosion appears to have been from the Wash
burn mill towards the Diamond and Zenith
mills. The second explosion probably occurred
in one of these.
The Milwaukee & St. Paul round house in
front of these was half demolished by the
concussion, while the raihoad shops look as if
they had been bombarded. The Centennial
block, on Washington avenue, had all its heavy
plate windows broken except one store, which
wan open. The glass was broken into fine
pieces, as if ran through a stamp mill.
FSESONAL EXEEBTENCES.
A miller standing near the window of the
old Washburn mill, was startled by the first
explosion, and had one glance, in when he saw
the walls of the big mill spreading outward,
roofs falling, and flames flashing up. The
next moment he was on the floor blown half
way across the mill by the concussion.
Fred George, of the Zenith
mill, was not killed, but
escaped by jumping from the window into the
canal. It was rumored that he went through
the flume into the river, but the rumor was in
correct. He escaped with severe but not fatal
injuries.
WILD KXCtTEMENT.
For hours the excitement here' was naturally
great,and the wildest rumors prevailed. Even
at this hour it is difficult to learn the truth re
garding any detail. Among the wild rumors
was one accounting for the great force of the
explosion, by attributing it to nitro-glycerine,
of which it wa* said a car-load had been trans
erred during the day in the immediate neigh
borhood of the mills. Railroad men, however,
assert that no kind of explosive material what
ever was in any car in the vicinity,
and that no nitro-glyoerine or other explosive
is brought into the city.
In all the mills notices were pasted prohibit
ing the use of open lights.
CAtTBE OF THE EXPLOSION.
Millers say that flour dust in the quantities
in which it existed in the big
mill would explode with force enough
to account for all the destruction worked.
Besides the explosion vtas immediately follow
ed by hot flames enveloping all the ruins and
shutting in the air. This millers regard as
proof positive that the explosion was of flour
dust.
Eye v.itne:
great roof of the big mill was
lifted hundreds of feet in the
air, when fragments flew out in every
direction, and one. roof seemed to melt in the
air surrounded by flames.
**t. i xx ltli
A SHOCKING SCENE.
One body was seen in the biasing ruins of i
tbi Diamond mill, apparently on the roof. It
lay on the back, anus extended, hands burned
'ff skull bared and trunk incandescent. When
the flames were tmbdued, the body had die
appeared, perhaps entirely consumed.
I.veUBANGE.
The losses ol the insurance companies repre
sented by Gale Si Co. are as follows:
C. C. Washburn, Washburn "A" mill Hart
ford-mill 9800 machinery, $1,600. Atlantic,
X. Y. mills, $850 machinery, $1,700. Home,
Ohiomill, 4500 machinery, $1,000.
T. A. Christian A Co., stock in warekoute
"A" mill, North American, $4,000,
Pettit, Robinson & Co's. millNorth British
A Mercantile, mill, 3,000 machinery, $3,000
Hartford, stock, $3,000, mill, S3,000 phceni.-:
of New York, stock, $3,000, macninery, *3,000
Lancashire, Eng., machinery, $3,000 Atlantic-,
New York, machinery, $3,000.
A. P. Ankeny, Galaxy flour mill:Phoenix,
X. mill 81,000, machinery, 1.000. North
American, mill ?1,000, machinery ?1,500. Lan
cashire, Eng., machinery '$3,000. Atlantic. K. I
i Y., machinery $3,000.
Cahill, Ankeny & Cc, stock in Galaxy flour
I mill':North British. Mercantile, .*2,500.
Hartford $2,503.
Bull, Newton & Co., Humboldt Mill, North
British & Mercantile, machinery. $1,000 stock,
$2,500. Ph-jenix, mill, $500 stock, $-2,500.
Hartford, mill $5% machinery, $1,500. At--
antic, machinery, $1,000.
Minneapolis Mill Co., elevator building:r
North British and mercantile, $3,001! Lanca
shire, $2,500, on wheat in Minneapolis ele
vator.
Crocker, Fiske & Co.:-Noifch British and
Mercantile, $3,000 Hartford, $5,000.
C. A. Pillsbury & Co.:Hartford, $2,500
North American, $2,500.
D. R. Barber & Bon:North American,
$3,500.
Pettit, Robinson & Co., on lumber:Hart
ford, $2,500 North American, $2,000.
Losses in companies represented by E. B.
Ames:
Humboldt millShawmut, $1,500 Traders',
$2.000.. Total, $3,500.
ElevatorGerman American, $2,500 Fire
Assurance, $2,500 American, 2,500 Firemen's
Fund, $2,500 Royal, $2,500 Liverpool, London
and Globe, $2,500. Total, $15,000.
Washburn "A" millManhattan, $2,000
Commercial Union, $3,000 Royal, $3,000:
Bcottish Commercial, $2,500. Total, $10,500.
Diamond millGerman American, $2,000
Royal, $3,000 British American, $2,000 Bcot
tish Commercial, $2,000. Total, $9,000.
Pettit, Robinson & Co.'s millFranklin
.$3,000. German American, $3,000. Manhat
tan, $3,000. Traders', $1,000. Commercial
Union, $3,000. Royal, $3,000. Liverpool.
London & Globe, $2,000. Scottish Commercial,
$3,000. Ttotal, $21,000.
Another Description.
MIXNEAPOUB, May 3, 1 A. scThe GLOBE
special, which left St. Paul by private con
veyance, was forty minutes later crossing the
iron bridge that spans the Mississippi in the
immediate vicinity of the great fire. Here met
his gaze a sight which in its appaling grandeur
has never been equaled, and probably will
never be surpassed again iu the history
of this great mill city of the
Northwest. Watys of mills, a great stone
structure, four stories high, stood out in a sea
of fire, notwithstanding the attempt of the
angry flames to further encroach upon its
rocky sides. All else for two squares to the
east and west, had been burned over, and
black smoke and living embers, crowded with
active firemen and hundreds of spectators with
eighteen solid streams of water playing on the
dying embers while the raging current dashed
through the wide canal, bearing timbers that
feU through into the waters below.
The first impression was that Vesuvius had
burst forth, and these were the last evidences
of her dying energies. Thousands of exhausted
people were passing to and fro and nothing
was left but to walk over the ruins. Here
were great piles of Btonc under which lay the
bodies of the dead. These attracted most the
attention. A perfect network of hose led
from all contiguous hydrants. Just in front
was the round house of the Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad, which contained seven locomotives
I with a quarter of its roof crushed in. and one-
jr
ST. PAUL, FEIDAY MORNING, MAY 3, 1878.
half of its wail smashed down. Heavy timbers
which covered the big canal lay* in every con
ceivable shape, while, upon the elevated railway
track, in the rear of the old Washburne mill
cars, partly filled, had pitched down the incline,
and were half consumed.
Thefireswept everything, leaving a blank space
from Washington avenue to the river. Various
occupants on the above Btreet for four squares
had boarded up their front doors and windows,
and either stood guard or had moved their
property to other buildings. There was scarce
ly a whole pane of glass left in any building
fronting on this scene of desolation.
The terriffic power of this explosion can bo
properly appreciated by the shock felt in St.
Paul, but the smallness of the particles of
glass which seemed not larger than a pea gave
the-appearance of the pavement1
being strewn
with white sand. We counted eighteen large
French plate glass windows in Centennial
block which had been destroyed. Only one
store front in the building stood the test, and
that was owing to the fact that the doors stood
open. A citizen stood in his Rtore door, di
rectly opposite Harwood's four-story block,
and saw the second explosion, and estimates,
that the flames actually shot up into the
heavens not less than seven hundred feet, as it
appeared to him \o be many hundred feet
above'Harwood's store.
i An old gentleman, who lived in a shanty,
in close proximity to the fire, say's that the
I elevator, which stood adjoining the big mill,
was on fire and in ruins in a very few minutes.
Pieces of burning embers were showered
down all over the eastern portiuo- of the city.
Your correspondent saw apiece of deling half
consumed, and still on fire, not far from the
Club house, half way between Sc. Paul and
Minneapolis.
At this late hour but little information can
be picked up, as none but watchful firemen are
on duty, whilst gangs of men are clearing the
railroad tracks.
A huge stick of timber fourteen inches square
and thirty feet long stands perpendicular, pen
etrating the large belfry, on the top of the old
Washburn mill. Where it came from or howi
it got there is a mystery.
A set of heavy wheels which have lain
explosion.
io-
catrJ
i
slightly imbeded in the ground in front of the i
explodevd mills, were rolled from their resting
th
plac
ANOTEia IN3TJBANCE STATEMENT.
The insurance as far as it could be ascertained
as to individuals, was as follows:
I Bull, Newton & Co $ 8,500
Minnesota Mill Company.. 3,000
I Crocker, Fisk & Co.,- wheat 8,000
I 0. A. Pillsbury A Co., wheat 5,000
of the explosion, state that the R. Barber A Son, wheat 3,500 4 A.
"Pettit, Robinson & Co., lumber 4.500 .1
C. C. faashbnrn ,7!T. 6\450
J." A! Christian & Co. 4,000 i
The insurance as represented by the firm of
Gale & Co., in this city is as follows:
Hartford $22,400
Phouuix 2,500
Phenix 11,000
North British 18,000
Home, of Columbus 1,500
os i on
Supt. Farley helda special train in readiness i "J*"? JE* J"jt
at the Bt:PSul&''Pacific depot for some time,
to meet any demands that might be made upon I
him for assistance, but as no calk were re- i
ceived he took a few friends on board the ca
boose and proceeded to the scene of the terri
ble conflagration.
One of the gentlemen of this party describes
the spectacle of the burning mills, and tho
half-mile stretch of biasing ruins down
along the bank of the river, as viewed from
the crossing of the east branch of the Missis- i
sipppi on to the island, as one of the grandest!
reaching the fire itselfmeeting hundreds of
men, women and children returning to their
hurrying towards the great blaze. In passing
party camo in sight of the first evidences of I
the effects of the terrible explosion, in the I
form of broken windows and glass store fronts.
It was evident even from this point that the
direction of the explosive shock had been to
the westward, or back from the river, as the
broken windows and doors were much more
numerous on the west side of the street than
on the east and it may be said that
not a single building within a frontage
of half a mile at two blocks away escaped
injury. These broken windows and fine glass
fronts to business houses and residences were
being rapidly boarded up, and presented a
novel spectacle before the party left.
As near as could be ascertained, seven flour
ing mills, carryng an aggregate of 91 run of stone
a greater flouring capacity than some whole
States of the Union can boast) had fallen into
a mass of ruins or been swept away by the
flames. A great number of smaller shops,
shanties, dwellings, half depleted lumber piles
and yards had also been lapped p by the de
vouring element
Directly to the westward, and about one
block away from the Washburn mill, which
was the first to explode, stood the round
house (or engine house) of the Milwaukee
load, and which had been rent in twain from
base to turret, as though some towering church
spire had failen across and crushed its Way
through.
In the midst of the burnt district, but a lit
tle to the southeast of the great explosion,
stands isolated and alone, nnshattered, and
almost unscratched, the "Palisade Mills"a
fine stone structure, three or four stories high,
with fire in front of it, fire on either flank of
it, and rain all around it.
The tire department was doing brave and ef
ficient work at every ciposed point to prevent
the further 6prced of the flames, and at the
hour Mr. Farley and party left to return to St.
Paul10 o'clockit was evident beyond a
doubt that- the devouring element had been
circumscribed and subdued within safe control.
qmet
What Caused the Explosimt.
Chief Engineer Bracket stated that as yet he
had been unable, from lack of time, to come
to any definite conclusions as to the cause of
the explosion. "One' -theory, .however,
that had -presented itself to him
was, that the explosion was caused by
other agencies than middlings' dust and gas
generated therefrom. This theory, he thought,
was the more plausible, from the fact that all
the buildings on the West side of the Wash
burn miU were damaged to a greater extent
than those one the east side, while the Zenith
mill, and those in the same tow, were
Xt
bac
about 9 p. M. Mr. Farley and friends left the train Anthony Hill the concussion was sufficiently
and walked a distance of about one mile before
pronounceldnimpressioseveralthat
I II Ml 'Hi 1' llllHll-Ml Ml I I MMI I
7-T
::T
but very little damaged by the shock. The
mills on the other side were completely de
stroyed. During the afternoon a freight train
came in from the East and stood on the r&Uroad
track, in cl.ose proximity to the mill. It has
been positively asserted that one box-car was
loaded with nitro-glyccrine. If that
should prove the case it will account for the
severe shock.
Mr. Brackett stated further that so far as he
had an opportunity to observe and read upon
the subject of middlings flour duBt
explosions, no such extensive ex
plosion had ever before occurred
from that cause. In middlings dust Explosions,
as a usual thing, a flash followed by no great
damage to the building is the result. He did
not think that that class of explosions would
injure the walls of a stone structure of
the dimensions of tBe~ Washburn
mill. Such might be the case
but he had never heard of any. On the
other hand, nitro glycerine in conjunction with
the gas, naturally generated in a mill run at
such a high pressure, would not fail to produce
the results above indicated. 4
2: 10 A. M.
At this hour the fire is still blazing among
the mills, and no more bodies have been re
covered.
A laborer residing several- blccfas* below "the
scene of the main fire, was standing outside
his house when the explosion occurred, and
saw a flaming ball descend upon the neighbor
ing house and spread over it instantly,
as if the ball had been amass of burning oil.
This bail, he says was "jUBt fire, nothing else,"
or nothing substantial about it. The man
assured one of the reporters in th3 presence of
a number of persons, that he was at work to
day, for the shaft being sunk close by the de
I stroyed mills, where nitro glycerine cartridges
were used for blasting, and among other things
i helped to carry nitro glycerine from
cars to the shaft. The dust explosion theory,
however, is stoutly maintained by those who
were in the immediate vicinity.
One oC these gentlemen stopping at the Nicol
let, said he was looking at the Washburn mill and
I saw flames shoot from the third and fourth
story windows an instant before the first ex-
This man heard two explosions.
Another man, standing at the time about
four squares away on higher ground, saw a
cloud of smoke and the roof fly up in the air.
The elevator between him and the Washburn
mill appeared to part bodily from top to bot
tom, and instantly broke into flames,
as if contact with the outer
air had at onco fired the a1whole.
1
1
S
6pt the fire
desette
scon
Tb
mcn
Pettit, Robinson & Co 24,000 ruin of the explosion, the desolation is ex-
^.^.^pkeny 13,000 treme, and the scene now is made all the more
Cah.ll, Ankeny &Qo 7,500 wcil
A,
Having exhausted itself from sheer
at thdebsouthergnh extremity of the fire
The full extent cannortn realizerd until
morning. From the remains I should judge
about fifty i ailroad cars are destroyed. The
round house is split clear through the middle
explo-
gafJ Ut an bo
Lancashirc 6,50 0 from the force of the
North American 13,000
Atlantic 8,550
sio otbin
T.c
1n
S
If
ibe Umbe
having fallen upon
it..
"^possible to give further details of lo-e
I of life, as all dead bodies are jn the ruins and
Total $72,450 i the families are not to be found.
Minneapolis feels deeply grateful to Bt.
What a St Paul Gentleman Saw. Paul physicians for coming early to render
L5f
06
to break
generaa
cause
homes, while hundreds of others from the I somewhere withink the city limits. This sup-
more remote suburbs on foot, and many laden positionowas rapidly dispelled by the dense
vehicles from the surrounding country
treme
d
I
H***** ttet MmneapoMi
ee
neV
W
afflicl0n
^P*"
IN ST. PAUX..
The shock, and in some portions the detona
tion of the explosion was distinctly heard and
felt in this city, and a few persons who chanced
to be looking in the direction of Minneapolis,
saw the cloud of smoke which shot up into the
air immediately following. Occupants of the
custom house distinctly felt the shock, several
stepping to the doors toperceptibly. learn the cause. Gen-
ver
and most awfully sublime, as a picture, of tlemen in thte city hall, not a very
anything he ever saw in reality, in art or story. 1 stantialn building, say that structure rocked
Reaching the depot on the Minneapolis side
or
a
sub-
O St
windows.magazines
6mo
c!ott
were rushing into the city from', explosion, darkening the heavens i
both sides of the river, and I
th
th
down Washington avenue, and reaching a point I smoke beoamhee tinctured withth
some two blocks below the Nicollet house, the spreadinucgPt
At first
wafa the shock wa
explosion a powder
th
followed the
tba
direction of Minneapolis, and locatinn
calamity in that city. As the
red, graduall-y
excitement in city increas
bige the telegraph
^SP"
1
te
a
lQ
an
an
until the sky in that direction wore
newspaper offices to learn the nature of the
calamity. In a short time a telegram was re
ceived calling for aid, as mentioned
elsewhere, but giving no par
ticulars. A Utile later another
telegram stated the character of the
casualty, but it was not until the GLOBE extra
was issued that anything approaching a fuU
conception of the terrible misfortune that had
befallen our sister city, took possession of the
minds of bur people. Though then after 10
o'clock, the extra issue of the GLOBE was
snatched up by the waiting crowds as fast as
turned off from the press, and as the brief but
startling details were read, and their full im
port understood, universal sympathy and sor
row was expressed for the stricken city, and
especially for the personal sufferers.
An incident showing the terrific force of the
explosion is told by the young man who drives
the GLOBE greased lightning between' St. Paul
and Minneapolis, who reports the
fall near tho residence of Mr.
David Ramaley, fully four miles from
the scene of the explosion, of a piece of charred
and shattered scantling, some eight feet in
length. Still more remarkable was the fall on
St. Anthony hill, yet nrtber from the explo
sion than Mr. Ramaley's residence, of a half
window sash, with one of the lights of glass
unbroken, blown from one of the nulls in which
the explosion occurred. At the same time
parties who went up on St. Anthony hill,
thinking the five was in that vicinity, had tlieir
attention attracted by the almost continuous
falling of pieces of tarred roofing, Mr. Upham,
of the First National bank, picking up such a
piece fully a half-yard square, which he and
the gentlemen with him divided up as a me
mento of the terrible visitation.
Going to tUe Kescue.
The official news of the conflagration reached
S Paul in the form of a call to this city's
firo department for all help in men and appara
tus that could be spared. Accordingly, No. 2
and No. 8 engines, with their engineers and
firemen, were ordered for duty by telegraph
from the chiefs office. Four hose carts and
two men from each hose company were also or
dered out. The engines, carts and men pro
ceeded in all haste to the passenger depot of
the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul at the foot
of Jackson. The ,iHroad authorities
informed the firemen that thel rtrack
could not be cleared at that point so as to load
the apparatus. The apparatus was at the pas
senger depot about 8:35 p. M., when it was or
dered to the upper freight depot.
Then a scene of confusion and delay occurred
which siakes oae's very nerve tingle, with vex
ation to write about. The track was surround
ed by an enormous and excited, but orderly
crowd, amid which the apparatus and the
firemen stood in a state of enforced inani
tion, and fully half an hoar of precious time
was wasted "before the flat cars, upon which the
engines, &c. were to be transported,
made their appearance. At length, the train of
two flat cars and one baggage car came to the
crossing. The latter vaj immediately occu
pied and packed to suffocation by a crowd that
had no business whatever in the car. Mean
while the tedious task of running the engines
on the flats up the steep skids by hand was ac
complished with a will by the department, and
a few willing helpful citizens. In fjict, even
body seemed to be ready to give a helping hand
except the railroad men and the bummer crowd
that filled the baggage car, intended exclusive
ly for the firemen, reporters. Doctor Murphy
and Aid. Grace, the chairman of the
fire department. When the train
was ready to start, an attempt was made to
clear the car of the boys and outsiders wedged
into it, but only with a very partial success.
The hose, to the length of about 2,590 feet,
was unreeled from the carts and placed upon
the flats, and the carts were then dispatched to
be reloaded at their respective houses to be
ready for home emergienees. All this, had taken
time, and it was not until 9:42, or a lapse of
two good hours since the engines were first
ready to embark, that the train moved out.
When the train arrived at the Mendota junc
tion, it was met by a telegram at about 10:10
P. M., telling it to await orders, and in ten min
utes the word came from Minneapolis that the
fire was under control, and the train was ordered
back to St. Paul.
At thin writing, it is difficult to account for
the delay in getting away, but it certainly cam
not be placed at the door of the St. Paul fire
department. The GLOBE reporter was assured
that when a portion of tho St. Paul depart
ment was sent to Anoka, the train bear
ing the department was away within
the hour after receiving the call
for assistance. If the engines had been taken
to the St. Paul & Pacific levee depot, they
could have been run upon the flats in ten min
utes, and that was the point the engines first
went to, but ordered away to be banged about
from pillar to post and from ono depot to the
other to suit, apparently, the caprice of the
railroad company, while not very far from tn
hour was wasted before the cars wcro presented
for loading. Borne one bungled, and kept tip
the bungling long enough to have afforded
time to utterly consume the whole of Minneap
olis.
The "Globe" Extra.
TTT
WASHTKOTON, May 2.In accordance with a
law recently passed for the employment of
temporary clerks, between 60 and 75 persons
were yesterday appointed to such positions in
the twasury department. The appointments
were determined by the completeness of the
quotas of different States. A large number of
clerks have also been restored to the interior
department, under recent appropriations.
Minister Seward telegraphs the department
of Btate that the famine in the northern prov
inces of China will continue six months
longer. Funds for the sufferers, if transmitted
by telegraph, can be disbursed by tho foreign
committee or by a committee appointed at
Peking.
The Senate committee on commerce has de
cided to report the nominations of Jno. A.
Howard and Wm. Kent as assistant appraisers
of merchandize at New York favorably, and the
nomination of Jno. B. Frothingham a-s a.-.v.mi-
ant appraiser at the same port adversely. The- I
committee also took action on the nomination
of Geo. L. Smith to be collector of customs at
New Orleans and unanimously agreed to rec
ommend its confirmation.
Subscriptions to the 4 per cent, loan to-day,
$222,000.
The House committee on ajrricnltaro to-d'iy.
unanimously agreed to report favorably on Uii
resentative Cutler's bill, declaring the dep'irt
ment of agriculture one of the executive de
partments.
The Senate in executive session, confirmed
the nomination o Gc'. L. Smith, as collector
of customs at New Orleans.
The Senate committee on commerce tu-dny,
continued consideration of the steam boat ti:i,
and struck out the clause limiti:)t personal
liability of steamboat owners. The clause
making the certificate of a steamhait i-!*pcctor
prima facie evidence in courts of law, \yas aho
stricken out. and thre bill- rcf^redasto
Senators Spencer,
MINNESOTA
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY.
The GLOBE, as usual, furnished tho people
with the first news of the great disaster at
Minneapolis. Immediately after the explo
sion the GLOBE Minneapolis reporters were
busily at work on the scene, and numerous
assistants were sent forward by train and car
riage from Bt. Paul, to aid in the task of writ
tag up the great calamity.
At 10 P. M. an extra was issued from the
GLOBE office, and until after midnight news
boys were shouting and finding ready sale for i
GLOBE extras. As usual, when any exciting
event occurs the GLOBE counting room was
thronged with Seekers after news, the pnblic
naturaUy knowing where to look for the first converted into cruisers. Thrco vessels which
inteUigence.
XUMBEIl 109.
80 (?I0UDY
RUSSIA AXD .\GLA\D.
Knssia Malces Further Concessions-
Agreement to an Inierc!uuie of View*
-The Withdrawals from Coafoutinop?
Again Discussed.
Loyoos, May 2.A St. Petersburg corres
pondent says it is not at all probable that any
thing in the simps of au ultimatum will bo
sent to the Porte, for the present at least, al
though there may have been some such inten
tion a little time ago, when it was believed
England had determined on war and vras mere
ly endeavoring to gaia time. Now, however,
extreme scepticism in regard to the pacific as
snrsnees of some of the British ministers seems
to be diminished. Russia is not likely to
precipitate a crisis a3 long aa a reasonable
chance of a peaceful solution remains. A
well informed St. Petersburg correspondent of
the Political Correspondence savs the important
decisions which caused this favorable chango
in Russia's attitude were arrived at in a great
council presided over by the Czar.
An exchange of views between London and
St. Petersburg on questions interesting to
England has been agreed npon.
The Agence Jinssc says intelligence continuen
to be received of an improved state of the
!.jur \mlcrt, through Germany as interme
diary, for the simultaneous withdrawal from
the vicinity of Constantinople, as well as of
the negotiations with Austria concerning her
special interests.
VrEKirA, May 2.Tho Political Coi-re*pond
aicc states that the revival of negotiations be
Lweon Russia and England relative to the con
gress, is due to the initiative of tho former.
The negotiations will be based upon larger con
cessions than hitherto acceded to by Ruasia.
A special from Constantinople reports that
General Todleben has resumed
negotiations with Admiral Hornby,
in regard to details of tho withdrawals. He
also resumed negotiations with the Porte for
the evaouation of the ceded fortresses, but as
yet without result, Safvct Pasha declaring that
i tho Russians have not carried out tho San
Stefano treaty. A telegram from Constantino
plo says that tho Russians have of lato fre
quently violated the Boulairo lins3 of demar
cation.
ACSTBU 0 OCAED.
VnarsA, May 4.Tho lagblatt says that ia
conscqucnco of tho concentration of Russian
troops near tho Transylvanian frontier, it has
become necessary for Austria to tako precau
tions. According to reliable information, tho
question of concentrating an Austrian army in
Transylvania, is being seriously considered.
LONDON, May 2.In the stock market*,
prices have fallen away under the influence of
the continental bourses and discouraging po
litical news. Among foreign securities tho
Russian suffered most.
A memorial to the Queen ia being extensive
ly signed in Sheffield, expressing confidence in
the ministers and a willingness to make every
necessary sacrifice for the conduct of the war
until the cause of peace and order in Europe
is secured from lawless and reckless oppress
BiOtl.
TO J1E ARMED BT AMERICANS.
At Cronstadt. it is stated that several steam
ers lying at Revel, havo been purchased by th*
Russian government for the purpose,of ben
Icf Keve fl weef agQ lr tn pret rmv-ixT A Tvtm i Russian admiralty anwdf have gone tro
THJ^ JNATlUiNAL UArTlAL. I to receivo their armaments, whicohp wily
__ vided by au American firm, and
The Nomination of Smith for Collector at
New Orleans ConfirmedReduction of
Clerical Force in the Land OfficeKvery
thing Beady for the Florida Investigation
-Other Items of Interest.
the seamen who
n Randolph, a
sub-committee, to report what further amend
ments, if any should be made, before reporting
it to the Senate.
United States Treasurer Gilfillan says parties
who apply for silver dollars in exchange for tbe
United States notes will be required to pay fuOWCfj. Several members called out to hava
will be
freight charges"on the same. The department
pays freight on subsidiary coin, but cannot do
so on silver dollars.
Mr. Hayes has approved the act prohibiting
the coinage of twenty cent silver piece?.
The river and harbor appropriation bill will
be taken up for consideration to-morrow.
The House committee on foreign allairs
agreed to the bill in relation to the Jene7:ielau
mixed commission, and Representative Hamil
ton was authorized to report the bill tu the
House with favorable recommendation. The
bill provides that the act of Feb. '25, 1873, to
enforce the stipulations of the convention
with Venezuela, and the payment of adjudicat
ed claims, is hereby repealed also that if the
President shall believe, upon examination, that
Venezuela is entitled to a hearing of any or all
claims, or to any relief, he is empowered to en
ter into further convention with that
country to afford such relief provided
the convention shall have the sanction of the
Senate of the United States.' The committee
also adopted the report of Representative Ham
ilton, which recommends the
1 examination of
all claims passed upon by the Venezuelan
mixed commission.
The House of Representatives have cut the
force in the laud office down to 160 clerks. In
1853 there were 180 clerks, and the work Is
much greater than it was at that time, com
prising 800 land grants to railroads, canals and
states.bounty land. The grants to soldiers of
the late war, and grants for agricultural col
leges besides business pertaining to settlers
on public lands. The clerical force being too
small, the office is now, months behind in cor
respondence and four years in patenting of
public lauds.
It is not yet decided by tho gentlemen hav
ing in charge the Florida presidential frauds,
whether they will propose an investigation by
the House committee on judiciary, or by Joint
committee of Congress, to consift of six mem*
bers of the House and five members of the
Senate. They say they have the original affi
davit of McLin and other documents embracing
all material facts from all parties interested in
the alleged frauds. A resolution for investi
gation may be introduced next Monday or on
some other day, as a question of privilege.
TT
departed some tins* ago.
nit LAST FIGHT.
And fie Threw Up The Sponge As He toft
The Ring.
Taor, May 2. Senator John Morrisey died at
an early hour this morning.
SARATOGA, May 2.Morrissey's funeral will
be at Troy Saturday.
ALBANY, May 2.~Scnator Morrisey's vacant
chair and desk in tho Senate Chamber is
draped in mourning and a basket of flowers
stands on the desk by orders of the Senators.
A large floral crass presented by personal
triends also stands on the desk.
Trembling in their Hoots.
[Washington Letter New Orleans Democrat]
It is well known in private circles that at
least three members of 'the cabinet and Vice
President Wheeler regard the situation as ono
of extreme peril to the administration.
JAvclij Times in the Ohio X,C0t*talure.
[Columbus, Ohio Letter, April 30.]
There was an exciting scene on the floor of
the Ohio Senate to-day, growing out of a little
misunderstanding in the Democratic family.
The Hon. William Bell is railroad commissioner
of Ohio, at a salary of $3,000 a year. His son
enjoys the position of chief clerk in the office,
at a salary of $1,500. It happens that, in
making np the appropriation bill, which is be
ing prepared with a view to the fall campaign,
young.Bcll'BEalary was cut down $300. Tho
elder Bell, who has been secretary of state, and
is generally understood to have claims upon
the party lor the best offices going, was on
the floor of the Senate to-day lobbying
against the reduction. Senator Forrest,
of Cincinnati! spoke in favor of cutting
the salary down. He said the office of railroad
commissioner was practically of no account
that Bell and his son were never to be found at
their post, and that the work waa left to a boy,
who was usually drunk. Soon after Forrest
had finished a conversation was heard in that
part of the hall, and, the next minute, Forrest
was seen lying on the floor with Bell gripping
Senators rushed in and separated
i his throat.
combatants, and a scene of great confusion
Bell arrested, and the fic-ageant-at arms took
him in charge. He was afterwards released.
Forrest, whose neck bears witness to severe
choking, says he was rising from his chair
when Bell grabbed him, and, taking him at- a
disadvantage, threw bim down. When order
had been restored, Senator Mr.rsh offered a res
olution, which was adopted, appointing a com
mittee of three to investigate the matter.
is likely to result in expelling Bell from offir
Will Xot Have TlMen.
i Charleston, 8. News & Courier.
The national Democracy have been beaten
once by a feebleness of their leader, and
the South says, distinctly and positively, that
i it does not mean to be beaten again. The per
son who prevented the Democracy from en
joying the fruits of victory of 1877 will uot ba
allowed to play tho same game over again four
years later. Mr. Tilden is not entered for tho
race. Tho South bap? bim. It is distinction
enough for Mr. Tilden to be the
only person elected President, since
the foundation of the Republic,
who did not obtain his office. The position
iB unique, like Mr. Tilden, and it is not pro
posed to compromise his dignity by aUowing
him to become President. The South will not
have Mr. Tilden.
The Widow Olirrr.
The Widow Oliver comes out iu anew *prir
suit. She prays the conrt to order .Smioti
Cameron to produce in conrt .'11 the letters ho
has received from her, a j-jjecialK th-vo
written anterior to a certr.ii) letter dated Har
risburg, Sept. 23, 1875, in which he i\\*\tv+ tn
offer of marriage. Ou this letter tuv-wUUMV-i
fondest hopes arc stayed. Simon uevt-r laid
his armor off, even in love-rankin but wan
constantly on hi* guard. He r*uuu-d. th.*
widow to -write her replies on the iwrn* pajn-r
Bis letters were written on, ann thus hU h*t?e.&
were returned to him, having st-rvt^l tbir pui
pose. These letters and te.dus are al.-i. M.u.t.
in the case by Widow Oliver. Sl cLin.* that
these lcttcro will cowv ct c-aft- .u..e.iu
3
1
^m ,.1.1.,
Americat*eprehtefb
to receiv'