Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1897 — PERISH IN A FIRE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PERISH IN A FIRE.

Six Persons Burned In the Hotel Dakota at Grand Korka. At least six persons lost their live* in the burning of the Hotel Dakota at Grand Forks, N. I). The building was a sixstory structure and was crowded with guests. It was bitterly cold and the occupants of the hotel, driven from the elevators by the dense smoke, were compelled to seek safety by means of the fire escapes. Dressed only iu their night clothes they Buffered greatly from the cold, but it is believed that all were rescued except six. The fire started iu the basement of Nash Bros.’ wholesale building shortly after 4 o'clock and in less than twenty minutes the flames spread into the big Grand Forks Mercantile building adjoining and to the top floor of the Hotel Dakota. An alarm was immediately sounded. The guests and employes made a rush for the elevator, bnt those oh the

third, fourth and fifth floors were driven back by the smoke. The only refuge there seemed to be left were the fire escapes. As the register is burned, the number of dead is unknown. The flames spread so rapidly that nothing of value waa taken from any of the buildings. In the hotel everything was a total loss. The cost of the building was SIOB,OOO, exclusive of the furnishings, which were valued at $50,000. The insurance was $60,000. The wholesale cigar stock of W. W. Kogan & Co., valued at $7,500, was a total loss. The other losses are: Grand Forks Mercantile Company, stock and fixtures, $95,000, building $40,000, insurance $65,000; Nash wholesale commission stock $75,000, building $40,000. insurance $60,000; L. 11. Bergh, drug stock, $5,000; Jerry Daily, bar fixtures, $3,500; Fabel & Co., bowling alley and gymnasium, $3,500.

HOTEL DAKOTA, GRAND FORKS.