Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1898 — CITY OF BISMARCK IS IN RUINS. [ARTICLE]

CITY OF BISMARCK IS IN RUINS.

Capital of NortJi Dakota Almost Wiped Oat by Fire. Bismarck, N. D., was gutted by fire the other night as never before in its history. The greater portion of the business section of the town was wiped out, the Sheridan hotel being one of the few important buildings lefts standing. The flames also invaded the residence district, doing immense damage. The total loss will run into hundreds of thousands, and may reach the million mark. The fire originated in the agent’s office of the Northern Pacific depot, and almost as soon as it was discovered the entire building and the immense warehouse of the company were in flames. Inflammable oils and powder contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, and before they could be checked they had spread to a block of brick buildings across the alley, destroying the Tribune, Nare’s hardware store and the entire row. The flames then leaped across the street to the First National Bank building, which melted away in a few minutes. The Central block followed, and then the fire spread to the postoffice, sweeping over the entire block and carrying down the postoffice, the Merchants’ Bank block, the Griffin block and all intermediate frame and brick structures. Kupitz’s store and the greater part of that' block were also burned. The flames also spread north into the residence section and gutted it. The firemen were powerless to check the inroads of the fire, which spread to hundreds of buildings, licking them np as so much waste paper. Every drug store in the city was burned, and all the grocery stores but two or three, two newspaper offices, and the great bulk of the business portion of Re city,with several blocks of residences. The Sheridan House had a narrow escape, but was saved. All the postoffice supplies and fixtures are lost. Many people are homeless. The line of fire extended from the Northern Pacific tracks to Thayer street on the north, and from Fourth to Third street on the east and west. The insurance may cover one-half the loss.

Sir Martin Conway has left England for Bolivia, where he intends to explore the high, group of the Andes, containing the peaks Illimani and Illampu (or Borate). He is accompanied by the Alpine guides Antoine Maquignaz and Louis Pellissier, who made the first ascent of Mount Elias, in Alaska, last year with the Duke of Abruzzi. r w » ;• « ' . ' *■ Mrs. Charles W. Mason of Ellsworth, Me., is exhibiting a full-blown rose, which she declares grew upon an apple tree on her place. On the tree apples are beginning to form. Seeing what she supposed was a belated blossom, Mrs. Mason plucked it, and was astonished to find that it was not an apple blossom at all, but a rose. In proof she exhibits the flower. On the basis of the taxes paid, it is estimated that the beer consumed in Philadelphia last year would provide an average of about fifty glasses for each inhabitant ,