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St. Paul Globe
St. Paul, MN
June 8, 1903

              FIRE DISASTER VISITS BRAINERD

              Big Hotel and Several Stores
                and Residences Burn -
                  Loss $30,000

              Special to The Globe.
              Brainerd, Minn., June 7. -- Brainerd was visited by one of
              the worst fires in its history this afternoon, and for some
              time the business district of the city was threatened. The
              fire broke out in the Armstrong Hotel, situated on lower
              Front Street, and although the department responded quickly,
              great loss of property resulted on account of very low
              pressure of water which made it almost impossible for the men
              to cope with the flames, fanned by the high wind.

              Before the fire was checked buildings in a whole block in the
              business district were consumed, entailing a loss of $30,650.
              The loss would have been much greater but for the fact that
              the wind changed at the critical moment and the fire headed
              in another direction. Armstrong Hotel, one of the best in the
              city, was completely consumed, and this is the heaviest loss.
              Very little insurance was carried, something less than $8,000
              on the entire number of buildings burned.

              The fire broke out in one of the rooms of the hotel, and
              spread rapidly to adjoining buildings. On several occasions
              roofs of other buildings caught fire. R. L. WEEKS, a fireman,
              had his hand badly burned, and SAM WEEKS, FRANK FULLER and E.
              M. PETERS were overcome by heat and smoke and nearly
              perished.

              The following is a list of losses:
              Armstrong Hotel, hotel furniture, barn and contents, $19,000;
              insurance, $6,000.
              Peter Wolvert, household furniture, $100; no insurance.
              Mrs. Lena Shupe, household furniture, $50; no insurance.
              James Gillespie, frame building and stock of harnesses and
              other goods, $3,000; no insurance.
              Adam Bellmuth, laundry fixtures, $200; no insurance.
              P. J. Kelly, blacksmith shop and stock, $3,500; insurance,
              $550; and household furniture, $1,200; insurance, $500.
              Mrs. Mattie Winters, household furniture, $400; no insurance.
              Mrs. Charlotte McGillis, residence and household furniture,
              $1,200; insurance, $700.
              Len Maple, household furniture, $200; no insurance.
              Richard Thompson, household furniture, $300; no insurance.
              A. A. White, barn, $500; fully insured.
              Mrs. J. M. Gray, building, $250; no insurance.

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