DULUTH SWEPT BY FIRE.

DULUTH SWEPT BY FIRE.

Duluth, Minn., has been visited by two destructive fires within twenty-four hours. On the afternoon of Sunday last fifty frame buildings on Minnesota Point, just above the Ship canal, were burned. An hour after the fire started, 2,000 people were homeless. The fire destroyed twelve frame build mgs fronting on lower Lake avenue, just below the Under Hill district, and swept from there back to the lake shore. The district was populated by the poorest people in the city. Many of the upper parts of the two and three-story buildings were occupied as tenements. They were inhabited as closely as people could cluster, and back of the line of buildings fronting on the streets were shacks huddled all too close for health and safety. There are no particularly large individual losses. The total is thought to be over $100,000. Among the sufferers were fifty families of Jews, members of a co'ony, who were at a mass meeting praying for the American army in the war with Spain. There were many narrow escapes from death; but it is believed that everybody was rescued. Owing to the dangerous nature of the risks, the insurance rates were virtually prohibitory. The property burned was insured for about onetenth of the loss.

周一下午跟着fi的破坏re of the factory of the Zenith City Manufacturing Company, situated in West Duluth. The plant was devoted to the manufac tureof sashes, doors, and blinds and. on account of the inflammable nature of the materials employed in the building, the fl imes spread verv rapidly. The total loss was $11,000 on which there was no insurance. The fire area of Duluth is fifteen miles square, and its population over 65 000. Its fire department, under Chief John T. Black, is thoroughly well organized and equipped. Its membership is 103 paid full time. The equipment is as follows : Four steam fire engines; seven chemical engines on wheels; thirteen chemical extinguishers; three hook and ladder trucks; one aerial truck: two hose carriages; five host wagons; five supply wagons; six hose sleighs; one deluge set; one pompier apparatus; one salvage wagon; two fireboats; 13,000 feet of good cotton hose; 7,700 feet of good rubber; Gamewell fire alarm, with ninety-seven street boxes; fifty-seven horses, value, $11,000—value of five buildings and equipment. $250,000. Its water supply from lake Superior is ample; pressure, fifty to 100 pounds; hydrants, 310 Ludlow, Mathews, and Galvin.