Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-19
A MIDNIGHT BLAZE.
Four Buildings ON Broadway Destroyed
by Fire Early. Sunday Morning.

~ SAo 1."kAyi sunday morning.
Shortly after midnight on Sunday a fire
was discovered breaking through the roof Of
the rear end of Fred Schnauber's harness
shop, on Broadway. The fire was first dis.
covered by Phil. K. Faux, who aroused
the inmates of the adjoining buildings, and
gave the alarm. The hook and ladder
company and = large number of citizens
were promptly on the ground, but the fire
had gained such Roadway, and there being
no water convenient, it was found impossible
to save the building and those Immediately
adjoining, and the efforts of the fire compa-
ny and citizens generally were directed to-
wards combining the FIRE to as narrow limits
az possible. The building on the southeast
corner Of Broadway occupied by B. B. Moss,
~ q saloon adjoined the burning building
on the north, and on the south were two small
buildings occupied by F. q. Mehring, a.
a residence aud the other as a. saloon. The
contents of these buildings were removed,
and portions of the buildings torn down, by
which means the fire was confined to the
four buildings named, although other wood.
en- structures were within sixteen feet of the
burned buildings. The fire company and
citizens generally, who worked with all en-
ergy and cool deliberate judgement highly
commendable, were favored by the calmness
of the night, there not being a breath Of
o;r et;rr;nr az the time
The ground upon which the destroyed
buildings were located is owned by Peter
Whitmer, of Bloomington, Illinois. He
also owned the building occupied by B. B.
Moss, and the two buildings occupied by +.
H. Mehring. There was nc insurance on
the buildings, but as they were old and Of
an inferior class his loss is not heavy.
Fred. Schnauber owned the building
which he occupied as a harness shop, and
in which the fire originated. His loss upon
building and stock is $1,000. No insurance.
B. B. Moss loss is $500. Insured for
5000 in the German American company, of
which E. T. White is agent.
T. H, Mornings loss is $500. Insured
for $1,000 in the Home insurance company,
Of Columbus, Partridge & Co., agents.
In the rear of the building occupied by
Mr.. Mehring as a saloon was q shed or
lean.to built BY Samuel Vance when he &C.
cupied the building as a store. This add
ton, which cost $3.50 or 5000, was de.
stroyed, and Mr.. Vance is a loser to that
amount.
: The fire, as before stated, originated in
the rear end Of Schnauber's harness shop.
As there was no fire kept in the building,
and it was unoccupied at night time, it is
suspected that the fire was the
work of an incendiary.
The ground burnt over is one of the most
valuable pieces of property in the city, and
presume it will not remain unoccupled
very long. Mr.. Whitmer, We understand,
has heretofore discussed the proposition Of
building on the site. the building to con-
Tain a number of stores and makingshe up
per part into a first class public hall. This
will be q good snd paying investment, ard
now that the old buildings are gone, we pre-
sume Mr.. W. will carry out his contem-
plated design. Yaukton needs a good pub.
lie hall. and whoever furnishes it will reap
a rich reward for his ent srprise.