The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-04-22
Walnut Station Items.
(From our Correspondents

One of the most destructive fires that |!
has ever visited our town occurred Wed Z!
nesday. the 18th inst, destroying one oil
the best buildings, and a small flour and
feed store belonging to s. O'Hara, and
two stables, one belonging to \. F. Sink
Ter, and the other to ID. w Burns. The |
fire originated in the building belonging
to Messrs. Laird and Norton, lumber
firm of Winona. The building formerly
belonged to L. Be;lal, and was occupied
by himself and family. They had yaca-
ted the house only few hours before
the fire was discovered. Il is not known
how the fire caught, as the stove had been
carefully removed. It is supposed by
some that the SCOT in the chimney might
have been on fire, and the strong wind
blowing at the time might possibly have
blown the fire down to the second story
of the building. Mr.. Bcdal was the first
to discover it, and set to pumping and
carrying water, in hopes it could be ez
tinguished, and at the same time sent 4
boy to give the alarm. In less time then
it takes to tell it, every man in town re-
sponded to the call. and never did men
work more lively then they in hopes that
the building might be saved. When
they found their labor in this direction
fruitless, their attention was then turned
to the adjoining buildings, those east
and southeast being in great danger
The furniture was all removed from Mr..
SiniSler's house, and by keeping the
building wet with quilts dipped in water
and constant drenching. it was saved.
Mr.. O'Hara had 100 bushels OF oats and
twenty-five bushels Of corn burned which
was lutte 8 loss in addition to his flour
and feed store.
The fire could not lie put cat, owing to
the terrible high winds at the time, and
after getting into the manure piles it has
been smouldering there ever since. On
Saturday, Mr.. Sinklcr moved his house
away. Mr. E. 3. Barnes has taken down
his livery stable and removed his hay
Owing to a scarcity Of water We arc i'll
prepared for fires.
Our school opened for the summer term
last Monday. Miss Chapman of Redwood
Falls, was engaged as teacher.
We mentioned in our last items, that
Mr.. Ole Larson's little boy died Of dipl-
iberia the 18th instant. On the 14th inst,
Laura, their daughter, aged 13 years,
died of the same disease There are no
cases of sickness in town at present.
The principal topic for discussion in
our town, is the cause Of the darkness
which prevailed last Sabbath, and as
there is such difference of opinion the
cause will not be decided at present. On
Sunday, the 18th inst, from ten minutes
before two o'clock p. M, until twenty
minutes after, it was dark as night
People were obliged to light their
lamps to attend to their household du-
ties. The darkness gradually came on,
and all were preparing for a grand old
storm. A light sprinkling of rain was
falling before and during the time of the
darkness, and after it began to clear
away we had a good smart shower of rain
and very little hail. During the night
it turned cold and considerable snow fell.
A high wind prevailed until Monday
morning.
Farmers have nearly finished puttinglin
their small grain, and gardening is going
on pretty lively.