Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-06
DESTRuCTlVEF FIRE
LAST NIGHT.
"A. Richardson. Fernald & Kim.
ball, Ferd. Kirchof. and Dr.. J.
N. Wheat the Principal
Sufferers,
Lose about $2A 900. insurance
about $4,000.

Last night, at the hour of IL, the cry o.
"fire! fire !" wakened the sleepers of Austin
from their quiet slumbers to find that thu
business part of the city was lighted by
the flames issuing from the dry goods
store Of F. A. Richardson. 1t was cen
trail building surrounded by frame build
ings on either side and in the rear the
furniture house of Fernald & Kimball
at the south with their large store room
and work shop in the rear; Ferd Kir
chof's City Meat Market and small
wooden building occupied by Mrs. R. l
Smith, milliner, and J. E. Slocum, sew
ing machine agent, on the north. In the
rear, and ives, of these buildings was Fert
Kirchofs smoke house, ice house and
! barn. And 4 few feet further west, DR.
j. n. Wheat's barn. All these buildings
were wholly consumed.
1t is very difficult to get at the losses
with any degree Of accuracy. However,
we make a rough estimate below Of the
buildings and stocks destroyed, together
with insurance thereon, 80 that the
reader may have an idea of the situation
F. A. Richardson: 81 500 $1,000 $8,70
F Esr9a a; s Ki%ba'l. ssSS s'SSS 80
B; n j. S y: WHEAT ;t:::: s sS
Totals. $3.50 *N,9oo *l4,e5l
In addition to the above list, the tol
lowing named firms lost from damage to
stock by removal, theft and otherwise,
but to what amount no one can say at
this writing: J.J. Hayes & Bro, jewel.
cry; Mrs. r. l. Smith, millinery; Glen.
mer s. Pooler, damage to building; Mrs.
n. c. Mcmillan, millinery, Mrs. Jno. Nor.
rison, restaurant. Losses to these parties
may amount to $1000-all fully covered
by insurance.
The total loss can be estimated at 1884,
600, with an insurance Of about $15, 900.
Fernsld & Kimball's and F. A. Rich
ardson's buildings we're the largest frame
store buildings in town. Ferd. Kirchof's
meat market was a one story brick We
neered building, and the building
occupied by Mrs. R. l. Smith, one story
frame, owned by L. N. Griffith.
1t is believed the fire originated from
a lamp explosion in F. A. Richardson's
store, as he left burning lamp in the
store as was his custom-it was, how
ever, one of the metallic lamps, supposed
to be non.explosive. However. there is
no other reasonable theory for the cause
of the fire. Mr.. Richardson was the last
to leave, shutting in his dog, and closing
up the store. The dog may possibly have
upset the lamp. Mrs. Kirchof, living
over Richardson's, we understand, FIRST
discovered the fire, being disturbed by
the smoke. She looked out the side
door, but could see no fame.
The night was still and the wind in the
northwest. Had there been a brisk
breeze the destruction " ould have been
very great. As it WAS, McClellan's block,
DR.. Wheat's residence, the Episcopal
church and rectory barely escaped.
Clemmer & Pooler's stairway and shed
on the corner south was once On IRE, and
put out with difficulty. DR.. Wheat and L..
n. Griffith were the only sufferers with
out any insurance, we believe. The cit.
izens worked faithfully to save the build.
ings and property, and were very success.
full. 1t was q close call.