The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-09
Minneapolis Mills Burned.
4 Faint Echo Of the Terrible Disaster
to the Milling Interest of
Three Years Ago.
The Three Pillsbury, the Croker &
Fisk Flour Mills and the Morri-
son Cotton Mill.
The Entire Loss will Reach $500, 900,
Made More Terrible by Sac
rifice Of Life.
A SUNDAY MORNING SENSATION.

A SUNDAY MORNING SENSATION.
DETAILS, LOSS AND INSURANCE..
At about 4 o'clock this forenoon Q fire was
discovered in the Gil room Of the Pillsbury B
mill, the fourth in the row Of mills between
the canal and the river, below Sixth avenue
south. The mill was in operation at the
time and ono of the millers who
had been in the upper par;
OF the building to look after some part of the
machinery, smelt smoke and instituted an III
vestigation only to discover that the fire had
made rapid progress among the combustible
material In the oil room The alarm was
turned in for the whole fire
department and prompt response
followed Meantime the fire spread rapidly
and marked for its victims the three mills oper-
atsd by Chas. A Pillsbury Il Co. on the west
side Of the river, and the intervening mill OF
Croker. Fisk 4 Co. The iremen were battling
vigorously with the fire in the Pillsbury D
and Excelsior mills with fair
prospect Of staying its progra
there. The fire had communicated
to the mill Of Croker, Fisk 4 Co., next ad-
joining however, when CONSERVATION was ere.
sted by fearful explosion which Ieveled the
walls of the structure, crushing the elevated
railroad track in front Of the mill and
KILLING THREE PERSONS,
injuring another fatally, and several others i'll
less degree It is possible that more than
three fatalities have occurred as
the result of the explosion, but
stated Among tho number killed were
Assistant Chief Engineer Neil Fredericks and
member of Hook 4 Ladder Company No. 4,
named Huey, who with other firemen occu-
pied place on the elevated railroad track, i'm
mediately in trout Of mill Several other Of the
fremen similarly engaged were injured and
the forco at the flames somewhat disorganized
in consequence. third person who has not
yet been identified, and who occupied place
in front of the Office of Pillsbury & Co., was
killed by flying missile, and one other person
who was standing under the elevated railroad
and who was crushed TO death by the walls
and timbers Of tho railroad track, is known 10
have been killed
HOW MANY MORE
will be disclosed with the removal of the de-
bris which is now in progress Thu flames
from the mill in which the explosion occurred
communicated to the Empire mill on the cor
ner next adjoining and to the
cotton mill, small frame structure
Immediately in the rear and facing upon the
platform. The fireman, sick and sad with the
loss Of their fellows, made magnificent effort
and stayed the fire at the corner in the Empire
MIL, saving with the utmost difficulty
the Cataract mill of D. r Barber &
Co. just across the street Before
seven o'clock the fire which menaced the
whole milling district was under control and
further danger removed Tho loss
aggregated roun1 100000, and
involved the destruction of four -four
ing mills and the cotton mill
The paper mill building next to the Pillsbury
b, in which the fire originated was savedun in
jured. Three Of the four Touring
mills were operated by Chas A. Pills.
bury & Co., who, however only owned the
one in which the ire originated. The Excelsior
was the property Of D. Morrison, as was
also the Cotton mill, and tho Empire belonged
to L s. Watson of New York, and the fourth
was the property Of Croker & Co. The loss OF
Pillsbury d Co. is pretty well covered by in
surance, as is also the loss of Croker, Fisk 4
Co. and Of T. L Watson. The buildings of d.
Morrison were not heavily insured, and he is
probably
THE HEAVIEST LOSER
by the fire. The explosion was one of prea,
violence. shattering windows as far as ten
blocks away from the scene and starting peo-
pie from their early slumbers in all
parts OF the city. The cause is all a
matter of speculation, thus far. The mill
had been shut down for some time and the ex-
plosion is as likely TO have been
from confined gas as from flour dust,
to which the washburn mill explosion was
attributed Tho explosion, violent as il
proved to be, did not topple the walls of the
Empire mill but spent it's force by blowing
tho roof into the air and the front and rear
walls out, tho debris levsling in its progress
WV VI tho toiiiooA ueSA AA AAoA'
and in the rear Of the mills
sARGEANr VESTS STATEMENT.
Sergeant West, Of the police force, gives the
following succinct account Of tho discovery
and progress Of the terrible casualty. When
he saw the light he was standing at the
Citizens bank, corner Of Fifth and
Washington avenues. He looked at the clock
in the bank, which indicated $3.50. The flames
at the mill shot up for moment and then sub
sided, the flames at the mill shot mp for mo-
ment and then subsidized. the sergeant remark
ing to Officer Bates that the fire would moi
amount to much. He then turned
and walked . short distance, wher
the flames shot up In heavy
volumes and the officers ran down to the mills
only to find the great mills burning briskly
and in such way as to endangor the entire
district The alram had been turned
on from the Wsshburn A mill,
and the fremen we're rendering
heroic service in the face Of great odds. When
Sergeant West reached tho scene the fire made