The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-30
FIRE AT ADRIAN.

WoarnlNaron. MIsN. MAY 10. 1889
FIRE AT ADRIAN.
The following is the Associated
Press dispatch In regard to the fire at
Adrian. 1t is dated. Nav 23d. The
most disastrous fre that ever visited
this place occurred here today soon
after the l0:3ox. m. passenger train
going east had passed. The Adrian
Touring mill, situated in the Western
limits Ut town. WAS discovered to be 011
nre. The blaze started on the North
side OF the mill next to the railroad
track, and when discovered, the vol
ume Of tile flame WAS about the size of
wash tub. A huudred men: We're.
soon on the grounds: A sharp breeze:
waa blowing and nothing could he
dose with buckets and hand ex-
4iaguishers to save tile mill. or the
large barn Immediately south. The
Il AlrlAa are engine Was out Of repair,
Asnee useless. Active work saved the
two residences adjacent to the mill
.sreperty. The mill was owned by-.
Asssrs. Gilbert & Randall. They
had recently p,.tshssed it for $lo,90O
and just put in new machinery 1T an
expense of $500. There was nearly,
1900 bushels Of grain, mostly wheat,
IN the milE. The barn was new, cost
ing about $500. The total loss is about
$4,000. with An insurance of only 81:
OOO. The victims are unable to say
now what will be done about rebuild.
ing. It Is severe stroke to Adrian's
business interests. as the mill drew
trade for twenty miles around. Messrs.
Gilbert s. Randall also l"st all of their
books and accounts. Five houses OH
the Same street caught fire, and, but
f,r prompt work, would have been
destroyed.
The Adrian Guardian of Friday last
gives the following account of the des-
truction Of the Touring nill in that
town:
About 1910 a. N. yesterday, our peo.
pie were started by the cry Of ''FlRE!'
1t was soon aScertained That Our fine
Touring mill Was fast becoming prey
to The destructive element. n hun
dred men were soon on hand, but were
pOwerless to do anything toward saw
ing the mill, or the barn located just
south. BY heroic and persistent work,
however, the two residences Oh the
mill square. occupied by Messrs. Gill
bert 4 Randall aud their families were
saved. Nothing was taken from the
mill, not even the books of the firm,
and about SIS in money. Eugene
Smith, the engineer, lost his vest,
fine gold watch and 4 spa!skln over
coat. The fire started Oh the north
side. next to the railroad track, and is
supposed to have originated from
sparks emitted by u passing engine.
run from the rubbish along the track
to tile mill. NJ rain having fallen for
some time, aud the flames being famed
by q sharp breeze, tha building burned
like finder box. The mill property
cost Gilb~rt 4 Nelson $40, 600 less than
six months ago. New machinery has
been put in during the past spring to
the value of So, 500. The proprietors
had 3,OOO bushels Of wheat in store.
and some 500 in grists. which together
with a new barn which went up in
smoke with the rest, will swell the
l,ss to $4,000. Cinders were carried
all over town, ana the residences of
John Bleisus. Geo. Slade, NJ. L. De-
Wolf and Peter Pass were several
times on fire, (they were over block
away, and only hard work saved them.
Had the wind been stronger, all OF
Park hill must have been devastated
by the fire fiend.
The loss falls very heavy on the
proprietors. rs the earnings of Il life
tine were invested in the mill prop
erty. 1t Is also serious blow to every
business man and mechanic III Adrian.
rs the excellent work done vt the mill,
and the square dealing OF the owners,
had drawn trade to our town for
twenty miles around. The farming
community will also feel the loss and
suffer much inconvenience.
The enbers were still glowing when
the Board Of Trade met and took ac-
tion regarding the matter.--We feel
safe in saying that Adrian will not
long be without Il mill.