The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-06-14
a SERIOUS BLAZE.
Narrow Escape of the Linseed OIL
Works from Destruction.

About nine O'Clock Monday evening the
vigorous and long continued blowing OF
the Linseed OIL Mill whistle, followed
by the repeated ringing of the fire bells,
called the fire department and a large
crowd of spectators to the oil mill. One
of the large brick warehouses, located
just south of the boiling house and new
flax seed elevator, was aDlaze and the
flames were shooting out OF the door
high into the air. Three strong streams
of water were soon gotten into play up
on the fire and the chemical engine was
brought into use. The fire was confined
to the woodwork and despite the efforts
OF the fremen continued to spread un-
der the roof. The flames seemed sever
al times to have been smothered by the
chemical spray, but ut the least cessa-
ton of work by the firemen the flames
would burst forth anew and spring as
high as ever. The fire finally became so
hot that it was necessary for the firemen
to carry doors in front of them to pro-
tect themselves from the heat. About
ten o'clock the fire seemed extinguished,
but when holes were cut through the
roof to see whether any fire remained
the flames burst up stronger than ever.
Then began a struggle that lasted until
one o'clock. Interest was added to the
fight from the fact that % large iron
tanks of linseed oil were underneath the
burning roof and surrounded by the
burning woodwork. They contained g.
600 barrels of oil and if the fire reach
ed one of them, there would be no hope
of saving the remainder and the mill it.
self would be IN danger. The sides of
several barrels containing oil were part
ly burned through. There were a large
number ofempty barrels in the building.
Finally the fire was extinguished, by
the most heroic efforts of the firemen.
But one theory is advanced as to the
manner in which the fire started. No
one had been in the building since Six
o'clock, and during the day the building
supposed that an old oil-soaked rag was
overlooked and that from this a spon-
taneous combustion followed. The fire
started not far from the entrance and
spread over the adjoining woodwork.
The principal blaze was in the center of
the building, while the tanks were on
either side.
The loss is estimated at 81 800, which
Is fully covered by insurance. In case
the oil had caught fire the loss would
have been immense as there was from
$50, 600 to $50, 900 worth of property in
the building only partly insured. The
building is connected by pipe with
the large tanks on the east, but
the pipes were cut off, so that 1t is
not probable that these tanks would
have exploded. The loss was princi-
pally on woodwork, which will be re-
placed at once.
The fire department, including the
West Mankato company, did splendid
work. The nearest hydrant was on Third
street and one north of the mill. Three
lines of hose were connected with the
four-inch main, thus reducing the press
ure, especially as from 700 to 800 feet of
hose were required on each line. One
section of rubber nose; thirteen years
old, burst. All of the hose in the de-
partment was used.
There has been some severe and it
would seem just criticism of'the council
to-day over its action at recent meet
ing upon the request of the chief of the
department for 1000 feet of new rubber
hose. The city is likely at any time to
suffer from the shortsighted action Of the
council in refusing to supply the neces-
sary hose. Had there been wind last
night or had another fire broken out in
the city there would have been no hose
to meet the demand.
While examining the roof of the burn
ing structure Monday night +. Marks, a
member of the West Mankato company,
broke through and fell to the floor be-
meath, suffering considerable injury.
Several others narrowly escaped falling
through. A young man named Theodore
Miller did a rather brave act in going
into the building and bringing out bar
rel of gloss oil, used in painting the bar
rels. If this had exploded the damage
would have been great. He will be suit
ably rewarded by the company.
The big mill shut down and put its ex-
treme pressure on the mains, showing
so pounds. The artesian well at the mill
was soon exhausted, showing Is feet of
vacuum, and it was necessary to draw
from the river, a lift of % feet. Never
theless, strong stream was secured at
the fire. Had one of the city artesian
wells been connected with the mains
there would have been plenty of water.