The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-06-15
NUMBER 1

Mr. Patterson, who considered them
worth about 81 800, and as an invest
ment they were worth much more.
There was no insurance. Mr.. Patter-
son has not decided whether to build,
but as this is one Of the best business
corners in the city, it is not likely
that it will long remain vacant.
The building occupied by Capt. An
drews belongs to the Payne estate, of
which LOrin Cray is agent. There
was S400 of insurance on the building,
which would have expired tomorrow,
and Mr.. Cray estimates the damage at
not over half Of that amount. He
has written to Mrs. Payne for instruc-
tiOns as to whether repairs shall be
made or not 1t would be better that
the building, old as it is, should be re-
paired rather than that the lot should
be vacant, as would otherwise prob
ably be the case.
Capt Andrews stock was consider
ably damaged by water, which flooded
the building. He estimates that his
! loss will not exceed $500, if it reaches
that amount. He twas fully insured.
The upper story was occupied by E.
R. Brown and family, and they lost
everything that they had valued at
5000 to $500, and carried no insurance.
| The loss will fall heavier on this fam
| lily than on the other losers.
The second floor of the building oc-
cupied by Mr. Burrell was unoccupied,
and the other building was but one
story high.
All three buildings were frame and
were among the Oldest in the city.
The Payne building was built in West
MankatO in 1857, by Harvey Bradley,
and was moved to it's present location.
The other two buildings were erected
in 1859 and 1866 by the same gentle
man, and until seventeen years ago
were occupied by him and his sons,
VIM. and Ed. The three buildings
were old landmarks and if they shall
be followed by a modern business.
block the fire will have been to the
advantage of the city in one way, not
withstanding the loss and hardship
inflicted upon the immediate losers.
The latter will have the sympathy of
all, and especially SO will those who
could i'll afford to stand the loss at
this time. Thatthese will soon make
new start is the hope of their friends.
Just how the fire started is mys-
terry as yet unsolyed. Officer Daniels
found the side door Of Mr.. Burrelfs
restaurant open at midnight, and
awakened Mr.. Burrell, who went and
locked it. At that time everything ap-
peared to be all right. The door
was left unlocked by mistake, both
Mr.. and Mrs. Burren thinking
the other had locked it. There
was a report that lamp had
been left burning in the building,
and Mr.. Burrell states that he cannot
remember whether or not he saw it
there when he called at midnight.
One theory of the origin of the fire is
that this exploded. There was fire
in the stove after supper, but it does
not appear that this was in any way
connected with the starting of the
fire. Chief Phillips believes that
some one set fire to the gasoline that
leaked from the tank in the yard,
mentioned above, as he says there
were no sparks and the fire was then
practically out. II Mr.. Phillips be-
lief is true the fire can be accounted
for by incendiarism. These build
ings, like many other of the old frame
stores along Front street, were finder
boxes that burned rapidly, with hot
flame. That the fire did not spread
and do vast amount of damage was
due to the excellent work of the fire
department, and the fine water sys-
TEN.
Fruit culture is more profitable to
the farmer now than his other crops.
Brown Bros. Co., the most extensive
nursery house in the u. s., have