The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-07-16
three years, makes the incendiary sus

three years, makes the incendiary sus-
picion very strong.
The elevator just destroyed was
built in 1877, as soon as the North
western completed it's line into this
city. 1t was moved up from Riverside
and erected as a fiat warehouse by j.
V. Daniels & Son, Horace Daniels act
ing as wheat buyer. It soon passed
into the hands of o. P. Whitcomb,
who afterwards operated it for G.. W.
VanDusen & Co. Later the VanDus-
en- Co. secured control of the Brainerd
elevator, destroyed by fire three years
ago, and for time operated both ele-
vators. When John A. Willard of
Mankato purchased all of o. P Whit
combs interests in Redwood county
he became the owner of the elevator.
For several years Mr.. Willard kept
the elevator idle, using it only for
cleaning the wheat raised from his
farm adjoining this city on the west.
In 1891 G. W. George became the
owner of the elevator through pur-
chase of Mr.. Willard. Mr.. George
operated the same for three years, or
until the fire of about two years
ago that destroyed the second Van
Dusen elevator. At that time he sold
the elevator to VanDusen & Co., re-
ceiving about $500 for the same, and
went to California to return about
year ago.
Auditor Shannon was seen Thurs
day afternoon and Friday morning
and when asked regarding the insur-
ance stated that the company had a
blanket policy covering the entire line
of elevators, together with the con-
tents, and that the company would
lose nothing. He regretted the fire,
as it tended to create an impression
that the company or its agent had
enemies of a dastardly kind in this
neighborhood, although he was loathe
to believe that such enemies existed.
He pointed to the three fires being the
only three fires had by the company
in the country during the past three
years and thought that it was very
unfortunate coincidence to have them
all happen in Redwood Falls. Mr.,
Shannon stated that the insurance ad-
justers would be here in a day or two,
at which time they would probably
adjust the loss and dispose of the
smoked wheat, damaged coal, etc.
When asked as to whether the COM
pany had any intention of rebuilding
the elevator he replied that he did not
know-that the company had no de-
sire to compete for grain where the
red anarchy was opposed to it-and
that the company would have to decide
the matter after hearing his report on
this and the subsequent fires. The
company, he said, and as is known,
has always protected the wheat mar
ket here against other towns, and the
torch was certainly not very appre-
ciative sign of it's efforts.
Inasmuch as one or two gossips
around town, and they probably his
only enemies, if they can be called
such, took pains to inform MIR. Shan
non that Mr.. Caswell had number
of enemies here who might have set
the building on fire, a petition was cir
culated here Thursday evening and
Friday asking that the elevator be re-
built and that Mr.. Caswen continue to
act as the agent of the company. 1t
was signed by every business man
asked to sign it, by large number of
residents-all who we're asked to sign
it-by farmers generally, and by every
friend and acquaintance of Mr.. Cas-
we'll with the possible exception of
two. The competing agents even en-
Enthusiastically signed it. No greater
mark of confidence could have been
paid to Mr.. Caswell and no greater
rebuke could have oeen given to the
snake who communicated the false
information to Auditor Shannon.
D. E. Jones, agent for G.. B. Shove
& Co., running an independent or
non-board insurance agency, arrived
in Redwood Falls Friday afternoon
and will spend all of the week in this
city. His agency has the blanket