The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-06-28
PEACE TO ITS ASHES.
The Sank Centre House Destroyed by Fire on Tuesday
Morning.
Guests and Inmates Escape With More or Less Loss OF
Property fortunately CasuaIties-The Depart
ment Deserving of High Praise.

| z
At 3:15 q. m. on Tuesday an alarm
OF fire, rather faint but missakeable,
called out the fire department and
the lighter sleepers of the city, The
Sank Centre House was on fire, and
while the progress OF the fire was slow
1t was very sure, and at half-past six
the last of the frame of the venerable
structure collapsed, and nothing but a
pile OF smouldering, smoking ruin re-
manned of what had been Sank Gen.
tres best hotel for thirty-fve years or
more.
| The fire was first discovered by the
cook, Miss Martha Oslund, who rooms
above the kitchen. She was awakened
by the smell of smoke, and at once
/ give the alarm TO the night clerk, G..
+. Snodgrass, in the Office at the ex-
IRENE front of the building. An in
yestigation located fire in the kitchen.
1t was then burning fiercely but con-
fined to the kitchen. Mr.. Snodgrass
hastily alarmed the guests of the house,
with the assistance of the cook and
others, and turned in the general alarm
at the fire tower. The response by the
department was speedy, and soon four
streams were plying upon the fire,
which had gained rapid Roadway in
the old part of the house.
Forgetful of himself and his own be-
longings the faithful clerk assisted in
saving the property of the guests of
the house and assuring himself that
everybody was out of the building
Mr.. and Mrs. Paris were equally
assiduous and unselfish in attending
TO the needs of others, and secured
very little from their living apart
ments. Mr.. Paris, only partially
dressed, in his haste saved nothing but
the clothing he had on, and Mrs. Paris
L hut one dress other than that she wore,
while Mr.. Snodgrass could not get TO
his room to save anything.
The guests, about thirty in all. with
few exceptions, saved all their per-
sonal property, although they left the
building without fully completing
their toilets. ..--., f.
The building burned slowly, thanks
to the fire department, which did splen-
did service under the quiet and yet
masterful direction of Chief Perry.
His commands were given firmly and
lyet quietly, and at no time was there
any excitement or confusion in the de-
partment. Every man discharged his
duty with intelligence and fidelity.
When it Is considered that this great
three-story old wooden building was as
dry as finder it is astonishing that it
required three hours to burn, and that
the fire was confined to its own limits.
The Gallup building on the west, a
wooden structure, separated only by a
ten-foot alley, was not even blistered,
and but one pane Of glass was broken
in it although . score of window open
upon the side next the hotel.
TheAfames crept slowly to the front
| of thehotel, watched by an interested
gathering of citizens, although at no
time was the crowd large one. At
$50 the last portion Of the wooden
walls+that portion at the southwest
angle, collapsed and the building was
a oo,nn1ato Ureck ....
How Bros. & Co. removed the great
er part of their hardware stock to the
Pendergast building and the sidewalk
on Third-st, small army of volunteers
including number of ladies assisting
them. Nothing in the way of furniture
was saved from the hotel, and the bar
furniture and stock of merchandise in
the saloon in the basement all burned.
The cigar case and its contents in the
Office were saved. In the sample
rooms were number of trunks belong
ing to travelling men, and they were
saved. Harry Tobey entered the Office
during she progress of the fire and re-
moved the telephone.
At no time was the fire so fierce as
to be dangerous to property across the
street, as it was kept in subsection by
the department, four streams under
good pressure doing service. Three
streams played on the ruins until noon,
and even then did not completely ex-
tinguish the embers, and during the
afternoon it was found necessary to
use more water.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE,
Messrs. Hilsdale and SpraGue, the
owners OF the real-estate, valued the
bnilding Ct $4,000, upon which there
Iwas Insurance amounting to 5000, a.
folIows: