The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-11-28
cAss COURT HOUSE IN RUINS.
Fire Probably Started From Cigar
Stub Thrown Away by Careless Ju'
ror-Loas 5000. 900.

Fire Probably Started From Cigar
Stub Thrown Away by Careless Ju'
ror-Loss $2O0,O o0.
The Cass county court horse at Far
60, erected at a cost of S 1900, to-
| gether with a new addition built this
year at a cost of $40. 1000, was totally
destroyed by a fire which started at
10 o'clock one night recently, together
with all Of its contents.
All Of the valuable books and papers
in each of the offices had been placed
in the vaults, and it is presumed that
they will be found intact when they
are opened.
The fire started in a room on the
third floor of the new addition, which
was nearing completion. The third
floor of the addition had been designed
for jury rooms, and the work Of put
ting in an extension of the heating
plant was under way. A jury retired
to the jury room at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon and remained there until
9:15. At 10 o'clock a fire al discov-
cred in the woodwork of one of the
windows of the room, and in an incred-
IDLY short time had spread to the old
building. The old structure, thorough
ly seasoned. burned like finder, and
though the fire department kept the
fire from spreading to the county jail,
a few feet to the west, they could not
check the fire in the court house build
ing and it was totally destroyed, to-
gether, with furniture valued at $780,
900. 1t is presumed that the fire was
started from a cigar stub, ~carelessly
thrown aside by one of the jurors.
Forty prisoners in the county jail
were thrown tito a panic by the fire
in such close proximity, but Sheriff
Twitchell assured them that as soon
as it became apparent that the jail
building could not be saved that all of
them would be moved safely. BY pour
ing water on the structure 1t was
saved and the prisoners quieted down
as the court house fire burned out.
The court house was built a lumber
of years ago at a cost of $3.50, 600. An
addition three stories high, to the
west of the old building, was erected
this year and was almost completed.
It cost 1000, and the furniture in the
old building was valued at $4,000, be-
ing of solid cherry. This would make
a total loss of 100000.
The county until a short time ago
carried $3.50, 900 insurance on the old
court house, the county Jail, the coun-
ty hospital and the county hospital
barn, in a blanket policy covering
them all. A few days ago an insurance
of SIT, 900 was added to the new addi-
ton, making $780, 900 insurance on the
court house and the other three build
ings mentioned. No insurance was
carried on the furniture and fixtures.
The addition to the court house had
been constructed with the idea of CIV
ing the supreme court of the state
fine quarters, but these rooms had not
yet been finished.
AS soon as the blaze had died out
sufficiently steps were taken to pro-
tect the several vaults. If these are
found intact, temporary quarters will
be secured and the county's business
will be carried on without any great
amount of delay. The walls of the
new building are intact, but q portion
IF the walls of the older building have
tumbled down.