The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-29
THE MT. VERNON FIRE
-Four Elevators and a Warehouse
We're Consumed by Fire on
" cdnesday Afternoon.

.NuilSsu0N hIJcIutDVIl.
For a couple of hours Wednesday
afternoon Mt. Vernon stood i'm i'm
minent peril Of having an experience
CT twenty years ago repeated, when
the town was practically consumed
by fire. AT ! 30 O'Clock the Nc
Michaels warehouse was discovered
to be on fire, and it had gained such
Roadway before discovery that lhele
was no possibility of saving the
structure. -Four elevators standing
i'm close proximity were not long i'm
being consumed. The Mitchell fire
department promptly responded to
the call for aid and an hour after the
lire started the boys were on the
ground fighting with all their might
and main to Save the town from ut
ter destruction. The Milwaukee
road furnished a train with which to
take out the department and their
apparatus. making the short run
very quickly. The department was
accompanied by over 200 of our peo-
pie who were glad to 80 to the res
cue Of Mt. Vernon, and the people of
that town were free to confess that
without the aid of those who went
out there would have been small pos
sibility Of saving the town. The
Mt. Vernon people had worked
themselves out in their efforts so
that by the time the Mitchell con-
tingent reached there they were
worn out and practically incapable
of doing much nor The shortage
of water supply made it nearly impos-
sible to stand Oft the flames of the
burning elevators. Burning embers
were carried to the roofs of many Of
the business houses and the men had
to be on the constant watch for
them. Men were stationed on nearly
all of the buildings with a pail or
water ready for the emergency and
time and again they were successful
in defeating the ravages that were
impending. The strong wind that
was blowing from the south placed
the entire town at the mercy of the
fire. The Touring mill had a narrow
escape from the fire, and a man
stood on the roof with and a small
hose was successful in quenching the
burning embers that came his way.
When the department reached Mt.
Vernon on the special the tat house
and two elevators were burned and
the third elevator had just caught,
and it seemed an incredibly short
time when-the fourth was in flames.
Absolutely nothing could be done to
check the flames and the department
at once turned its attention to tile
business and residence portion. The
losses will reach at least 1926, 600 and
perhaps one-half is covered by nsur-
ance. The following are the %elevat-
ors that were destroyed: Truax &
Belts, of this city, loss on elevator
and grain, $4,000. They had about
5000 bushels Of grain in their ele-
aiors, which is practically covered
by insurance. The firm had three
cars at the elevators that morning
to make a shipment.
Farmers Elevator Co., Geo. Carl
son, manager, had about 1000 BUSH
els of grain and the loss on building
and grain is placed at about SIS, 200.
The building was covered with COR
rugated iron and the building caught
through the driveway, which was
open.
Reliance Elevator Co. loss is estim-
ated at So. 1000. There was no grain
in the building.
Hunting Elevator Co. loss is esti-
mated at $1,000, there being 5000
bushels of wheat in the structure, 1t
could not be ascertained what the
insurance a
The fiat warehouse was leased by
the Mt. Vernon Milling Co. for stor-
age purposes and contained a a
load Of butter tubs, a car load of g
cases and a a load of s%eparators,
which were the property of the Mt.
Vernon Creamery Co., and the loss is
estimated at 50, 500. The mill had
three a loads of wheat stored in
the warehouse and the loss is placed
at about ST. 900.
In conversation with a. A. Truay.
of the firm OF Truax & Belts, he
stated that he would commence
within a short time to lebuild their
elevator and thought that the other
firms would likewise Rebuild. Mt.
Vernon is one CT the best grain mar
llets in the county.
The Milwaukee special returned to
Mitchell about 5o'clock. the COMPANY
having sent another engine out there
to bring the Mitchell crowd home.
the danger from further fire having
passed about 4 O'Clock, when the
last of the elevators was consumed.