The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-01
EARLY MORNING FIRE
Bacon's Grocery and Bakery and
Anderson's Millinery Store
Were Both Consumed.

Were Both Consumed.
IL has been many months since
there has been a fire i'm the business
district of Mitchell, but it canye Tues
day morning about 3 O'Clock when
the tire alarm sounded. The fire was
in the stones of w. III. Bacon, grocer
ana baker, aud in the adjoining
building where Mis-. Anderson con-
Quoted a millinery establishment.
just how the fire stal ted is a
mystery that may never be explained.
The flames were first discovered in
the Bacon store about half way no
the room and they were climbing up
the north wall. 1t is said that the
fire got into the millinery store about
the same time. 1t Is believed from
the surrounding circumstances that
the fire started between the two
buildings, there being a space of
about fourfeet between them.
by the time the fire was discovered
both buildings we're filled with the
smoke, and the firemen who arrived
IN quick time we're unable TO cope
much with the fire on account of the
smoke and the flames, as they were
confined in the corrugated iron
building. Portions of the building
evidently had to be torn out in order
that the tiremen could get to the
inside with the hose. Several men
we're placed on top of the Hardy
building adjoining to play In that
direction. Two oil tanks in the Bacon
store soon added much fuel to the
flames and made them all the harder
to control.
The wind blowing from the north
west made it possible FOR buildings
across the street to catch fire. but
the flames we're confined to the two
structures. The fremen did some
very valiant and praiseworthy service
when they saved the Hardy bakery
building, which stands about five
feet to the east Of the burning
0Ul0SU0JOSs ~ SCCuOu dU Oily
moment that it would take fire and
Mr.. Hardy moved everything out
FROM the living rooms above to the
stock OF baking below.
There were i've families living in.
the Bacon and Anderson buildings,
Mr.. and Mrs. Anderson roominc on
the first floor In the real Of their
store. They barely had time to get
out OF the structure and were
necessarily thinly clad.
The iremen, however, saved a
good portion of their millinery goods,
but not until they had become waite
soaked and we're practically ruined.
They moved their stock TO the
Weller building across the street.
Upstairs there we're four families
living, and it seems none Of them
were aware of the fire which was
raging 10 the rooms below. A young
boy working for Hardy, the baker,
had just finished bis WORK in the
bakery and was going to his home in
the Bacon building, when he dis
covered the flames on the inside.
He hurried up stairs and routed the
families from their slumbers. The
families living in the rooms were
b. Peterson, Jos. Reason, Bill
jackson and Fritz GURUS. Mr..
Peterson saved some of hts goods,
but the rest of the families were
unable to save little II anything, and
they were forced to get out of the
building in their night clothes.
Mr.. Bacon vas unable 10 save
anything from his stock OF goods,
with the possible exception of his
bakery Department., to which place
tile entire force of the flames did
not re tch. The bake oven is intact
and some of the working tools were
saved. but the grocery stock was
practically destroyed. Mr.. Bacon
placed his loss at between SO, 200 and
So, 800, with insurance of So COO on
tue stock. Mrs. Anderson carried
insurance of $3.50, and stated that
her loss will amount to about 50, 500.
She will reopen hel millinery store
in the building just across the street
from the fire and will order a new
STOCK or goods at once.
The burned buildings are owned by
l.. o. Gale, who returne to Mime
apolis a few days ago, His nephew,
f. j. Evans, wired Mr.. Gale of the
fire n he reached Mitchell We'd
nesday morning The loss on the
Structures and the Insurance carried
cannot be ascertaineu until Mr.. Gale
reaches the city.
The tiremen worked steadily at the
lla.Les aud IN tearing down the
burned walls until 9 O'Clock. The
pressure during the fire was the best
that Mitchell has had in years. sIhe
new pump was used to good advant-
ouo op1 tho etoodu npnn,3o~ "a