The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-03-25
EARLY MORNING BLAZE
Some of The Guests Compelled to
Jump From Windows to Save
T Their Lives s
WELL NIGH SUFFOCATfD
Loss on the Building Over One Thou-
sand Dollars Fully Covered
by Insurance

Fire in the Central House early
Friday morning caused loss of over
81, 900 on the building and resulted i'm
the destruction of the furniture.
The loss is fully covered by i'm
surance, the house being insured for
$500, the furniture for $1,000.
c. d. Marshall is the owner of both
building and furniture. He is uncer-
tain whether he will rebuild or not.
The fire started at 3:15 a. M, from
the explosion of lamp in the hall
way of the second story, in the east
ern end of the building. The struct-
ure being wholly of wood and having
stood long time was perfect fire
trap and the flames spread rapidly.
Z. Kulencamp, the proprietor, imme-
diately awOke the guests and there was
a wild scramble for safety. The halls
were filled with smoke and the guests
became excited and some of them had
to be assisted from the building. Mr..
Kulencamp carried three men down
the stairs. One of them was uncons-
cious from the smoke. Nine guests
jumped from the windows. AS it was
but short distance from the second
story to the ground, there were prac-
tically no injuries sustained from
jumping. One man received sprained
wrist and another cut his band slight
ly on the glass of. the window in his
room. The guests lost practically all
their belongings. ....
The fire department was on hand in
good season, Chief Geo. Fish being the
first one to arrive. The rapidity with
which the fire spread and the dense
smoke, which made it well nigh i'm
possible to pass through the halls, rem
dered the work of the firemen very
difficult. But they stuck right to it
and did valiant work under exceeding
ly discouraging circumstances. After
fight lasting fully three hours the
fire was subdued and the firemen went
home to breakfast.
The whole Of the east end of the
hotel is practically wrecked. The
roof is burned off, partitions are par
TALLY destroyed and large holes burn
ed through the floor in places. The
interior of each room presents sorry
spectacle. Fire, smoke and water did
their work, bedding and furniture
being thoroughly ruined.
The Office of the hotel looked like
destruction after the fire had been
put out. Water was coming through
the ceiling and the floor stood an inch
or more in water. The dining room
was sight. The tables were spread
just as they had been cleared after
supper the preceding night. Water
and smoke gave them anything but an
attractive appearance. In fact, the
entire east part of the structure with
the kitchen addition were ruined be-
yond redemption.
That portion of the building west
of the Office was damaged by smoke
and water but not by fire, although
the heat cracked the paint.
The building is one of the landmarks
of the city, having been erected in the
early days. Additions have been made
from time to time.
There have been numerous fires
there, the last one being last spring
when the kitchen was damaged.
e. Kulencamp, the proprietor, rent
ed the hotel and ran it, Mr.. Mar
shall owning the building and furnish
ings. Mr.. Knlencamp says he will
probably leave Sauk Centre and go to
st. Paul. Mr.. Marshall will not de-
eide what to do about rebuilding un-
til he settles with the insurance COM
pany.