Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1911-01-05
BAD FIRE
MONDAY
The Minnekahta Hotel and
Contents Destroyed.
LOSS OF s15,o0o.0o
Was One Of the Best Properties
in the City--Owned and Con-
Quoted by Geo. Gibson.

At about three O'Clock Monday morn.
Ing fire broke out in the Minnekahta
Hotel near the Mammoth plunge and
before anything could be saved or the
people hardly escape, the complete
structure was In flames and burned to
the ground.
During the evening or about mid
night parties stopping at the hotel
fancied that an oder Of burning pine
could be detected and the matter was
investigated but nothing found. The
next alarm was given when one Of the
regular boarders recognized tho oder
and upon venturing into the hallway
noticed smoke issuing from an unoccu-
pied room. Upon opening the door
flames burst out which caused general
alarm to be given. The location Of the
fire when discovered was near one Of
the chimneys on the second floor.
Before roomers could don their wear.
ing apparel an explosion occurred
between the ceiling and the roof, which
Is supposed to have been caused BY an
accumulation Of gas. Hurriedly
grabbing what necessities they could
gather, each rushed to the ground
floor and into the street.
An alarm was sent In to the power
house and the Minnekahta hose team
promptly appeared on the scene but
after coupling the hose 1t was found
to be q few lengths too short. This
fact would have made no material diff.
terence as the building was practically
beyond all hope of saving BY the time
the people had left It and was com.
pletely enveloped in flames before the
hose team arrived even though they
responded promptly.
Practically the only article saved
was the piano which stood near the
front door down stairs. Mr.. Gibson
and family lost all their clothing, in
fact everything. Each of those stop.
ping there lost all their clothing and
valuables. What made the fire much
more destructive was the fact that the
building was one Of the oldest frame
structures then standing in the city
and although In excellent repair waa
as dry as tinder and burned as rapidly,
This fire comes as bad blow tc
George Gibson and family who have
owned and conducted the Minnekehts
Hotel for the past six years. Mr..
Gibson, as is known, is one Of the
oldest settlers in this city and is one Of
its best known and most highly
respected citizens. With his family be
started at the foot Of the ladder and
Quilt up one of the best hotel businesses
and regulations in the west. He
purchased this building six years age
and has gradually improved It until on
Janrary 1st it needed but very little tc
make 1t as near model. homelike hotel
property as is possible. During the
past year alone he expended nearly
three Thousand dollars for q HEATING
plant and other improvements. tt
have all his and his good wife's efforts
destroyed in the space Of an hour i.
indeed q bad blow. The loss will rur
between twelve and fifteen Thousand
dollars with twenty y.ive hundred
dollars insurance.
On account Of the extreme cold ane
inclement weather prevailing on tha
morning but very few heard the alarm
when sounded and a large percentag,
of the citizens were very much sur
prised upon learning Of the fire whe,
arriving at their places Of business.
1t is understood that Mr.. Gibson ha
leased the Union Hotel and will ope,
up there as soon a. 1t can be put Il
shape.
Although . bad blow to Mr.. Gibsor
and family they have the sympathy o
every person In Hot Syringe and Will
their reputation for running one OF th
best hotels ever opened In the city, /
is safe prediction to cay that the.
will not be many years In winning Il
even better property than the on
destroyed.
TO START PROBE.