The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-09-22
From Thursdays Daily.

Had the Hoerr cold storage plant
contained a large number of crates
tof eggs and chickens last night,
everybody in town could today be
feasting Oh scrambled eggs and fried
chickens.
Fire last night destroyed the Hoerr
building. the structure being re-
duced to mere mass of charred
timbers and debris of brick From
an unknown origin flames broke ut,
t it is believed, in frame building east
Of the main plant and spread quick
ly to the larger building when an
alarm was sent in from box No. IA.
The name of the person who turned
in the alarm could not be definitely
known this morning, but it is be-
lieved that Jacob Saenger, deliv-
cry man for the Hubbard mill was
the person. The alarm was given at
$3.50 last night and the fire compa-
MES responded promptly, but the
flames had already gained such
Roadway that very little of the
building or contents could be saved.
The hose was connected Immediate
ly and soon the firemen had
stream of water playing on the
burning building. For upwards of
five hours the firemen worked in
an attempt to save the refrigerator
part of the building. but to no avail,
and the only thing they could do
was to continue the stream of water
in the hopes of preventing the spread
of the flames
Fire Burned Long Time.
Although the alarm was not /
that the fire actually started an,
hour earlier. Mr.. and Mrs. Oscar !!
Morrow were sitting in a hammock /
in the yard nearby when Mrs. Nor
row smelled smoke, and upon run.
ming out in the street, saw flames
issuing from the stock room in the
rear of the main building. w. C.
Ross also noticed smoke in the air
and told his wife to turn in the
alarm, but when she went out to do
so, found that it had already been
done. John Schultz of 72S Second
street north, also saw the flames
and tried to follow the example of
Mrs. Ross, but found that the fire
department was already on it's way
TO the burning building.
A hose was kept playing on the
burning embers all night and con-
tinued this morning, while men were
at work with long pole hooks pull
ng down the walls. The walls were
90 loose and dangerous to raise
adler against them and the men
ound that they would have to climb
he telephone post nearby in order
o reach the walls with their hooks. {
n this position the walls were part
v torn down because the fire had
them so unstable that it
would be dangerous for the public
o pass nearby. While the work was ]
,oing on, the sidewalk and grounds
surrounding the build.
ng were roped in to keep visitors
way. {
Loss Is About $4,000. q
Speaking of the fire, Mr.. HOerr /
tated that the total loss would
mount to about $4,000 while the
insurance on the stock amounted to
1000 and that of the building about
1000, making total of $4,000.
II had only half as much insur- ,
nee this year as last" said Mr..
Ioerr today. because | had very t
tile stock in the building and had I
O idea that fire would get into the c
nain refrigerator. Had that been
aved the fire would not have r
mounted to SO much. The reduc- I
ion of stock thus reduced the in t
urance." l;
The rear stock shed was slightly $
the roof being burned,
lille the rear part of the main !,
uilding, which is a frame structure :,
nd used for Gambling and to store