The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-17

MaDletOn was visited by diSas-
trOus fire early this morning, that
destroyed the Commander mill and
elevator and small barn near by.
The entire v;iIage vas p.a1ed in the
greatest Jeopardy for two hours or
more and only the greatest effort
on the part of every man and many
of the women saved the village from
being wiped off of the map. Sparks
fell in perfect rain storm over the
entire village, driven before the
fiercest gale of the winter, and
every roof had to be constantly
watched and the sparks immedi-
ately put out before the wind fan
ned them into flames. AS it was, a
number of buildings caught fire, but
none were damaged to any extent.
The fire was discovered at about
four O'Clock this morning, in the
roof of the elevator owned by the
Commander Mill company of Mime
apolis. 1t is thought to have been
started by sparks from the smoke
stack of the mill. owned by the same
company, as the stack is believed
to have burned out, owing to the
strong draft
Villagers Filled With Dismay.
The alarm was at once given, but
when the villagers turned out they
saw a sight that filed them with
the utmost dismay, for the roof of
the elevator was beginning to burn
fiercely, and the northwest wind was
already driving sparks directly over
the village, as the mill and elevator
were located in the northwest cor
ner of the town. For time during
the fire the wind shifted to the west,
but it again got back to it's former
quarter. The fire department was
helpless to save the elevator or the
mill, which soon afterwards took
fire, but it accomplished wonders in
saving the rest of the village. The
only other building that burned was
small barn on the premises occu-
pied by Otto Summers and family.
Sent to Mankato for Help.
When Editor H. c. Hotaling got
up in response to the frantic alarm
that was being rung, and that soon
awOke every person in the village,
he ran out and took in the situa-
ton at d glance. He deemed that
the village was probably doomed,
and that it's only hope was in get
OF tn In
at once telephoned to the fire de-
partment in this city and asked for
assistance.
Captain Funk of the fire station
got the telephone message at about
five o'clock, and thirty minutes later
William Schwender started with
800 feet of hose in an automobile
and made a record run to the vii
lage. 1t arrived in time to be of
some assistance in saving some of
the grain stored in the elevator, but
the fire was under control before Mr.
Schwender reached the village.
The mill and elevator of the Com
mander Mill company of Minneapo-
with the contents. Only the office
records were saved, and possibly
there will be salvage on some of
the grain.
About a 100000 Loss.
Peter Schweitzer, the manager of
the mill and elevator, informed The
Free Press today over the telephone
that the elevator was we'll stocked
with grain, and that the mill was
also carrying heavy stock of flour.
He estimated that the loss to the
Commander Mill company would be
from $4,000 to 100000. He was of
the opinion that the company was
well insured. This was the only
milling or elevator property that the
company owned. The mill had a
daily capacity of 800 barrels, and for
some time past had been operated
at its full capacity.
Mr. Schweitzer thought that the
fire started from the burning out of
the mill smoke stack, allowing a
shower of sparks to fall upon the
elevator. He did not know whether
the company would rebuild or not,
as it was too early to take this
matter up yet.
The barn that burned was a
small one. valued at possibly $780,
The stock that it housed was re-
moved in time.
Sparks Carried Long Distance.
Among the other buildings that
were set on fire by the flying sparks