Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-01-19
BIG FIRE AND HEAVY LOSS.
The Palace Livery Barn Burns and
Thirteen Animals Perish BY
Suffication.

Last Friday night as Trig Westby
was hurrying home about ll:3o ne
discovered the Palace Livery barn TO
be on fire and Immediately gave the
alarm and notified a number or men
in Charlie kundert's restaurant, who
came rushing out and ran to the
blazing structure, and at the same
moment City Marshal Way ran out Of
Frank Albaugh's pool hall and rushed
to the ire house and rang the bell
furiously and soon after the fire
whistle gave the general alarm.
Everybody in town had been dread
ing fire during the bitter cold weather
and the tire whistle aroused those
who heard it with feelings Of dread.
because the thermometer showed 45
below the night before. The wind
had changed during the evening and
was blowing stiff gale from the
south, but it was only ten below. cold
enough for those who had to handle
the hose.
The fire department got ON the
ground promptly and began hard
fight to put out the names that were
rolling high and throwing out burn
ing brands that threatened houses
and barn north while men were busy
in the east end Of the big structure
removing buggieS, carriages, autos
and Sleighs. Everything Of this kind
was safely removed, even the tele-
phone board in the barn Office where q
young man, as Waterman, was sleep
ing when the boys ran up to the door
and aroused him, he being unconsc-
ious of the fire and danger that
threat tened his life.
The iiremen and volunteers fought
heroically against terrible odds, while
citizens watched the dwellings and
barns north OF the Seething mass OF
flame which sent out flying brands of
fire. The Elmer Wood barn, separat-
ed from the burning building by 4
narrow alley. caught fire and was de-
stroyed a few minutes after Edward
lsakson got his big team out, and the
barn on the John Tucker lot north OF
the Woods place was also destroyed.
The house and woodshed on the
Tucker property occupied by Paul
Juel had a narrow escape but
Ole saved the property by getting out
his garden hose and covering the roofs
and walls with water which turned to
ice in an instant.
The barns belonging to Gus Han.
son. Henry Cooper and J. D. Cloud
caught fire from flying chunks Of wood
but were put out by citizens who did
splendid work in this line Other
small buildings caught fire but were
saved by the vigilence of the watch
erS.
There were eleven horses, and two
driving mules in the barn and they
were evidently smothered before the
flames reached them. Proprietor
Ferguson had nine horses of his own
in the barn, Elmer knOwlton, two
driving mules and one saddle horse,
and another horse belonging to a
farmer were lost. 1t was impossible
to get the animals out when the first
fire fighters arrived, although one an.
imal was cut loose by Charlie Madole,
son of Freeman Madole, who with
Cecil Beck tried to drag the animal
away from the blaze and smoke, but
the Door brute broke away and rushed
back to the fiery furnace and death.
Every fireman and hundred or
more volunteers did splendid work.
Mayor Tank stood with The nozzle
fighting the flames while covered from
head to foot in ice. DR.. Tuttle fought
gallantly until he was a mass of ice.
Ralph Bean and Frank Bankson were
heroic in action and covered with ice,
and among the others who were con-
spicuous and ice covered were Louis
Dokken, Selmer Hanson, John War
ner, Chief Campbell, Elmer Wood,
Ed. Benz, Chris Christopherson Chris
Sandvig and there were Others, but
the LEADER reporter was some busy
himself and didn't see all who were
entitled to special mention. The
water supply was ample and Water
Commissioner Happen had his pumps
going In few minutes after the gen.
eral alarm was given and when the
danger was all over the water in the
standpipe was higher than it was
when the boys began pouring water
over the big blaze, which Illuminated
the whole town and was seen by A. l..
Syverud over in Iowa, who happened
To be up at the time. He thought
the town was burning.
Mr.. Ferguson's loss is about $4,000
which includes his big barn, sheds
and outhouses, nine horses, hay, grain
and two pigs. Elmer Knowlton had
a span Of driving mules and a saddle
horse in the barn, with no insurance,
and horse belonging to a farmer
was also lost.
Mr.. Ferguson carried $3.50 insur-
ance in companies represented by
Dean s. Helgerson, H. N. Cooper and
f. NJ. Dean, leaving his actual loss
over 81, ,OOO Mr.. Ferguson, it is said
will build finer structure in the
spring.