The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-12-24
lUvERNE'S FIRE TRAGEDY
As Written Up BY The
Ledger Man.

The most disastrous fire that Lu-
verne has yet had was Saturday morn
ing, when three OF our business
houses were burned to the ground,
with the loss of the life of little Asa
Baker, only son Of Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Baker. The fire originated in the
barber shop, which was also used as q
rooming house. g. A. Fallness, who
Is the barber, had lit the kitchen fire
and then went into the barber shop to
generate the torch under tank that
heats the water. AZ soon as he had
lit this he returned to the kitchen to
see how that fire was. Whom he re-
turned to the shop again, he found
big blaze going up the wall near the
gasoline tank. He Immediately tore
the tank loose, and in doing SO spilled
some gasoline on his clothes, which
took nre. He then dropped the tank,
which exploded, spreading the gaso.
line oil over the room. After he saw
that it was In flames he rushed to the
rear and aroused his family and also
the people who were asleep upstairs
When Mr.. Baker heard the alarm,
he snatchsd up his sick wife, who had
recently underwent an operation, and
carried her to safely, and then re-
turned to get his little son, but the
flames had by that time got as far as
the door and twas impossible for any
one to save the child. Many people
attempted to get through the smoke
and fire to reach him, but their efforts
proved futile and the poor boy went to
his death in the fire.
The fire soon spread to the large
restaurant, which was next to the bar
ber shop, and the people seeing that
that building was doomed to go, be-
gan moving out the furnish ings, which
they succeeded in doing. Nearly ev-
erything in this building was taken
out. The Luverne Ledger Office was
The next building doomed to 60, so
this building was cleand out Of all the
machinery, type, ETC., and also every.
thing in the rooms in the rear OF the
building, which were used as living
rooms by the editor and his wife.
The frs was a severe blow to the
people of Luverne, as the buildings
destroyed were all good ones, and To-
Gated in one of the best parts of the
town. Two of the buildings were prac
tically new, having been built less
than three years ago. 1t is also 6
hard blow to the people who occupied
these business houses. Mr.. Fallnes.
bought out the barber business from
Mr.. Mills this fall, and was having {
brisk business when it all went up it
smoke. He did not even get chanc'
to save any clothing; and his wifi
and children escaped In their night
gowns, with no shoes nor any Other
garments to shield them from the cold
His loss is estimated at about 1890
with about $3.50 insurance.
The restaurant was owned by O
Kvolvik. purchased by him last weel
from Mr.. Baker. He took possession
OF the place on Wednesday last. 1t ii
indeed hard blow to him. His los'
is estimated at about $500. 1t woule
have been much more, but he was for
tunate enough to save the greater par
of his furnishings; nevertheless it wal
a hard blow, as he had been in bust
ness so short time. Mr.. Kvolvil
may open up a lunch counter here il
q short time.
As to The Ledger, while everything
was taken out of the building it sure i
an awful loss to the editor. We ha,
been in the building less than month
but had become so attached to th
place that nothing else would have In
duced US to leave. There we're wv
rooms in the rear of the building tina
were used by the editor and his wife
as we were married but month ago
We felt rather proud of our new home
and #e had just got nicely settle
when we were forced to leave the place
At the present time we have no perma
nent home, but expect to rent som
rooms in a few days. The Ledge
plant is at the present time stored i
the old school building. The pape
. will be printed at Sutton until we ca
J get things Strengthened around. W