The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-20
From saturday, Daily.
81 dwelling Burned TO Ground.


a board which lay on pile of
clothing in closet, Edward Austin
SGT fire to his dwelling last evening
about $3.50 O'Clock. and as d result
the house was burned to the ground.
The dwelling Is situated away from
the main part of the village on the
new blum road. and is beyond the
reach OF any OF the fire hydrants.
The fire Thus obtained such a head
way, before any help could reach
the family, that there was absolutely
no chance OF saving. the house.
though the barn and other onthouses
were saved.
Mr.. Austin was looking for pic
ture In the closet with the lamp,
when he found what he thought he
wanted. and set the lamp, on the
board, went out and closed the door.
He found that he had obtained the
wrong picture and again opened the
closet door TO get the right one.
The lamp had tipped over and ex-
pl0ded. - .
Those in the house at tho time
were Mr. Austin. Mrs. Nels Holden,
HIS daughter, and the latter's FIVE
year-old son. Mrs, Austin and the
other daughter. Miss Ruth Austin,
were visiting In Minneapolis. Mrs.
Holden and her father set at once
TO work TO remove the furniture,
such ~ they could carry. and they
saved great deal of Il, bnt n
large percentage of Il was consumed
wit hthe house. Mrs. Holden had
. hard time keeping her father
from rushing up the steps after
they were afire. s...s.
As. there was no Telephone, no
help could be summoned. and Mrs.
Holden was afraid to leave her IN.
Their with the burning building alone,
fearing that he would venture where
II was dangerous. Thus the IRE
gained q great Roadway. And no
help came until the hope of saving
the house was past. A few neigh.
bors, among them Fl. L. Clayton
and Glenn Kotthoff, attracted by the
glare Of the fire, hurried 10 the,
scene, and set TO work TO save the
barn and outhouses by throwing
water upon them from a nelghbor.
ing brook.
Mr. Austin had the house Insured
for $1,000. ana his actual fo,sa viii
probably be In the neighbofhood Of
$500. Among the articles of fnrni.
ture destroyed was large piano.
Work will be begun about The mid.
die OF April on improvements that ara
to be made on the SaulpaugA hotel
building. The dining room, which at
present reaches n height OF two
stories Is to- be cut down To one
story by the building of floor,
whereby room win be secured for
new sleeping apartments, where there
Is now mere waste space. II win not
be practicable to start on the work
at once. as II ig ,too cold to- cut
windows for the new rooms, with.
out chilling on .the hot 81 toolimacli.
While the dining room Is being thus
cut In half. and is' flied, with work.
ing men. the guests win be. served
meals In the parlors and writing
room of the large balcony. AZ present
guests DIRE being continually turned
away from the hotel, because there
Is no place for them 70 sleep. u Is
likely that tho new rooms. which, win
probably be about fifteen In number,
win be finis,ied and ready for oc.
capancy in ths latter part OF May.
This work ha; been under contem.
piatioh for some time. "a -.
Will &c Given Hearing.
Waiter 4. t'iymat, attorney for s
A. Brill OF llankato. wanted at Chi