The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-17
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Three partly broken walls. the front
wall entirely gone and a mass Of still
smouldering SmbcTs IN the large base
ment this morning marked the scene
of one Of the most destructive fro,
that ever occurred III ManRGto, the
one that DESTROYED the Brandrup
building on South Front street early
Yesterday \ stream of water was kept
playing on the still burning debris all
night long and also in the morning.
People OF North MankatO relate that
small burning Gm6ers were carried
across the river into the village. and
some fell even as far as Sherman ave-
nue.. The heat OF the ascending at
mospnerC was so great that the
Sparks were carried 10 a remarkable
height.
Philip {. Morrell proprietor of the
New York store. estimates his loss
over and above all insurance at ap-
proximateiy $4,000 II this is cor
rect he is The principal sufferer from
the catastrophe.
Two representatives, of wholesale
houses were here yesterday after
noon" said Mr.. Morrell TODAY. and
they indicated a willingness on the part
OF their houses, which are in ST. Paul
and Minneapolis, 10 extend to me sur
ficient credit 10 enable me To start up
again think I shall do that. in spite
of my great loss. hope TO be able
10 set Up a store in temporary GUAR
tiers I'm Mankato. though probably not
on so large a scale as the one that J
had. and I hope to make arrangements
to occupy a portion Of Mr.. B-aHdrup's
new block. after he has rebuilt.
Il have been studying the situation
over. and trying 10 make up my mind
what was the real cause OF the fire.
and how Il could have been prevent
ed. but have not been able to solve
this riddle. do not believe that any
of my employees is 20 blame for the
fire. | did not allow the use of matches
in the store. There were electric
lights everywhere, and did not per-
NIT smoking. II seems to me that IL
any of my clerks had thrown cigaret
stub or otherwise started the fire
among the stock of the store the fire
would have shot right out OF the front.
As II was my store was about the last
part of the building TO burn.
AS TO leaving rubbish near the
furnace. we have been' very careful
about that. The state fire marshal
praised ting way i'm which the base
ment was kept. We have been very
clearly in having the rubbish promptly
carried of. II occurs TO me that bad
wiring might have caused the fire.
OF course. do not know that il was
that. but | do know that in the base
ment portion there was bad tangle of
wires.
II thinksthe fire boys did excellent
work. and took many great chances
in fighting the fire and saving the
other buildings. But feel that II there
had been the proper facilities 10
throw water on the fire i'm sufficient
quantities at the outset. the fire could
have been extinguished i'm the rear part
OF the building before II had a chance
TO spread, and my stock and my for
tune would have been saved
ID. w. Chamberlain Of Minneapolis
general manager Of the American
Amusement company, owner of the
Uniquqe theatre. whose outfit was de-
stroyed by the fire yesterday, was {
visitor in the city yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Chamberlain declared that this
theatre stock was the only one thai
his company owned and has not in
sured, and yet this was the very the.
atre that burned. He said the los:
came to about $4,000. There were g..
900 feet of films. He was asked
whether his company would install
another theatre I'm this city to TAX,
the place of the Unique, and he sale
he was not prepared to say. TIL,
Grand Us also one of the American
Amusement houses.
The j. b. Nielsen Construction com
pany today had a force of carpenter
busily engaged in manufacturing pins
tables to be used by the Mankat,
Commercial college In the new quar-
tiers. These tables are for temporar,
use. but the college Is buying chair
that will be part of the permanen
equipment. The shorthand division o
students will be instructed I'm Yeomel
hall. which is over the Draper & Pet
tersen grocery and the bookkeepin,
division win be instructed i'm Richard
hall over the Richards dry good
store. II is the hope OF the instruct
ors that Friday will prove TO be th,
only holiday to be given to the stu
dents on account of the FIRE. as all Oh,
students are expected TO report 10
their class work on Monday IRornire
II is hoped that by that time tn
equipment viii De ready, so that tn,
studies can be continued. The colleg,
wired yesterday TO Chicago for new
supplies of books and stationery 4