The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-08-09
$5,00O.0O fire
At TASKER Mine
Mine Boarding House and Barn Set
on Fire Monday Night--May Be
Beginning of Serious Trouble

The boarding house and barn of the
Dakota Coal Co. at Tasker, Is miles
northwest of Minot on the 500, were
completely destroyed by fire which
started at 1O:45 o'clock Monday night
The fire was without question of an
incendiary origin, and while consider
able evidence points to more than one
guilty person, no arrests have been
made yet.
C. H. Strong, the general manager,
had gone to bed but a short time be-
fore the fire started, when he was
awakened by the blaze. He rushed out
and was soon on the scene, but the
flames had gotten such headway, that
any attempt to put them out would
have been futile. The barn was first
set on fire and those on the scene early
state that the blaze started from with
in the structure. The barn had been
used for the company's mules, employ
ed in hauling coal out of the mine, but
whoever set the structure on fire must
have taken care to see that all of the
animals were taken out. Shortly after
the barn was discovered in flames, it
was seen that the boarding house, a
large building several hundred feet to
the east and which is occupied only
during the busy season was afiame on
the inside. Mr.. Strong had gone
to the boarding house at nine o'clock
that night for a table and carefully
nailed up the door when he came out.
He took particular notice to cellar
door which had been opened after he
left and through which the man who
set the building on fire must have en-
tered.
The loss is about $4,000. The board
ing house was insured for $2,400 and
the barn for $1,000. An old building
is being remodeled for temporary use
as barn. The president Of the COM
pany, Mr.. Pratt, was notified by wire
and will arrive this week. The board
ing house will probably have to be re-
built, as the busy season is at hand
and forty or more miners will be en-
ployed getting out the seasons Ignite.
Four men are employed days and
four during the night at the present
time. The company recently complet-
gotten into shape to do business on a
larger scale than ever.
An Independent representative Wis
tied the mine Tuesday and after going
over the ground thoroughly believes
that the man or men who fired the
buildings were familiar with the sur
roundings. Mr.. Strong states that he
has had no particular trouble with his
men. In June there was talk of a
strike, but conditions were adjusted
and higher wages paid. In fact he
states that his mine has been paying
from 25 to so cents day higher wages
than most other mines. Someone about
the place evidently has it in for him,
he believes. Recently part was tax
en- off valuable compass and hidden.
Later the part was found up in a
loft. Someone took the rope and pull
ley out of the boarding house we'll and
several gallons of gasoline were missed
from tank kept under lock and key.
Mr.. Strong suspects no one in particu-
lar of committing these depredations
One of the miners told the Independ-
ent representative that he believes the
trouble started from among the miners
themselves, who are not yet satisfied
with their wages nor entirely in ac-
cord with the general managers way
of running the mine, limiting that the
fire might have been started in hopes
the manager might be replaced. Mr..
Strong is said to be very fair with his
men, though he laid down certain rules
which he expects to see observed. One
of the "skinners," fellow named
Trondson, called for his time Tuesday,
stating that he was afraid to go back
in the mine for fear the entry might
be fired. Deputy Sheriff Vandenoever
was at Tasker Tuesday looking over
the situation.