The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-09-17
RACE HORSE DIED IN FIRE
BLAZE CONSUMED BUILD
INGS AT FAIR GROUND
High-Spirited Animals Cantered
About MadIy In the Glare
Of Flames


With high spirited race horses
driven frantic by the sight of the
blazing barns at Mankato fair
grounds last night shortly after nine
one. Fire was discovered in one Of
the barns near the east entrance by
Edward Burke of Good Thunder, who
at once gave the alarm, FASTENED to
the barns and turned all of the hors-
es with the exception of one out on
the grounds, but not before some Of
the fine animals were badly singed
| The frightened animals dashed about
at top speed driven desperate by the
sight of the flames and smoke. Some
OF them dashed down town at full
speed before they could be rounded
Front street collided with an automo-
| bile driven by Ollie Durenberger at
the intersection of Hickory and South
Front street. The horse struck the
machine with such force that the
wind shield was smashed, but luckily
Mr.. Durenberger was not injured.
Started In Bunk Barn.
! According to the statement of Ed
ward Burke, who discovered the fire,
1t started in bunk barn, where some
horse tenders had been sleeping. He
barn from the east entrance to the
grounds. When he rushed over part
OF the blankets and bedding was on
fire and the flames had leaped to the
roof. After shouting Fire" Mr..
Burke lost no time In turning out
the horses as raridly as possible. He
stated to The Free Press last night
that so frightened had some of the
high spirited animals become, that It
was with great difficulty that he man
aged to get some Of them outside !.
One horse belonging to Jack Bouye.
OF Madelia, Mr.. Burke says, was tied
In his stall and the flames were SO
close that he could not be released.
and the fine animal met death in
the flames. Mr.sBurkes stared that,
some OF the names and tails Of the
horses were on IRE when he turned
them loose.
Fire Department Notified.
rearing Mr.. Burke's cry of "fire"
President Chris Steiner stated last
night that he at once telephoned
the fire department A moment later
inomas McGovern, superintendent of
the cattle department sent In another
call to the department over 2I0o
feet OF hose had to be laid before a
stream of water could be played on
the burning barns, and before this
was done fifteen Of the buildings had
oeen consumed. 1t was the opinion
OF everyone on the grounds last night
that had the wind been from the east
instead of from the west and away
from the main buildings, that there
would not have been a building
standing on the grounds today.
q ". M Jerue, who was one of the
nrst men to rush to the grounds when
IT was discovered that the barns were
on fire showed great presence of
mind In mastering the situation. See
ing mat the flames were rapidly eat
ing 1heir way back against the wind
IN which were housed thousands If
aollars worth Of high grade cattle.
Mr: Jerue shouted to the bystanders
70 lend hand in tearing one of fine
barns In the path Of the flames down
SO as to form gap and thus prevent
tne SPREAD Of the flames. This stem
on the part Of Mr.. Jerue and his as
sistants was the means of saving
thousands of dollars worth of prom
cry By the use Of water carried in
pals the barn. across the gan fbus
formed was kept wet until the wafer
was obtained from a hydrant 100
feet away '1'A'0
Difficult to Determine Loss.
resident Steiner stated last night
mat II would be difficult to state inst
what the loss to the fair association
would be. but 1t will in no way infer.
Iere with the fair. There is plenty
ot housing for the horses in the new
$40 s.ock X, pavilion and the barns remain
Some Of the horses wandered ahout
tpwn and were not rounded up until
this morning. w "'h
1t is the orinion of the firmen and
the management of the fair asaocja-
ton that 1t was the careless throw.
ing Gown OF cigaret stub that started
Owner Of Horse Downhearted
Jack Bouye of Madelia, the ownar
Of Evaline B., the fine trottinr mara
which lost its life in the first last
night, is downhearted man today
over the loss Of his fine speeder,
which on several occasions had made
mile In 2:20 fiat. Mr.. Bouye nIaces
his loss on the horse at $1,000 and
800 on blankets, harness, etc. He is
at loss to know why his mare was
not saved, and says that she was not
led In the stall, and that the door
Voc Aiol ioChCu. uC ITOLlGr WAS a
pet and great favorite with Mr.,
Bouye's little girls. Mr. Bouye car
ried no insurance.
During the excitement of the fire
last night a. high grade shorthorn
bull calf had it's leg broken. Or. l..
T. Dodds was called to the grounds
and set the bone, and the calf was
placed In sling and will recover.
John H. Macbeth, superintendent
Of the speed department, stated to
The Free Press this forenoon that
last nights fire will in no great degree
interfere with today's races. There
are between seven and eight horses
which will not be able to start, but
there are plenty Of others to take
their places. Tomorrow's races will
consist OF a PIT trot. 2:20 pace and
a running race. Mr.. Macbeth as
sures the visitors to the fair tomor-
row that there will be an excellent
M off -