The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-04-07
STATE SUFFERSA
$4,000 FIRE Loss
BROOKDALE COTTAGE, HOME
SCHOOL, DESTROYED FRI
DAY NIGHT
WILL BE REBUILT AT once
FIRE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
STARTED FROM DEFEC-
TIVE FLUE

d Il LUZ
Fighting fire with the energy of
veteran fire-fghters, girls inmates at
the Minnesota Home School for Girls,
working with residents of the vicinity
saved many hundreds of dollars in
property last Friday evening when
"Siberia," one of the cottages at the
school, was completely destroyed by
fire.
The confiagration was the result Of
a defective chimney fiue, according to
the belief of persons familiar with
the situation and Mrs. Fannie French
Morse, superintendent of the school.
"Siberia," was the cottage used for
segregation purposes only, and was
situated one mile east of the school
site proper. The building was a
frame structure and had been used
as a maternity cottage until short
time ago when new segregation
plan was adopted at the school and
this cottage was adopted as the
"penal" house of the institution.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Hamm, who
were in charge of "Siberia," stated
in their report of the fire that three
heating equipments leading into the
one chimney which it was only re-
Gently discovered to be of defective
construction, resulted in the fire. The
blaze was discovered while the oc-
cupants of the building were at their
evening meal. H..
So rapidly did the flames spread,
that before a hurried call to the city
for fire assistance, could be answered
the entire structure was seethlng
mass of fire. The girls of the cot
tage, 81 in number, worked like
beavers to remove the household
furnishings and they were aided by
neighbors who arrived on the scene
shortly after the fire was discovered.
The building was valued at $4,000
and according to information at the
school, was completely covered by in
surance. :
Girl inmates of the place were all
rushed back to the school proper as
soon as conditions would permit, and
were scattered about among the var
ious cottages where they could be
Accommodated.
The destruction of the building is
working hardship upon the instltu-
ton which is filled to capacity. This
crowded condition at the school made
it necessary for the immediate oc-
cupation of the new cottage in the
city by girls who are attending the
city schools.
Mrs. Morse stated Saturday that
the building destroyed Friday would
be Immediately replaced. 1t is not
her plan to erect another Siberia,
but to build farm cottage on the
site for the accommodation of about
five farm girls, and to erect num-
Der of new cottages as part OF the
extension plan recently adopted by
the school.
In response to the summons from
the school, the Sank Centre fire de-
partment hurried to the scene of the
fire, arriving shortly after the alarm
was turned in. Conditions on the
grounds, however, prevented the IRE
men from rendering efficient service
although chemical machines were US
ed where ever results could be OBJ
tanned.
Hundreds of people from the city
flocked. to the scene of the fire as
soon as news of the disaster reached
here. AT the request of matrons and
members Of the school faculty, many
town cars were turned over to the
use of the school and used in trans
porting girls back to the reservation
Last Fridays fire is the first de.
structive fire experienced in the his.
tory of the school. An old building
on the same, site was burned some
time ago.