The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-02-17
MILNOR HAS
FIERCE BLAZE
Entire Lower Main Street Threatened
in Fire of Unknown
Origin

in Fire of Unknown
Origin
MAN MEETS HORRIBLE DEATH
Property Loss Estimated at About
$45,OOO-
Early Saturday morning and again
Tuesday evening the changing of the
fire bell sent chill into the hearts
Of the people of Minor, and had they
known at the time that the flames
were consuming human being, their
fears would have changed to horror,
says last weeks Milnor Teller.
When the alarm was sounded at
4:4O Saturday morning, the rear end
of the barber shop was in flames. The
chemical engines arrived in short or
der but at once it was seen that to
save the barber shop or Cohen &
Frishberg's store, adjoining, was i'm
possible.
About this time word was brought
that Wallace Kenoyer was very likely
upstairs in the burning building. The
only part of the building which boast
ed two stories was the rear end and
that was now entirely enveloped in
flames, so any chance of rescue was
out of the question. The thought that
the report was false prevailed in the
minds Of most Of the firemen and they
busted themselves watching out for
other property which was in danger.
A squad set to work and saved what
they could from Cohen & Frishberg's
store and succeeded in carrying out
most of the ready-to-wear garments
and some Of the other dry goods.
Pennington & Wallis cement block
garage, adjoining the barber shop on
the south, prevented the flames from
spreading further in that direction,
thereby saving Intlehouse Bros. store
and in all probability the entire block
as north wind prevailed. The in
tense heat broke the windows of the
First National Bank building across
the street, also those in the Weum e.
Flaten store.
AS the fire subsidized, the gruesome
outlines of human being were seen
in the flames at the rear end of the
now nearly consumed barber shop, and
the worst fears were realized. The
charred remains were rescued from
further ravages of the flames. and
covered with sheet until the arrival
of the states attorney. As Sargent
county has no coroner, Robt. Sander
son was at once sworn in to act as
temporary coroner and he ordered the
remains to be taken to the hall over
the Cooperative store. On Saturday
afternoon coroner's inquest was
held and certain matters brought to
light. M. E. Barnes testified that on
the previous day he had given Mr..
Kenoyer permission to use the unoc-
cupied upstairs room in the rear of
the barber shop for a repair shop,
Mr.. Kenoyer having stated that he
had quite number of sewing ma
chimes to repair. The room was fitted
up the same day with stove, couple
of hanging lamps, table and other
bits of furniture. Further evidence
revealed the fact that poker game
was in progress in the room Friday
evening and early Saturday morning
and that some of the men were in
toxicated. The following verdict was
returned by the jury:
? "Wallace Kenoyer was last seen
when in a room over the rear end Of
the barber shop, located on lot 81,
block 27, original plat of Minor. At
that time he was badly intoxicated.
That a fire broke out on the premises
above described and that Wallace
Kenoyer died by being burned to
death. The origin Of the fire is un-
known"
Not feeling satisfied with the tes-
timony Of all the witnesses Saturday
afternoon, second hearing was called
for Monday afternoon. Messrs. Ring
stad, Strickland, Ed. Sweeney and
Pete Hanson, who played cards with
the deceased the night of the catas-
trophe, were again called on the stand
also number Of new witnesses. AL
though the evidence at this hearing
differed considerably from that Of
Saturday afternoon and it was proven
that the party split up at much later
hour than was testified to Saturday,
still nothing was brought forth to in
dicate that any Of these men were
present when the fire started. The
jury returned a sealed verdict which
cannot possibly differ to any extent
from the one announced Saturday.
The total property loss Of the fire
is estimated at about twenty thous-
and dollars and is as follows:
Anton Berger, barber shop build
ing, value $500 with $1,000 insur-
ance.
NJ. E. Barnes, barber tools and fix
lures, value $1,000 with $1,000 insur-
ance.
The Cohen & Frishberg store build
ing, owned by Mrs. A. T. Fox, Of Ash
land, Wis, value $500 insured for
200. The upstairs Of this building
waa used ma a Masonic hall and averu.