The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-05-26
PART BUSINESS SECTION
WAS DESTROYED
ORIGIN is NOT KNOWN
Skinner, Chamberlain & Com.
pany Among The Heavy
Losers,
Associated Press Dispatch.I

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
Albert Lea MINI May 22.-Alber
Leas business district was swept
by a S1.000,O00 fire early yesterday.
A block and a half Of buildings
along one side of the street were
wrecked by the flames and further
extensive damage was done by
water.
Two men were hurt by falling
glass and a number of tenants liv-
ing over stores had narrow escapes.
One man was found asleep by fire.
men in his flame enveloped room
and rescued uninJured.
Buildings razed by the flames
were on the south side Of East VIII
liams street, in the block from
Broadway to Newton street, and
on the east side of Broadway from
East Williams for more than half a
block toward Main street.
The fire started from undeter-
Garage in the middle of the block
on East Williams street 1t was
discovered shortly after one o'clock
in the morning by Nate Whitney,
who lives over an adjoining store.
Whitney and his wife escaped in
night attire just as the flames burst
into their department.
Buildings and Stocks Destroyed
For more than three hours the fire
ragged until the water sprinkler sys-
TEN in the Skinner, Chamberlain &
Co. store on Broadway halted its
progress down the city's principal
side water system that prevented
the flames from attacking the
building successfully.
Buildings and stocks destroyed
included those of the Christensen
Garage, the Robert Meyers harness
store and shop, the Jensen Brothers
Clothing Company, the Central FL
ectric company, Henry Harms
jewelry store, the C. R. Borland
grocery. and two small restaurants
The deluge Of water at the Skin
ner Chamberlain store drenched the
stocks on its four floors and the
fire did slight damage to the uphoI-
stery section of the furniture de-
pertinent. The water damage made
the Skinner Chamberlain com
pany the biggest individual sufferer
Total Loss Over Million
Estimates of individual losses had
not been completed, pending the
arrival of insurance adjusters, but
the fire victims agreed that the to-
tai loss would approximate $1,000,
600. generally covered by insurance
Officials OF the city's fire depart
ment declared only the unusual
the entire business district from
being destroyed. There was not the
slightest breeze, and the flames
shot directly upward.
In the ChriStianson garage, q
frame structure with sheet iron ex-
terror, fifteen automobiles and
three motorcycles were destroyed
together with shop equipment, or
which there was no insurance, &C
cording to the owner. The building
was 60 by 120 feet and one story.
From the garage. the flames lick
ed their way into the Meyers store
adjoining on the east. destroying
that one story brick structure
which was a landmark. Beyond
the Meyers store. two small res
taurants were destroyed.
Fire Worked Westward
o Working westward, the flames
entered the big Jensen brick block
on the corner of Broadway and
East Williams, and then continued
on down Broadway wrecking the
Central Electric; Harm jeweIry
the principal store of its kind in the
city; Borland's grocery, and Their
bringing up the Skinner Chamber
lain store.
The Jensen building, which also
housed the Central Electric. anC
the Harm and Borland buildings
were two story brick structures.
The curtain Of water showering
down outside the Skinner Cham
berlain block, and the interior
sprinkler system. raised havoc with
the stores stocks, but effectively
checked the flames. %.
The grocery, drapery and rugs
and the furniture departments o.
the store are a total wreck, store
officials said. and in the basement
which was filled with water, the
entire silk stock was ruined.
Built Dam With Flour
An attempt was made TO proven
the water from flooding the south
ermost sections of the store By
building a dam from a carload o.
sacked flour, but the water rose ov'
er this barrier like an Overlooking
river When outside doors within
the damned area were opened, the
water gushed into the street nearh
the full height of the doors.
The Skinner Chamberlain blocl
fronts nearly $50 feet on Broadway
and has a depth of 140 feet. 1t!
principal owners, W. G.. Chamber
lain and Bert Skinner, are on {;
fishing trip in Northern Minnesota
and up to late hour tonight hat
not been apprised of the fire, a!
their exact location was not known
here.
AS the fire progressed, a consid
cradle quantity of MERCHANDISE
and fixtures from the various men
aced buildings was thrown into thu
streets, and today this salvage
stock was placed in several ware
houses until ownership can be de
termined.
Losses Other Concerns
Minor concerns and tenants owe
the stores lost everything, the lat
ter as a rule having on only nigh
clothes as they fled from their no
mes. E. v. Jones, a sign painter
sleeping in his shop over Meyer
store did not awake until firemel
burst into his room and dragget
him to, safety.
Two men. whose names were no
ascertained. were hurt by falling
glass, which was showered into tn
street as windows gave way in tn
buildings on the north side Of Eas
Williams street Every window
facing south in that block wa
broken or cracked by the intens
heat.
10 hn oil mr. Nrir