The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-02-10

the Northern States Power company
in this city, was perhaps one Of the
first men on the scene after he learn
ed OF the fire, so that he could look
after live wires and prevent accidents
from that source. While standing
near the building a piece Of falling
glass cut quite gasn in the left
side of Mr.. Hoffman-s mead, but the
wound is not of a serious nature.
Aside from this there were no &C
cldents.
Great Mass of People
1t is estimated InaC a; least seven
thousand people were gathered in the
vicinity OF the burning building an
hour after the blaze was discovered.
Weather conditions were favorable to
the spectators as the weather was
warm and the wind Slight. Police
lines were quickly thrown and the
crowd kept back without difficulty.
The building, sitting on high ground
was plainly visible to all fire fans,
and the flames, leaping high into the
air made a spectacular sight.
1t is estimated that several thou
sand church goers were tempted
from the paths leading to the chur-
ches to the scene of the conflagra-
ton and automobiles were parked
for several blocks around.
Mankato's fire department, aug
mented by host of volunteer fight
ers, and North Mankato department,
kept dozens of hose lines playing into
the burning building. Principal ef-
forts were in keeping the new build
ing OF the school from igniting and
also several houses in the vicinity of
the rear Of the building. Hose lines
were constantly kept in readiness for
any sign of fire in nearby houses It
was reported early that at least one
house in the rear of the school was
doomed but this proved to be an err
ror. A quantity of furniture was car
ried out of the home of Henry Hob
man as a precautionary measure but
that house, carefully watched by fire
men, did not burn although some
what damaged by water.
kindergartener In Tears
One little four year old girl, a kin
dergartner of the Teachers college,
was apparently the saddest of any
of those affected by the fire yester-
day. She was wailing loudly as the
destruction became more and more
complete. Between sobs she explain
ed that she couldn't go to school any
more, and that the Union school was
too full now and they won't let me in
there" All efforts of consoling the
child were fruitless and she appear
ed to be the most forlorn young lady
in Mankato. What difference a few
years make!
Aside from a few small incidents
like the foregoing, the fire was singu-
alarly devoid of thrillers. There
were several small explosions when
the flames reached the chemistry la
boTatory but there were no specta-
cular wall crashes and no narrow eS-
capes from injury The fact that
there were no people in the building
during the fire was fortunate cir
cumstance but robbed the occasion of
all the usual dramatics.
1t was only a matter four hours
from the discovery of the blaze until
the fire was confined to small bIazes
in the remaining bits Of woodwork.
1t was also about this time that the
mercury began to fall in the Their
mometer and interest rapidly cooled
The crowd thinned almost as rapidly
as it had collected.
Why Flames Spread Rapidly.
Architect Henry G. Gerlach of this
city, in a statement to The Free Press
plans and specifications for the two
wings on the main part of thes Man
kato Teachers college building com
pletely destroyed by fire yesterday.
Mr.. Gerlach said that the building was
erected by the p C. Burdick company
at a cost of $4,000 for each wing
AS near as Mr.. Gerlach can estimate
the two wings were erected during the
year 1894.
Mr. Gerlach attributes the rapid
spread of the flames yesterday to the
Smeall system of ventilation which
had been installed in the wings at the
time of their construction. Mr.. Ger
ZACH explained that this system con-
sisted of numbers of wooden passages
for air in the walls and between the
floors. The partitions were wood in
stead of brick which also permitted
of rapid spread Of the fire Mr.. Ger
ZACH is of the opinion that the danes
sucked through the air passages and
formed a very strong draught which
no fire department could cope with.
Architect Gerlach said that one wing
could not be built today for what it
cost to build both wings to the school
in 1894. The total cost Of the two
wings at that time was $4,000
Mr.. Gerlach thought today that the
right course is being taken in wreck
ing the walls of the Quilted building
II new building is erected new walls
win be necessary for the latest type of
school building. The foundation, he
stated viii be absolutely safe for even