The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-11-29
WESTPORT ELEVATOR
DESTROYED BY FIRE
ENTIRE VILLAGE ENDANGERED
BY BURNING OF THE MON
ARCH ELEVATOR MONDAY
SAUK CENTRE TO RESCUE
SO TONS OF COAL AND ABOUT
1900 BUSHELS OF GRAIN
ARE BURNED

Ben Dubois of the Sank Centre fire
department from the village of West
port, stating that the elevator owned
by the Monarch Elevator Company,
Minneapolis, on the N. P. right of
way, was burning, endangering at
least a portion of the balance of the
village. No time was lost in getting
the chemical engine on the road with
q dozen or more firemen loaded in
other cars, and record drive was
made to the scene of the fire.
Westport is entirely without fire
protection and it was absolutely i'm
possible for the Sank Centre depart
ment to save the building or its con-
tents, but they did keep the flames
from spreading beyond the coal and
cement shed of the Best-Schultz Lum-
Der Company.
This elevator was one of the land
marks of Westport. The structure
destroyed Monday afternoon was
erected about 25 years ago by the
Sawyer Elevator Co., managed at
that time by the late Alex Bordeaux.
Later the property was sold to the
PV. Elevator Co., Minneapolis, out
of which the Monarch Elevator Co.,
ia the outgrowth. The Herald editor
was informed by Westport citizens
Tuesday afternoon that the building
destroyed Monday was the third
structure which had been burned to
the ground on that particular site
within thirty year period.
o. E. Kruger, manager of the
Westport station for the Monarch
people, had been tied up for couple
Of weeks by a broken gas engine and
while waiting for the necessary re-
pairs about $4,000 bushels of grain
had accumulated The engine was
repaired Saturday and early Monday
Mr.. Kreuger began to elevate the
grain into the loading bins in the top
Of the elevator, preparatory to load
ing out some cars on Tuesday. About
4:15 in the afternoon flames were
discovered coming out of the top
most part of the cupola. 1t is pre-
suned that the fire was caused by a
hot-box on the top elevation shaft.
The wind was blowing from the
northwest toward the Best-Schultz
lumber yard across the street, and it
was only by heroic efforts on the
part of the citizens of Westport that
these buildings were saved. Had
they caught on fire more than likely
. great portion of the business sec
ton of the village would have been
completely wiped out as the stores
are all of wooden construction. 81
Mr.. Kreuger stated to the Herald
Tuesday afternoon that the contents
of the elevator consisted of wheat,
rye, oats, barley, flax, and buckwheat
and that he understood that the Mon
arch Company were reasonably well
insured. He has operated the Vest
port plant for the Monarch company
for over 13 years. He said that he
did not know whether or not the COM
pany would rebuild the elevator be-
cause the farmers of that section
were going more and more into the
dairying. business each year, and ma
turally curtailing the grain to be
handled. The only other elevator in
Westport is owned and operated by
the Borgeding Company of Melrose,
managed by Mr.. Peterson. Mr.. Kre-
uger stated to the Herald that in his
Judgment the entire amount of
grain of all kinds to be marketed in
Westport this year would not exceed
10000 bushels and this was heavier
than it had been for several years.
The Westport citizens are extreme
" appreciative for the very prompt
response made to their call for help
by the Sank Centre Fire Department
and asked the Herald to express their
appreciation Individually and collec-
lively.
At the same time the call was sent
to Sank Centre, Glenwood was asked
for assistance and delegation from
their fire department arrived on the
scene of action sometime after the
Sank Centre men were on the
ground.
Besides, the loss of the coal and
cement shed, about SO tons of soft
coal belonging to the Best-Schultz
Lumber Co., were destroyed. There
was about carload of hard coad IN
the bin, but this was removed before
it was seriously damaged.
G.. r.. Lee and family, and w.
Young and family Of Menhaga were