The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-10

FLAMES W|P[D1OUT
GARDEN CITY Inn
Entire Hotel Is Destroyed
Early This Morning
LOSS VERY HEAVY
Insurance TotaIIina $21 10000.
Insurance TotaIIing $21 10000.
Carried; Property of
IS. T. Sheppard

Fire at three O'Clock this morn
ing destroyed the Garden City Inn
at Garden city, twelve miles south
west of this city entailing q loss OF
$4,000. The fire was discovered
at three o'clock this morning by two
men ON their way from Mankato to
Blue Earth. At that time the fam
es had gotten good start and were
bursting through the roof.
lSapJtel T. Sheppard and family
propTGetors of the Inn, we're hurried
ly aroused from a sound sleep.
They together with the guests In
the house made their escape safe
ly from the burning building. Mr..
,, Sheppard summoned the Mankat0
gire department, and Chief Ben =.
Bangerter together with Captain
Anderson and several other firemen
dashed out Of here at four a. m. and
reached the scene Of the fire twelve
miles away In the record time of
twenty minutes.
In the mean time the Lake Crys-
tai fire department had been call
ed and responded as-fast as auto
mobiles would carry them there.ssS
Flames Had Good Start
The flames had gotten too much
OF a start to save the building, but
the large chemical tanks of tht Man
kato fire fighting engine was turned
on the brick store next door operat-
ed by A. f. Leas and Son with good
effect. This was also true of the
Farmers State Bank q short dis
lance away which was also threat
ened by the flames. Had it not been
for the good work of the residents
of the village who formed a bucket
brigade, and the arrival of the fire
fighters from Mankato and Lake
Crystal, it is more than likely that
the greater PARTON of the town
would have been destroyed. The
near the bank that sheet iron had to
be placed between the heat and the
glass to keep it from breaking.
Built Fifteen Years Ago -
Garden City Inn was erected
about fifteen years ago, and during
the year 1915, when taken oyers by
Samuel T. Sheppard it was remodl-
ed and modernized Mr.. and Mrs.
Sheppard made this eating place
famous from the Atlantic to the
Pacific by the serving of the best
chicken dinners in the country.
Tourists never failed to stop at this
popular Inn.
4 Mr.. Sheppard in a statement i to
The Free Press this forenoon es-
timated his loss at $4,000 which is
covered by insurance of $21, ZOO car
ried with e. NJ. Zuel & Company and
with Theodore Williams Insurance
company Of this city.
Some Goods Saved
Mr.. Sheppard says that some of
the furniture and clothing on. the
lower floors was saved but every
thing on the upper floors was com
plete loss. In the rush to get his
wife and children to safety Mr.. Shep-
herd says that he left his trousers
hanging in one of the upstair rooms
in which was $50. This was burned
He has not decided whether he will
rebuild or not. Mr.. Sheppard had
contracted with the Garden City Fair
association to furnish the chicken
dinners, which have made that fair
popular for several years past.
Several large parties had taken
dinner at the Inn last night and the
large ranges in the kitchen were
kept red hot until eleven o'clock.
1t is thought possible that the Chin
ney became overheated and set the
roof onJfire