The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-12-05
TRUCK WAREHOUSE
AT ST. CLOUD BURNS
Raymond Brothers Co. Lose
Seven Trucks, Warehouse
and Merchandise
SERVICE NOT AFFECTED
Overheated Stove Probable
Cause; Loss Sos, 900; Cow
cred by Blanket Policy
Mondays St. cloud Times)

Mondays st. Cloud Times)
Property loss estimated at $685.
500, and Robert Peschl, st. Cloud
fireman, seriously injured, are the
results of the fire Sunday evening
which destroyed the Raymond Bros.
warehouse in East ST.. Cloud, Civ
in the city its most severe fire loss
since the burning of the Fritz
Cross company plant four years
ago on Jan. 1.
The lost property included seven
trucks and about 80 tons of freight
received at the warehouse Satur-
day, and ready for re-shipment on
the lines of the trucking firm.
In addition to the fire loss to this
plant, the Northwestern Bell Tele-
phone company had considerable
loss through the burning Of two
cables. one of which, a 400 pair"
served East st. Cloud and Sank
Rapids, and the other, $50 pair
served the business establishments
on East st. Germain.
Robert Peschl was injured at
about seven o'clock, shortly after
the arrival of the fire department.
Peschl drove the car of Fire Chief
ellis. Fire trucks had arrived pre-
viously and line of hose had al
ready been laid. Chief ellis di-
rected Peschl to assist in laying an
other line.
The hose had been coupled to the
pumper, and as the hose was be-
ing dragged toward the burning
structure the fabric broke near the
coupling. The loose hose, it is be-
lieved, caused Peschl to trip and he
struck his head in the fall.
The injured fireman was taken to
the hospital Immediately. He suf-
fered concussion of the brain,
and the results Of x-rays are await
ed to determine the full extent Of
the injury.
Fire in the warehouse was dis
covered by d. w. Fitch, plant me-
chanic, who saw the blaze in the
checking room as he was driving
past on Second street, northeast,
shortly after $3.50. He immediate
| ly turned in the alarm and then
proceeded to break the doors to re-
move some of the trucks.
The fireman, Lester Finn, had
been in the structure but few
minutes before, and had gone to
the office structure, a short distance
away. and was tending to the fire
there when he learned of the blaze.
Eleven trucks and about 80 tons
of freight were in the warehouse at
the time, in addition to the ship
! ping records of Saturday, and truck
equipment.
Firemen laid three lines of hose
onto the blaze, and they had diff
Guilty in gaining entrance to the in
terror portion where the fire origf-
mated, blocked their way. Four Of
the trucks were removed, though
damaged to some extent.
Water was poured into the blaze
until well after midnight, and the
embers were rekindled this morn
ing at about nine o'clock. It was
necessary to sent. q chemical truck
over at that time
is believed to have been responsible.
The stove was in the small check
ing room. Once the fire got started,
it spread rapidly. Several barrels
of oil aided its ferocity, and there.
were slight explosions, some of
them perhaps caused by the burst
ing OF tires, some by the bursting
of barrels, and some probably from
merchandise in the freight.
r. J. Braun, secretary Of Ray
mond Bros, estimated the loss at
about $65, 500. He believed the loss
to the building to be about 5000.
The loss of the seven trucks, he
said, would be about $4,000, and
the freight, though an accurate
check had not been made, this
morning, was valued at probably
$4,000 In addition the Arm lost
equipment valued at about $500,
including oils and grease, greasing
machines and tires. 8
Freight records of Saturdays re-
ceipts were destroyed but dupli-
cate records were received from
Minneapolis today and an accurate
check of the freight loss is being
made. ga q
The Raymond Brothers firm is
operating As trucks and trailers,
and Mr.. Braun stated that the loss
Of the trucks in the fire Sunday wiz
not curtail their shipping activi-
ties. Arrangements were made inn
mediately to secure emergency
trucks. Plans were started today
to secure an Immediately available
warehouse.
All Raymond Bros. equipment,
and the freight, as well, are covered
by insurance.