The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-12-15
Three Men
Experience
SevereThrill
Frank Pangburn, Guy Scott
and Walter Emerson
Near Suffocation
HOME WAS DESTROYED
Firemen Suffer From Intense
Cold-Melrose Widow and
Children Homeless

of this city, and Walter Emerson,
of Spokane, Wash, had a very mar
row escape from suffocation early
Friday morning of last week when
the large Pangburn home, north
Main street, was destroyed by fire.
Mr.. Emerson, was a guest of his
old friend, Mr.. Pangburn, for the
night. Guy Scott has been rooming
at the home since his residence was
destroyed by fire couple of weeks
previous.
About 3:45 A. NJ. Mr.. Emerson
was awakened when the bedroom
rapidly filed with smoke. He has
tily awakened Mr.. Pangburn. They
hurriedly gathered bit of wearing
apparel and went to the room oc-
cupied by Mr.. Scott to awaken him.
His room was not SO badly filed
with smoke as were the rooms oc-
cupied by the other gentlemen, and
the halls.
It was with great difficulty that
the three men found the stairway
leading to the first floor and later
the door opening to the open air.
Mr.. Pangburn was very scantily
clad, and in his bare feet he made
his way to the w. H. Parker home
where a fire alarm was turned in.
Later he collapsed. ....
Two detachments of the depart
ment responded promptly, and were
on the spot short time before the
arrival Of Chief George Fish.
This was about 400 o'clock. At
this time there were no visable
flames. Smoke was coming from
the basement. Because of the pc
culiar construction of the basement,
and of partitions, 1t was impossible
for the department to get stream
of water into the basement. The
department was on the scene per-
haps 20 minutes before the water
was turned on, and then it was
turned to the dining room floor.
Entering the building, crawling
on their hands and knees, Chief
Fish and Assistant John Mondloch,
finally discovered Pickering of
blaze underneath the dining room
floor.
The fire meanwhile was burning
in the partitions. When it eventu-
ally reached the attic the entire
roof was in flames simultaneously.
Mr.. Pangburn made several at
tempts to save some stuff from
the kitchen, but was persuad-
ed to desist. He was taken to the
Parker home and put to bed, and
was in a serious condition from ex-
posture and inhalation of smoke, for
several days.
With 20 below zero weather and
a stiff wind blowing from the lake
the firemen suffered intensely. In
spite of frozen fingers, noses and
faces they fought valiantly and with
intelligence, until 800 A. M, be-
fore the blaze was subdued. They
were compelled to answer two
other calls to the premises within a
short time before the fire was COM
pletely extinguished.
This home was built about half
century ago by Burt Wood. He lat
er sold the property to Mel Billed,
who in turn sold the home to the
late Mike Hogan. The Hogan's liv-
ed in the house Is years, Frank
Pangburn bought the property in
about 1916.
During the progress Of the fire
the Henry Parker and John McGib-
bon homes were thrown open to the
firemen and Mrs. Parker and Mrs.
McGibbon were kept busy furnish
ing hot doughnuts and coffee for
the men in large quantities. The
men would rush to the homes, grab
a doughnut and drink hot cup OF
coffee and hasten back to their dis.
agreeable tasks.
DIR. Julian F. Dubois, who also
lived near by, was on the job con-
tinuously giving the men needed
first aid.
For this disagreeable task the
firemen receive the magnificent pat
of S1.OO per man from the city.
During all the years the depart
ment has been organized the mem
bers have performed a labor OF
willing service, and through their
unselfish and untiring efforts hum
CONTINUED on Page Four)