The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-12-10
Severe Fire Threatened
City Sunday Morning


furnishings, stock valued at $685.
900, and the building loss at $10,-
900.
The Wiener Shoe Co., also locat-
ed in the Boston store, stock loss
5000, besides a $500 furniture
loss.
The J. c. Penney Co. stock loss
1000. Thos. Sullivan building loss
$4,000.
Other losses include: G. II. Van
desteeg damage to building; Dahl
EN- Grocery damage to building
through explosion; Johns Place,
fire damage TO building; Jackson S
Jewelry store, smoke damage; Cor
ner Drug Store, water damage;
Paul Telling, smoke and water
damage. Damage to plate glass
fronts, and smoke damage, ETC.,
Nelson Bakery, Ed Evans, FEEDER
ated Store, Rydholm Studio, O'Gara
Beauty Parlor, Belmont Cafe and ].
F. Coyle. Ed Polipnick suffered
damage to furniture by smoke and
heat when the upstairs windows In
the Coyle building were shattered
by heat. Some Easements across the
street were filled with water when
sewer drains froze. Water ran over
the curbs and the businessmen
were kept busy cleaning the gut
tiers of ice so that the water could
be kept from entering their build
ings.
The flames in the Boston build
ing, swept by a high wind, soon en-
dangered nearby buildings and 1t
was apparent that help would be
needed. Chief George Fish asked to
have calls put in to neighboring
towns for help, and the Long Prair-
lie, Melrose and Osakis departments
responded. Before that, however,
the flames had spread to the J. c.
Penney Store and to the Model
Store. For some Lime it was thought
that the entire block would be des-
troyed.
An explosion occurred in the
Dahlem Grocery store shortly be-
fore four o'clock. Gases from the
fire escaped through the wall and
caused the explosion, which ripped
through the roof and tin ceiling
and blew out the plate glass win
dows. AL Gaspard, who was passing
the store at the time, was showered
with glass and received minor cuts
and slightly injured shoulder.
Fire also spread to the upper win
dows of Johns Place, this building
being the property of Miss Pauline
Dahlem. The upper windows were
burned. Buildings across the street
were threatened, and only the
snow on the roofs saved them, as
burning embers fell In profusion.
Henry Thielen averted the fire
from spreading to the east side of
Main Street when with broom he
extinguished flames on the roof of
the Frank PalgDurn building, in
which is located the Parkinson
Seed Store. A strong northwest
wind carried embers over the city
into the residence district east of
Main Street, and the members of
the Highway Patrol, AL Frederick
son and Mr.. Woods, drove about
with their searchlight turned on
homes as a means Of averting con-
flagrations.
An explosion also occurred in the
J. c. Penney store after the fire
broke out in the building. This ex-
plosion raised the roof of the G..
H. Vandesteeg building as reported
by Erwin Nelson and Charles Mill
er, who were on the rear corner
directing a hose line onto the fire
in the Penney Store. When the
roof raised they were forced to let
go Of the hose and arm in arm,
through heavy smoke, started
across the buildings to safety. The
smoke being impenetratable to
vision they did not know exactly In
which direction they were going,
but they got onto the Ben Schoen-
hoff building and climbed to safe
ty.
Thirty-seven telephones In the
business section were placed out of
order when large cable burned.
These were repaired and ready for
service before 2:30 Monday morn
ing.
Andrew Sorenson, who resides on
Pine Street, over q block from the
fire, found partially burned box OF
shoes in his yard the next morning,
which shows the high wind velocity
and the danger which was exper-
fenced in that part of the city.
Guy Mickey stated to the Herald
Wednesday that the floor of their
apartment was 60 hot that II burn
ed their feet when they arose from
bed to make their escape. Mr.. and
Mrs. Mickey were up at three
o'clock and at that time thew mo-