Captain Silas D. Priest

William McManiman, an engineer on the Milwaukee, HAS THE UNANIMOUS THANKS OF THE CITIZENS OF MANNING, for the part he took in notifying them of the fire. Had it not been for the shrill screech of his whistle, a number of the occupants of the block would have been burned to death. He was running an extra, east bound, and had just pulled the throttle to leave town, when he noticed the fire and tooted the whistle, thus awakening the people.

The night watch had been severely criticized for not noticing the fire and giving the alarm. His excuse is that HE WAS AT LUNCH. We wish to be as charitable as consistent in cases of this kind. When we look back to the origin of the fires that have occurred in the history of the town, there have not been more than two that have not been ACCREDITED to INCENDIARISM, and the latest one is no exception. As an illustration to show how hard the wind blew, a barn of Joseph Prosch, located a half mile north of the scene of the conflagration, was set on fire by the burning shingles and destroyed."

The following table is a general summary of the losses sustained in this fire:

There were minor losses, such as the loss of Tank & Hoffmann, damaged store fronts, etc., which we have not mentioned above. All losses, in the above summary which were not real property, were placed under the head of stock.

As a result of the fire; we find the following changes and improvements to have taken place, and note the course pursued by some of its unfortunate victims: The building on Lot 7, Block 5, owned by John Albert, was rebuilt in a two story brick. Mr, Albert died before the building was completed, and the same passed into the hands of Honnas Wunder, who rents it for a saloon, which has been occupied in succession by, A. L. McEnturff, Graves & Moreau, Claus Edens, and John Hansen who occupies it at the present time,

J. Brunnier rebuilt a one story brick. Immediately after the fire, he rented a building on south Main Street, owned by J. A. Mills, where he stocked up and continued to hold his trade till his new building was completed.

Mrs. C. A. Benson sold her building to Tank & Hoffmann, who erected a one story brick, which has been rented. ever since, to Jens Hansen, for a saloon.

The post office building, owned by Mrs. Pepper, was also sold to Tank & Hoffmann who erected a one-story brick, and rented the same for a furniture store.

The Lightfoot building was rebuilt by Mr. Lightfoot, into a two story brick, and occupied by him as soon as completed, continuing in the same business as before the fire, hotel, restaurant and bakery.

Dr. Barber, also, built a two story brick. He bought the Schroeder Brothers' stock soon after the fire, and continued business in the same building till his own was completed.

Karstens & Dethlefs rebuilt a one story brick, and during the progress of its construction they continued the business in Lot 8, Block 4.

The next lot, owned by Stouffer &Jay, was sold to P.B. Stouffer, who conceived the idea of putting up a small building to be rented for a post office. With this object in view, he bought an extra NINE FEET OFF FROM LOTS 12, 13, 15 and 16 to be divided as follows: Lot 12, owned by Dr. G. M. Barber, one foot; Lot 13, owned by Karstens & Dethlefs, one foot, this placed them one foot over onto Dr. Barber's original lot; Lot 15, owned by Stouffer & Lewis, four feet; Lot 16, owned by C. D. Dewing, three feet. This extra nine feet was to be added to the north and south sides on his own lot, No 14, which he purchased of Stouffer & Jay.

This transfer effected Lots 12, 13, 15 and 16 as follows: The store front of Lot 12, formerly, twenty five feet wide as were all of the lots in this block which fronted on Main Street, now contained the south twenty four feet of that lot; the store front of Lot 13, now, contains the south twenty three feet of Lot 13, and the north one foot of Lot 12; the store front of Lot 16, now, contains the north twenty two feet of that lot; the store front of Lot 15, now. contains the south three feet of Lot 16, and the north eighteen feet of Lot 15; the Stouffer lot (14), contains the south seven feet of Lot 15, the whole of Lot 14 and the north two feet of Lot 13, making the front thirty three feet wick. The one story brick building that he had erected is 33 x 70 feet with two front entrances, The south side and front was partitioned off into a room 12 x 40 feet, which was fitted up for a post office and has been occupied by all of the succeeding postmasters for that purpose.

J. T. Jay bought the Heffelfinger lot owned by Stouffer & Lewis and erected a one story, brick, store building. After the fire, he moved his stock into the Wright building, on Lot 7, Block 6, till his new building was completed.

Ives Brothers moved their stock to the Norris' building, where they made an invoice, preparatory to adjusting their insurance and closing out the stock.

C. D. Dewing rebuilt two one story bricks on the lots owned by him, and also another on the lot adjoining on the north, which he bought of Mrs. Barbee.

Mr. Strong discontinued the hotel business and started a restaurant on Lot 4, Block 8, which he continued during the summer, finally closing out and moving to Audubon, Iowa, where he again launched in to the hotel business. At the present writing he is in the same business in or near Spirit Lake.

AN ATTEMPT TO BURN BLOCK 6, was made about 9:00 o'clock, Sunday night, April 16, 1882. A hole was cut in the shiplap of the Don building, just to the west of the window on the north side, into which the incendiary poured a quantity of kerosene oil. He also found an opening underneath the sill of the window on the west, and here kerosene was again used. When his preparations were all completed he touched the match and vanished, but the prompt attention of the fire company and other citizens saved the building, to which very slight damage was done. The wind was blowing a gale from the northeast, and if the fire had not been discovered when it was, there is no telling how much damage might have been done. The Don building is what is now Lewis & Graze's block.

THE FELDMANN FIRE, occurred on September 18, 1893. On Thursday morning, at just 4:45 o'clock as chronicled in the Monitor the fire bell awoke the citizens of Manning, from their slumbers. The whole town was illuminated by the fierce flames which were consuming the Manning bottling works, owned by G. Feldmann, and located in the south part of town. When the alarm was given, the building was almost consumed, and nothing could be done to save its contents.
The plant was a fine one, and contained all the latest machinery and devices for manufacturing and bottling summer drinks, and w was doing a large and profitable business, The building contained several thousand dollars of choice liquors, a carload and a half of beer, and a large quantity of glass ware and other supplies. The total loss was in the neighborhood of $15000, with an insurance of $3250. No wonder the thirsty inventive genius has turned his energies towards appliances for consuming smoke when such things as that go up in it.

The residence of G. Feldmann was saved only by the hardest exertion.
The fire was THE WORK OF AN INCENDIARY. There had been no fire in the building for three weeks previous, so it could not possibly be laid to the negligence of the employees. THE FIRE OF 1895, for a time, threatened the destruction of the entire business portion of the town. On Wednesday afternoon of September 11, eight business houses were totally destroyed, and a number of others were badly damaged. At just 3:00 o'clock, smoke was seen issuing from the roof of the Free Press office which was located on Lot, 6, Block 7.

The alarm was given by Herman Grau and in a very short time the hose-cart and a large crowd appeared on the scene. The hose team started out in excellent form, with six men at the ropes, but the two leaders, evidently, having overexerted themselves in getting to the hose house, lost step in the first quarter and stopped by the wayside to "steam up" when they completes, the run and did some excellent service at the scene of danger. As the fire was between the ceiling and the roof, access to it was not easily gained, and when the water was turned on, the roof was in a flame.
The crowd carried out considerable property, and no one appeared at all alarmed at the prospects. When the building on both sides had caught fire, the danger was plainly seen, but there was no adequate means for preventing the spreading of the flames. A strong wind was blowing from the south west, and the flames were carried from building to building with incredible fury, When it became evident that the buildings could not be saved, many persons busied themselves with carrying out goods.

Every one thought that the fire would be checked when it reached the corner of Fourth and Main streets, where stood the two story brick building, owned and occupied by the First National Bank; but it didn't. The flames from the adjoining building, crept in at the doors and windows, and in a few minutes the interior of the bank represented the appearance of a fiery furnace. The heat grew so intense, that the Reinholdt building, on the opposite corner, east, caught fire, and for a time, the safety of the city was in serious danger. If the fire had once gained a foothold in these buildings, on the opposite side of the street, and spread to the lumber yards of Tank & Hoffmann, the result could not have been foretold.

At this juncture, numbers of merchants in the blocks north of the fire began making preparations for HAULING THEIR GOODS TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. Wagonloads of merchandise, office furniture and household goods blocked the streets and alleys. At several places, a block or more distant from the fire, one could see household goods heaped up on the sidewalk, while the manager of the place was striving in a vain hunt for an unemployed dray, or team and wagon of any character, that would carry goods. The sight was a most terrible one, but the people had no time for the spectacular side of the affair, and every one hustled. When the goods were carried from the hardware store of C. H. Reinholdt, men, women and children, all did what they could to assist in the work. The chief efforts of the firemen were concentrated on the Reinholdt building, and that a successful resistance to the fire was made at this point, was due to THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS, unprotected, a man could not have withstood the heat half a minute, but they worked wrapped in wet quilts and blankets. It was half past five when the fire was gotten completely under control two and a half hours after it had started. While the firemen were working on the Reinholdt building, extensive preparations for fighting the fire were made, on the lumberyards, east, and on the brick block, north. The lumbersheds were covered with sheet iron, as also, were the doors and windows of the corner brick, adjoining, on Block 5, so that not an inch of woodwork was left exposed. Rooves were covered with salt and a hundred buckets of water were placed ready for instant use.

J.A. Lewis

Following is a complete LIST OF THE PROPERTY DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BY THE FIRE: The two story, brick, owned and occupied by the First National Bank, was completely destroyed.
1st was one of the best buildings in the city. The banking firm occupied the ground floor. The basement was occupied by W. B. Parrott, dealer in butter and eggs, The second story was occupied by the Manning Odd Fellow and Masonic Lodges. They all sustained total losses.

The first building south of the bank, was a two-story, frame, owned by A. Cloughley, of Omaha. This and the contents were also destroyed. The building was occupied on the ground floor by Ferguson Bros'. restaurant. The second story was occupied by Mrs. Jane Carroll, as a residence.
Ferguson Brothers had taken possession only the clay previous. They, having bought out the restaurant stock, and just completed the transaction. Next to the restaurant, was Nuppnau's meat market. Mr. Nuppnau owned the building, and used the first story as a meat market, while the second story he and his family occupied as a dwelling.

The fourth building from the corner was owned and occupied by Peter and August Dethlefs, hardware dealers. The loss to this firm was one of the heaviest sustained by the fire. The basement and the first floor were crowded to their greatest capacity with hardware and machinery. Only a few dollars worth of goods were saved. The front rooms on the first floor were occupied by Dr. A. W. Blakeslee, who used them for dental parlors.

The next building, the Free Press office, a one story, frame, was owned by G. W. Laflar. A portion of the office fixtures and furniture was saved. The files of the paper were lost, also the reversable, double acting, ball bearing, automatic, rapid, man fold, stone crushing, printing-press. It is generally understood that the (printer's) Devil had it in for this press, and no little surprise was manifested when it was learned that this relic of the ages had succumbed to the ravages of the flames.
Peter Wacker, who occupied the sixth building as a saloon, sustained a total loss. The building was owned by Marie Stoppelberg. It was a one story frame, with a sheet iron, imitation brick front and coated with sheet iron on the sides, The blacksmith shop of John Vossbeck was also covered with sheet iron, but this was no protection against the fury of the flames. It is generally supposed that the fire was caused from the sparks that issued from the steam engine that was used in the shop. The building was one story and owned by Mr. Vossbeck.

When the eighth building, the wagon shop of Adolph Cook, was destroyed, the fire reached a vacant lot, and was compelled to quit business in that direction.

The photograph gallery of Charles Lyden, which stood south of the vacant lot, was damaged to the extent of $75. The greatest damage was caused by the removal of the negatives, many of which were broken or damaged, and to the stock of photographic supplies.

On the corner, directly east and across the street from the First National Bank, was the badly charred, two story, frame building, owned by C. H. Reinholdt. It was the Largest frame business house in the city. The ground floor was occupied by Mr Reinholdt for a hardware and implement store. The second story was occupied as a hall, by the German Odd Fellows, the Woodmen and the Workmen.
For a time it looked as though the building could not be saved, and the greater portion of the hardware stock was removed therefrom, while, that which was left in the building was only damaged by the water. Had the upper story of this building not been, as it was, in a large room and accessable from nearly every side, the building would, undoubtively, have been lost. This building was the key to the situation at this time, had it gone, there would have been but little hopes for the rest of the town; as it was, the water that was required to extinguish the flames on the interior of the upper story, stood over a foot deep on the floor of the lodge room, and was so hot that the firemen could hardly bear their feet in it.

Quite a number of business houses on the east side of the street had their fronts somewhat scorched, while considerable damage was done by the moving of goods, as nearly all of the places of business were vacated by their alarmed owners. Those who sustained losses were, P. M. Loes, to stock by moving, and to building by fire; D. Uthoff, stock and furniture damaged by moving, and building by fire; Heitman & English building damaged by fire; James Armstrong, damage to stock, by moving; M. A. Blohm, damage to building by fire; Manning Herold, Bert. Kraus proprietor, damage caused by the pieing of type while removing stock; H. Wonder, damage to building from fire.
The fire made a clean sweep down the alley in Block 7, and destroyed every barn and outbuilding on either side. Following are the property owners who sustained losses: Fred Wendel, Chris Wehrmann, Honnas Mundt and William Rhude.
Following, is a table setting forth the losses sustained and the insurance carried by each. All personal property is placed under the heading "stock".

AFTER THE FIRE, the business of the First National Bank was conducted in the north room of the Freelove building till the new building was completed, which is a two story brick, with a basement and furnace, the sides facing the streets are of pressed brick, while the new building is about twenty feet longer than the old one was. The second story is occupied by the Masons and American Odd Fellows, for a lodge room.

Ferguson Brothers discontinued business, while Andrew Cloughley sold his lot to the German Odd Fellows, who erected a fine two story brick building, with pressed brick front and a basement. The second story is occupied by the German Odd Fellows ass lodge room.

H. Nuppnau continued to wait on his customers in the Loch building, on Block 4, till his new two story building was completed.

P. & A. Dethleffs discontinued business after the fire, but rebuilt a two story brick on the site of the old building.

What was left of the Free Press office and fixtures, was moved to the back rooms, on the second floor, of the Lawrence building, in Union Block. Mr. Laflar sold the building to W. W. Carpenter, who erected a two story brick, and occupied the same, as a general merchandise store.

John Vossbeck continued his trade at blacksmithing in a temporary frame structure which he erected on the rear end of his lot. This he occupied till his new building was completed, which was a one story brick building, fitted with all of the modern improvements, that was consistant with his trade,

The wagon shop of Adolph Cook has not been rebuilt, however, he follows his trade in a small building which he has erected on the rear end of his lot.

C. H. Reinholdt moved his damaged stock into the building situated on Lot 2, Block 6, where he accommodated his customers till his new, one story double brick, store and implement rooms was completed. The north half is used for hardware and shelf goods; while the south half is used for implements. The north room has been fitted up with all the modern improvements for the handling and display of shelf goods. The old frame building, which was badly charred, was torn down and put into new buildings. The German Odd Fellows, Workmen and Woodmen who used the second story of his building for a lodge room, and the American Odd Fellows and Masons who used the second story of the First National Bank for the same purpose were tendered the use of the Knights of Pythias hall which was thankfully accepted, till their new quarters were ready for occupancy.

H.G. Grau

P. M: Loes, instead of repairing the charred front of his harness shop, had the same moved off from his lot, and a new two story brick, with fine pressed brick front, erected in its stead.
The remainder of the buildings left in this block were repaired and placed in a better condition than they had been for some years previous. They also presented a much better appearance. The effect of this fire as is the case in most instances where a town or a portion of it is "ripe for a fire was to lend inducement towards the erection of a uniform size, style and quality of buildings that were to be constructed, thus, greatly improving the appearance of the town.
The fire hit, after this fire, was extended to cover Blocks 7 & 8.

First National Bank

THE FUNK FIRE, was discovered about 2:15 o'clock, Thursday morning, of September 19, 1895. The building was situated on Lot 21. Block 3, and was rented by Mr. Funk, proprietor, of the Monitor, for a dwelling. The occupants barely had time to seize a few clothes and make their escape, before the house was filled with suffocating smoke. The firemen did excellent work and managed to get the fire under control but not until every article in the dining room, kitchen and pantry had been completely ruined or damaged beyond repair; while the parlor sets, bedroom furniture and clothing escaped with a severe drenching and smoking.

The dining room, kitchen and pantry were badly charred, and damaged by water. Both the house and household goods were insured. The fire was supposed to have started in a packing box which stood under the kitchen window. A number of strangers were on the streets at a late hour that evening, and it is possible that the fire was caused by some of these "night hawks".

An incident of the fire, which to the spectator, presented a rather amusing aspect; but to the participants was rather of a hair raising and hair bleaching effect was a little episode in which the writer with out any premonition what ever, took a very important part, so much so, that it might have cost him his life. The pantry, in which the fire had gained the greatest headway, was a mass of flame inside; but as the doors and windows were closed, and the smoke and flame instead of breaking out was carried into the other rooms, the extent of the fire inside was not anticipated. The writer, with D. W. Patton and another fireman, ascended to the roof of the pantry with the hose, to play water on the fire that had burned up along the studding of the main part and had broke out under the eaves.
The writer was standing near the center of the pantry roof and had let go of the hose nozzle to use the ax in making a larger opening through which to play the water. Mr. Patton and the other fireman were standing near the eave of the main part.
In the pantry, the fire had burned up from the inside and had nearly consumed the roof without breaking out; but when the writer raised his ax to strike, the roof gave way from under him, and had he not fallen astride a rafter which was still strong enough to support his weight he would have gone through the roof into a room of solid flame through which it would have been impossible to find an exit. As it was, he was encircled in a ring of fire, but by the assistance of those who held the hose and had gained a firmer footing on the adjoining roof, he was pulled out of the flame by the assistance of the hose. His only damage, however, was charred shoes and trousers, singed eyebrows and hair, and possibly an extra palpitation of the heart.

THE COAL SHED OF THE MANNING ROLLER MILLS, took fire in the third week of November, 1897. The people of Manning were aroused by the fire bell about 3:30 in the morning. An investigation showed the coal shed of the Manning Mill to be on fire. The fire spread rapidly and caught in the engine room, which, however, was extinguished before any great damage had been done other than the charring of the engine room walls. The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion in the coal bins, which was attributed entirely to the carelessness of the management. The damage was slight, probably $200 and fully covered by insurance. The mill was saved only by the efficient work that was done by the fire company. But little damage was done to the machinery, however, a new engine room was built to take the place of the old one. The coal sheds were also rebuilt.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MANNING ROLLER MILLS occurred about 2:30 o'clock, on the morning of March 14, 1898. It appears that the fire was first discovered in the south west corner of the mill, where there was practically no danger of fire, and entirely remote from any sparks that might issue from the furnace that was in the brick engine room adjoining but at the opposite end of the mill. For this reason, it is presumed by the owners of the mill and the public in general, that the fire WAS STARTED BY AN INCENDIARY.
In less than half an hour from the time that the fire was discovered, the structure had fallen in and was a total wreck with the exception of the engine room, which was of brick and suffered but little damage. For some time, A. T. Bennett's cribs, which were situated across the street south and were stored full of corn, were in great danger; but the wind changing and the practical calm that followed was all that saved them and the residence of S. D. Priest which was located in the same block, as the mill and east of it.
The fire was beyond control before the fire company appeared, however, it would have been of little avail owing to the lack of discipline and the condition of the hose; for at least twenty minutes were consumed before a full pressure of water could be obtained. The mill was owned and operated by Sutherland & Button.
The loss was estimated at $6000, with no insurance. It appears that the firm had always carried a heavy insurance previous to this and up till the time that the coal sheds took fire, when the policy was paid in part and was canceled for the rest; is the Insurance Company agreed to reduce the rate of insurance if the firm would erect a brick engine room, which the firm did, but after which the insurance company refused to live up to their agreement by reducing the rate. As a result of this breach of faith, the milling firm decided to carry their own insurance, and had the policy canceled accordingly. The mill was rebuilt, an account of which will be given under the heading, The Manning Roller Mills.