Hinckley Fire of 1894

Fargo had a fire in a 128 year old house which had been converted to four apartments. While a man slept in his apartment on the top floor after taking his daughter to school, a person on the floor directly below, tossed his cigarette onto the balcony and the leaves caught fire. The sleeping man got out. Fortunately, his daughter was away. The house is a loss. The people in the apartments are displaced.

But what happened to people from the 1890's when most people owned their own homes. Granted it may not be lavish, often it was referred to as a shack, nevertheless, a home is a home.

From the fire museum in Hinckley, MN we learned Minnesota's Governor appointed a commission for the relief of fire sufferers. If you had insurance, you did not qualify. Although insurance was slow to come to families that were burned out.

It was September of 1894 when the little town of Hinckley was destroyed and several smaller communities. Four hundred people were killed. The train managed to get 276 people out of town; five minutes after the train crossed the bridge, it collapsed.

The train caught on fire. People got off and started to run. One person, thinking he had left his suitcase on the train, went back to get it. He was safe but found his family in a pile of dead people, including his family.

Let's talk about this relief fund.

The applications were as such:

Surname
A: Hanson
Given name
A: Mrs. Henry
Born at?
A: Sweden
Number of children?
A; 6: George, Frank, Harold, Walter, Hilda, and Baby 10 months.
Are you supporting others
A: No
Were any of your family hurt?
A: Yes, Husband burned to death
Where were your dead found, if any?
A: Hinckley, near house
By whom identified?
Residence at the time of the fire?
A: Hinckley
Length of time in Minnesota?
A: 13 years
Occupation?
A: Husband worked in saw mill
Business for yourself?
A: No
Owns his home?
A: Yes
If Mortgaged, for home much?
A: Owes $100
What property was destroyed by the fire?
A: House, barn, and contents. House $900, barn $300
Had insurance?
A: No
Had life insurance?
A: No
Had Accident insurance?
A: No
What property left and its value?
A: Two cows worth $50
Do you have property somewhere else?
A: No
Where are your relatives?
A: Hinckley, parents burned out
Can you get help from them?
A: No
Do you have an income?
A: No
Do you have pension?
A: No
Do you have pressing debts?
A: Yes, $35 in store bills
What are your needs?
A: Everything
What do you need most?
A: Home and clothing enough for the children for winter.

Mrs. Hanson requested transportation to North Branch for herself and six children. The six is crossed out and 5 inserted. What happened to the sixth child?

Was it

George 8
Frank 6
Harold 5
Walter 3
Hilda 2
or the ten month baby?

Did they get relief from the government? Yes, some. Most of the donations came from private funds.

We have all heard about fires. As Cliff Rye said, "You don't even have a toothbrush."

It is a good time to think about what we have and what others need. Don't you agree?

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