The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-11-17
Destructive Eire.-About o'clock on

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Saturday evening last cur citizens were startled
by the cry of FIRE. 1t was soon found that the
large warehouse and ELEVATOR. built by Messrs.
Kimball g. Quarles. on the harbor just east of
Main street bridge, was ON fie inside. The
engines were. on the ground in incredible short
| time, and the fremen went to work with will,
and many of our citizens were on hand to do all
that could be done to save the building. But i,
was soon apparent that all exertions would be
fruitless. The enormous building and its
tents must 60. The smoke in dense black vol
umes was already rolling up through the roof
| and q urid jet of isme every now and then leap.
ing out of the windows. The utmost efforts Of
, the firenen, with their two engines had no
visible effsct on the vast burning pile, and they
turned their attention to the protection Of the
small warehouse of Bennett & Sslleck, only two
or three rods distant. Fortunately, what wind
| there was, was from the northwest taking the
body ofthe heat and sparks over the harbor.
J. The flames soon burst out in lurid sheets from
the top Of the building, Illuminating the country
for miles around. They had unimpeded sway
and made short work of the immense pile of lum-
Der Of which the building was composed. BY 10
O'Clock the warehouse and its contents were q
smouldering mass of ruins. Through the sxer-
ton of the fremen and the watchfulness of the
citizens the fire was confined to the large ware.
house. Had the wind been in different direc.
ton the confagration must have been much more
extensive than it was. One vessel only hap
pened to be lying above theAwarehouse, which
would have gone had Bennett selecks wares
house taken fire
The large elevator was built seven or eight
years ago, alta cost of some SAC, 600 or $50 .o0G,
and at the time of its construc ton was the most
complete and capacious elevator on ii is shore of
the lake. But for various reasons it has never
proved profitable Investment Fer the want
of little more dredging and some finishing
touches, theeharbor was never accessible to pro-
pellsrs and the heavier draft vessels, and az q
consequence, the large warehouse was hut little
used for the storage of grain At the time of II,
destruction tberewas but lttls grain in its apac.
ious bins There was quantity Of pressed bay
stored IN the lower story, in which it is supposed
the Ere originated. Our friend Geo. d. Head
who has once or twice before. suffered severely
from the effects Of fires, had from Is to 20 tons
OF hay stored there. uninsured. Fitch A.. Hig-
guns, We understand. also had some hay stored
there but h99~ much we haye not learned
The origin Of the fire is, as usual, mystery.
IL seems impossible to account for it in any other
way than to suppose it the work of an incen,
diary, and yet. from all we can learn, no ada,
quate motive can be dscoyered for sucb an act
cargo OF hay was shipped from the warehouse,
we understand, in the forenoon. No fire had
been used about the premises this season. There
was some insurance on the building, but we
have not learned the amount