The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-04-03
DISASTROUS FIRE.
The Mammoth Tub and Pail Factory
at Two Rivers Totally Destroyed.
Loss, $50 ,OOO-No Insurance.


The village of Two Rivers was visited on
Tuesday night by the most disastrous con-
fagration that ever occurred in this cour-
ty. About quarter past | ! clock on
the night mentioned, smoke was discoy-
cred issuing from the roof of the extensive
tub and pail factory Of Messrs. JOSEPH
MANN 4 Co, by the watchman employed
on the premises The alarm was given i'm
mediately, but within fifteen minutes af-
terwards the entire establishment was
wrapped in flames, and beyond the posi-
bility of being saved from destruction.
| The fire soon communicated to the store
house, saw mill and dry houses, and they
We're speedily involved in the general
ruin Every effort was made by
the citizens of Two Rivers, who turned
out'en naasse, to check the progress of the
flames, but without success. In less than
two hours after the fire was first discov-
cred nothing remained OF one of the largest
manufacturing establishments in the North
west, but mass of smouldering ruins and
bla ckened timbers The fire originated in
the paint room, in the third story of the
main factory building, and its cause has not
yet been satisfactorily explained, but it is
believed to have been the result of acci-
dent. Besides cthcr wares in process of
manufacture, about l,200 pals, which
! were packed and awaiting shipment, were
entirely consumed The property de-
stroyed consisted of the main factory
building, saw mill, store-housc and dry
houses, and, with the manufactured stock
stored therein, was valued at about $50,
000 The entire amount of this loss falls
upon Messrs. MANN & Co, there being 10
insurance upon buildings or stock.
BY this great public calamity about
eighty families are deprived of their means
Of livelihood for the time being, and u
gloom is cast over the entire community of
Two Rivers. The Two Rivers Tub and
! Pail Factory was cne Of the institutions
upon which our county rridcd itself and,
as regards the quantity and quality ef the
wares turned out by it annually, it bad few
rivals in the Northwest. 1t was built, we
believe. in 1857, by Mcssrs. ALDRIcH.
SMITH & CO.
Soon attcrthe fire broke out the flames
were plainly visible from this point, and a
general alarm was sounded There being
nc fre-engine at Two Rivers, Tie member,
OF Badger Engine Company No ! at once
brought out their engine, aud attaching
sour horses 20 it, placed it in charge of a
detail TO superintend its working, headed by
| their foreman, Mr. Thomas RoBfSsoN
and started it for Two Rivers at larid
rate. The hope was faint that they could
reach Two Rivers in time to be Of service,
but even a faint hope was enough to impel
/ these noble hearted men to almost super
! human c4ertions And their i,bors were
rewarded with success. fer. although the
] factory. Yas almost Totally destroyed be-
| tore their arrival, we are informed by citi-
zens Of Two Hivers, that it was owing t,
their Efforts that the large and valuable
stock OF stavos and material piled in the Vi
clnlty OF the factory was mostly saved from
destruction. They also succeeded in saving
one OF the dry housas. That a hand en-
gine could be taken from Manitowoc tc
Two Rivers, distance of seven miles, af.
ter the alarm had been given and the
flames were well under way, and reach the
scene OF disaster in time to be Of effective
service, seems almost incredible but thi,
is what Badger Engine Coz oInpany accom-.
piishcd on Tuesday night
Messrs. MANN & Co, with indonlitable
energy AMI characteristic perseverance
notwithstanding their heavy losses, are al
ready engaged in clearing away the dcJri,
OF the Old factory, and purpose commcnc
ing immediately the erection of another es
tablishment u even larger Dimensions ant
greater manufacturing capacity i.a