The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-01-07
FRE.-On New Years eve. a little

FIRE.-On New \ ear s eve, a little
while before midnight, Captain Homer
Hill, a private watchman employed by
the business men on this side of the river,
discovered fire in the Shoe Store of Mr.
Scherer, situated on Eighth St, oppos-
lite this Office. He Immediately gave the
alarm, a crowd gathered and after a little
delay water was procured from we'll
near by and the fire extinguished. Loss
not over 500, covered by insurance
The fire started on the floor beside the
stove probably by a spark igniting the
dirt which accumulates in all shoeshops.
Such is the simple statement of fact,
Slight in itself but when we think how
terribly it might have resulted it causes
shudder This shop is situated IN a
block of wooden buildings and other blocks
of the same character adjoin 1t. The
wind was in the Northeast b!oloin1 q
gale, and had our watchman been less
vigilant, or discovered the fire five min
utes later, probably no power which this
town possesses would have been allie to
cope with the Fire Demon, and ere the
morning of Now Years day had dawned
the fire would have swept clean path
to the river, and many think, even
that, in such a gale, would have interpos-
ed no cffectual barrier A few sugges-
tons as to what should be done when a
fire breaks out may not be inappropriate
here: First, when fire Is discovered in a
bullding-unless there are human being,
;nside-the door should not be broken
open until water is brought to Qucnch the
fire, for opening the door is like opening
the draft Of stove. On the outset every
effort should be made to queach the fire,
rather than to save the loose property,
for it is the prompt effort that is success
full on such occasions, and only he aoho is
perfectly COOL capable Of acting prompt
Iy. 1t often occurs that buckets are
greatly needed-as was the case Thursday
highland it is our opinion that in such
cases the Waterman should open store,
if the necessity is great, by force and pro-
cure the article required. And in regard
to the saving Of property 1t should be
generally understood that when property
is taken and hurled into the street ie is
very little if any better off than if left to
the flames. We remember having seen
on one occasion a sideboard filed with
choice crockery thrown through an open
window to the ground, and scarcely a
whole piece was found amid the general
smash. There was plenty of time to
have carried it out doors but the man
was crazy with excitement. There are
many instances on record where costly
mirrors have had a similar fate. IF ever
a man should display his common sense,
if ever he should act calmly and deliber
ately, yet promptly withal, it is at fire
where there is so much to intoxicate one
with the excitement which springs from
tear, regret and sympathy. We cannot
close this article without word in regard
to one class Of men who deserve the con
domination of every generous minded
citizen We refer to that ablebodied
man who will go to fire and look on
without exerting himself in the least to
save the property of his neighbor from
destruction, for fear he will soil his
clothes. o, you selfish, good for-nothing
man, you deserve to be driven
from the pale Of society, to which you
are disgrace Go to the North pole
and live with the Esquimaux who live in
ice houses and have no disa strous con-
fagrat1ons. Possibly, you may then
learn that you o,oc It as a sacred duty to
lend hel ping hand to the distressed, for
you know not how soon yea may be i'll
want Yourself