Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-05-18
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE ALTA
CROSSE.
La Crosse. Wis. MAY Is

La ClVooOs W 49,, u1dg itfs
This morning at l o'clock fire oc-
CURED at the depot of the Milwa ukee
and St. Paul Railroad in this city, the
extent o. the damages of which is
almost beyond comprehension. The
Northwestern Union Packet Company's
steamer War Eagle, just ready to
proceed up the river in connection with
the midnight train north one empty
barge, all the depot buildings, the
large grain elevator and nine cars be-
longing to the Milwaukee and St. Paul
Railroad Company, were consumed in
less than one hour from the time the
alarm was given. The fire originated
on the lower deck of the War Eagle,
by the igniting Of gas arising from
cask of gasoline which the boat carpen
ter was repairing to prevent further
leakage. A negro deck hand stood by
with a lantern, aud, in some unaccount-
able manner, the fire in the lantern
ignited the gas from the cask, and the
whole lower part of the boat was on
fire in almost an instant. An uusuc-
cessful attempt was made to roll the
cask of gasoline overheard, but failed
and the carpenter was obliged to jump
into the river in order to extinguish
the flames that sourronded his person.
The War Eagle was commanded by
Captain Thomas Gushing, and as soon
as the alarm was given on the cabin
deck he proceeded to wake up the
passengers, about forty in number, the
most of whom were in their berths
asleep, and provide for their speedy
exit. Five ladies and the balance of
the cabin passengers were placed in
yawl boats and safely conveyed to the
dock.
At this time, in the absence of the
boat register, it is Impossible to ascer.
tain how many were lost. One young
lady, Miss. Mary Ulrich, of this city,
is missing, and it is supposed was
either burned or drowned. An old
gentleman from Kentucky, whose name
is. not known, is also among the miss
ing. Nothing was saved in the way of
wearing appeal or baggage except what
the passengers had on their persons at
the time the alarm was given. The
two pilots of the boat saved their lives
by jumping from the hurricane deck
of the boat into the river and swim
ming ashore. There was about 100
tons of miscellaneous freight on the
War Eagle for various points up the
river. A large amount of mail was
burned, including the Chicago and
milwaukee bags for Winona, Lake
City, Prescott, and st. Paul. The
route agents, though at work distribu-
ting at the time, barely saved their
lives and few packages.
The flames spread very rapidly to
the depot buildings, which, with their
contents, were quickly destroyed. From
the depot the grain elevator took fire,
and was soou enveloped in a complete
sheet of flames, and in half an hour
was mass of ruins. The nine cars
burned included a second-class pas
senger- coach, small car, baggage and
express car, and six empty freight cars
A switch engine succeeded in drawing
the balance eff the cars beyond danger,
except two new passenger coaches,
which were saved through the exer-
tions of the La Crosse Fire Department
Nothing was saved from the depot.
The books, papers, records, and every
thing except what was contained in the
small iron safes belonging to the COM
pany, and S250,000 worth of coupon
railroad aud steamboat tickets, were
burned. There was forty to fifty tons
of freight of various kinds in the ware
houses, besides twenty reapers and ST.
500 worth of salt belonging to the
railroad company's agent, Captain
Moulton The American Merchants
Express Company lost about 5000
in goods and cash on the Eagle, the
agent not being able even to secure
the money packages in his safe, amount
ing to about So 600.
The depot buildings and elevator
cost at least 100000. and the loss of
the buildings at this time is particu
larry severe upon the railroad company,
as we'll as the citizens Of this section of
the country generally. The vast
amount of grain to be moved in bulk
r equired the use of the elevator almost
continually at this season of the year,
and it cannot be replaced for months
The loss to the PacAet Company is at
least 100000. The War Eagle was an
old boat, but first class packet, and
worth over $4,000. The depot and
elevator, in which there was but 5000
bushels of wheat, we're partially insured,
the amount of which is known only at
the office in Milwaukee. Upon the
steamer War Eagle, it is understood,
there was no insurance. General Man
ager Merrill and Superintendent At
kins arrived here this evening by special
train from Milwaukee, to make ar
engagements for farther business.
LATER. bodies of Miss Ulrieh,
of La Crosse, and the barber of the
War Eagle, have been recovered. The
total loss to the railroad and steamboat
companies is estimated at 100000.
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