North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-05-18
The Fire at La Crosse.

la CROSSE, WIS.,, May Is.
/ This morning at o'clock fire occur
! red at the depot of the Milwaukee and St
Paul railroad in this city, the extent o.
damages of which is almost teyond CON-
prehension. The Northwestern Union
Packet company's steamer War Eagle
cars, 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 {
cars belonging 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 ig-
hitting of gas arising from cask of gaso.
line which the boat-carpenter was repair
ing to prevent further leakage. A negro
deck.hand stood by with lantern, and,
in some unaccountable 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 un.
successful attempt was made to roll the
cask of gasoline overheard, but failed, and
the carpenter vas obliged to jump into
the river in order to extinguish the flames
that surrounded his person.
The War Eagle was commanded by
Capt. Thos. Cushing, and as soon as the
alarm was given on the cabindeck he pro-
ceeded to wake up the passengers, about
40 in number, and most of whom were in
their berths asleep, and provide for their
speedy exit. 1t was but the work of a
moment. The wind was blowing from
the southeast, and the flames and suffoca-
ting smoke were carried with great rapid,
ty toward the bow of the boat. The
clerks had no time to pack up their books
and papers, and the persons nearest the
gangway had the greatest difficulty III
reaching the lower deck through the
flames and smoke. Those in the after
part of the boat who could swim jumped
overheard and swan to the dock, when
they were pulled out by persons thereon.
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 ascertain how
many were lost. One young lady, Miss
Mary Ulrich, Of this city, is missing, and
it is supposed was either burned or drown>
ed. An old gentleman from Kentucky,
whose name is not known, is also missing.
Nothing was saved in the way of wearing
apparel or baggage EXCEPT what the pas
sengers had Oh their persons at the time
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 swimming 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 burn
ed, including the Chicago and Milwaukee
bags for Winona, Lake City, Prescott, and
st. Paul. The route agents, though at
work distributing at the time, barely
saved their lives and few packages.
The flames spread very rapidly to the
depot buildings, which, with their con.
tents were quickly destroyed. From the
depot the grain elevator took fire, and was
soon enveloped in complete sheet of
flames, and in half an hour was a mass of
ruins. The nine cars burned included
second.class passenger coach, mail car,
baggage and express car, and six empty
freight cars. A switch engine succeeded
in drawing the balance of the cars beyond
the reach of danger, except two new pas
senger coaches, which were Save through
the exertions of the La Crosse fire depart
ment. 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 company,
and S25O,OOO worth of coupon railroad
and steamboat tickets, were burned.
There were 40 to 50 tons of freight of
various kinds in the warehouses, besides
20 reapers and $4,000 wort of salt belong
ing to the railroad company's agent, Capt.
Moulton. The American Merchants Ex-
press company lost about Sl5, 900 in goods
and cash on the Eagle, the agent not
being able even to secure the money
packages in his safe, amounting to about |
$1,000.
The steamer keokuk, which was LAYING
alongside of the War Eagle, was saved by |
The great exertions Of her officers, who /
got up steam with but little assistance
rom the men ON the lower deck, most of |
whom ran away upon the first alarm.
She was severely scorched before she got
lway. The steamer Nellie Mohler was
llso in very warm place for short time,
out having steam up was moved safely.
OF panic was created by the
eport that there were so kegs of gum
,owder stored in the magazine of the
Var Eagle, and which the explosion of a
Jingle keg, or, perhaps, the gasoline, did
Tot tend to allay. The hull of the boat
unk, however, before the fire could reach
he magazine.
The depot buildings and elevator cost at
east 500, 900, and the loss of the build.
ngs at this time is particularly severe up
m the railroad company, as well as the
'ltlzens OF this section Of the country
generally. The vast amount of grain to
,e moved in bulk required the use of the
Elevator almost continually at this season
# the year, and it cannot be replaced for
months. The loss to the packet company
at least 100000. The War Eagle was |
IN old boat, but firs.-class packet, and |
worth over $4,000. The depot and ele-
'ator, in which there was but 5000 bush
is OF wheat were partially insured, the
mount OF which is known only at the
'fice in Milwaukee. Upon the steamer
Var Eagle, l understand, there was no
insurance. General Manager, Merrill and
Atkins arrived here this !!
evening by special train from Milwaukee.
o make arrangements for farther BUSH
ness.
LATER.
The bodies Of Mary Ulrich, of La |
crosse, and the barber of the War Eagle
rave been recovered. The total loss to |
he railroad and steamboat companies is
stimated at $500, O0o.- Chicago Times.
Thousands of ladies suffer untold miser.
8 from Female Weakness, weak back,
md other disordered conditions of their
peculiar systems, for which there is no
emedv SO nlaasant n,,s;t;yslv ,,,.o