Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-08-31


jeweler, estimates his loss at $4,000. on
which there is no insurance. Mrs.
Haynes, the milliner loses $500, insur-
ed j. W. Ellison, books and station
cry, had all his stock destroyed, loss
$500 insured. A. Ahrens, fancy goods,
suffered damage to his stock to the eX-
tent of about $1,000. H. Spengeman,
barber, loses about $500. The latter
speaks very bitterly of the police and
firemen, whom he accuses of stealing
$50 razors, and all of the movable
stock in his store Townsend, the pro-
prietor of the meat market, sustained a
loss of $500, which is fully insured.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
is enshrouded in the deepest mystery.
Numberless theories were in circula-
ton concerning it. The proprietors of
the liquor store have not been seen since
they closed on Saturday night. They
were seen going from the store, and
McGhee was at his house in New York
street after the fire broke out He
came from Whitehall, n. Y, and was
in business with his father there. He
was burned out short time before he
quit Whitehall, and allegations of in
cendiariSm were freely made against
him. IL the absence of positive proof
of arson, the conclusion arrived at
was that the fire originated from spon-
taneous combustion. Young McGhee
had considerable difficulty in obtain
ing the insurance. He finally succeed,
ed, and with this money purchased his
interest in Duruncey's establishment.
Duruncey has sold liquor in Jersey
City long time, and was formerly
from New York city. He was arrested
at one time for illicit distilling II is
believed by some persons that he was
RUNNING AN ILLICIT DIsTILLERY
in the basement of the burned build
ing, and that the explosion had its orr
gin in this dlstillery. Durancey i. well
known as sharp customer to deal
with, and surprised everybody when he
obtained lease of the premises that
were burned. The corner was much
saught as one of the best in Jersey
City Owing to some legal difficulties
it could not be improved. Durancey
was often head to say that he would
like to put up better building in its
place, but was debarred by his lease
from so doing.
THE DEAD VICTIMS,
three in number, were taken charge of
by Coroner Wandle, who will begin an
inquest on Friday next Mrs Mary
Smith and Miss Martin are lying in the
city hospital, and will recover
All day vast throngs ofpeople visited
the ruins and looked upon the insight
, ly black mass of charred timber5 and
watched the labors of the men who
were digging out the debris. Women
and girls were largely in the majority
among the spectators.
SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD.
Darkness last night stopped the
work of searching among the ruins.
At dusk the laborers had cleared nearly
all the Debris away down to the first
door. The latter fell entirely into the
cellar If the bodies Of the missing
men are in the ruins at all, they will be
found under this sunken floor, which
will be taken up this morning., Only
one clue has been discovered to the
movements of Duranccy and McThee,
and that only points to the conclusion
that the latter contemplated hurried
departure. He went to his boarding
house at the corner of Washington and
York streets, Immediately after closing
his place, and took his little son down
the street to the house of Mr.. Duran
cey, in Bright street. who had recently
separated from her husband. After
leaving the boy there he returned to
his boarding house. Since that time
nothing has been heard of him.
Several persons who saw Durancey
shortly before the saloon was closed,
aver that he was under the influence of
liquor. One man saw him dispose of
five glasses of brandy in fifteen minutes.
1t is said that he left in company with
his partner, but concerning this there
are contradictory stories. Some
darklv hint that there was a quarrel
between them, and threats of yio-
lence.
DID MCGEE MURDER HIS PARTNER
and fire the building to conceal his
crime 2 was question asked by many
last night. The fact that there was II
heaNN insurance upon tne STOCK ABOVE
its value, gives color to the supposition
that a deliberate attempt had been
made by the partners to swindle the in
surance companies, and their disap-
pearance is accounted for by the sup
position that becoming alarmed at the
fatal consequences of their work, they
fled to escape punishment.
y S-Ihe bodies of Durancey and
McGee have been found in the ruins Of
the burned building.
The Reason Why.