Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-22
No. 80
The OSHKOSH FIRE.

! +. The most disastrous fire that eve,
occurred in Oshkosh, not excepting
the great fire Of 1859, took place
Tuesday afternoon the 18th. The fire
originated about 3 o'clock, in a small
barn IN the rear Of [. j. Holes floral
emporium and spread in each direction
along Main street, crossed from Main
into Jefferson avenue, parallel to Main
street, destroying all the buildings ON
Jefferson avenue, north for four block /;
then spread northeast from there. ex-
tending clear out to the city limits,
only ending in bay in the Lake south
OF the Hospital for the Insane. The
fire then took sweep to the south,
against the wind burning close to the
| Beckwith House spreading around on
the west side of the Beckwith House,
where it was stopped by pulling down
houses. The wind blew perfect hur-
rlcane since the morn, and the mills
had all shut down fearing fire. The
flames driven by a terrific gale swept
everything before them, distance Of
z miles in length by Il miles wide,
wlping out almost everything clean
within the limit mentioned. Upwards
of 400 buildings were burned, throw
ing more than 500 families into the
street without shelter. Over 90 stores
and shops are in the burnt district,
and the loss will fall heavily on the buai-
ness men. About one half of the busi-
ness portion of the city is gone and near
ly ene-fourth of the resident portion
Starting from the Beckwith House and
Harding's Opera House opposite, and
running north and east to the lake, the
ruin and desolation resembled that of
Chicago in the fire. Blocks and
blocks are laid waste. and hundreds Of
houses mere picture of desolation.
The fire extended north from Algona
to Irving street. on the west side of
Main street, and from Washington to
Sterling street on the east side.
The fireman fought for time, but
unsuccessfully, owing to the want of
water. The fire soon got beyond con-
troll, and the entire populace became
demoralized, and the raging element
was left at will to do its devouring
work. At quarter to 5 the water
supply was fast giving way, and over
1000 feet of hose having been burned
up, the departments Of Fond du Lac,
Ripon and Neenah were telegraphed,
and an engine from each city arrived
at 5 80, with a supply of hose to reach
from the river nearly a mile distant,
and the fire in the business portion Of
the city was subdued at 6:30, though
the fire ragged long after among the
residences in the, northeastern part of
the city till it died out for want of
fuel.
The new Wagner Opera House, in
process of erection; the beautiful
Phenix engine house, next to it, the
large Fourth Ward school house, First
Baptist Church, Rudd & Holden's
brick block, and some Of the most cost
ly and elegant residences in the city
were among the buildings burned.
Simon B. Pages residence was burned,
the fire crossing the street and burning
alolnd Judge G.. w. Washbarne's
handsome residence, leaving it the
only house On that side of the street.
The loss will exceed 100000, but the
amount of insurance cannot be es-
timated. The buildings destroyed are
mostly dwellings, and the insurance
will fall largely, on companies which
have heretofore escaped
The saddest feature Of the confagTa-
ton is the loss of lite. William P.
Taylor, for eight years City Treasurer,
an estimable young man. while at work
helping remove goods from the burn
ing building, over-exerted himself, sue
cumbed to the heat, and, on being
carried to the Adams house, expired
at $50 o'clock. Policeman Albert
Ford was also overcome by the heat,
and lies in dangerous cendion. DR.:
H. B. Dale, city superintendent of
schools, fell from his horse in utter
exhaustion from attention to injured
persons, and is not expected to live.
The Thermometer was, during the fire,
at SO in the shade, and several sun
strokes occurred. Thousands of people
are rendered homeless and are camped
on the open prairie. The High School
building has been thrown open to the
sufferers, and food relief is being re-
ceived from all quarters. There must
be great suffering and privation.