Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
FIRE.
THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE
FIRE KNOWN FOR
YEARS.
Business Places and Sa
looms Burned.
4 Short Account Of It's Origin and
Progress.

d
The most destructive con7agration
that has visited Stevens Point for
years occurred on the evening of Sun
day, December 2Sth. The fire broke
out at about nine o'clock, and origina-
ted from the breaking or explosion of
a kerosene lamp in the saloon Of "
McGee. This saloon was situated in
the midst of range of wooden build
ings, extending on Main street from
the Public Square, on the north east
corner of Main and Second streets TO
! McCulloch's new stone block, corner
of Main and Third streets, and on
| Second street north to the Mansion
House. There was a light breeze
blowing from the west when the alarm
was first given. The wind increased
its strength quite rapidly, and before
the FIRE had exhausted itself, it was
blowing a stiff gale, carrying sparks
and large living cinders long distance.
The flames spread with great rapidity,
and by ten o clock. all of that section
of our city embraced within the above
described limits was one mass of burn
ing, smouldering ruins. The hand fire
engine was promptly on hand, and was
set at the reservoir on the public
square. 1t did good service, IN help
ing to save the south side of Main
street, several of the buildings of
which were blazing briskly several
times. 1t was soon evident, that the
buildings on the north side of the
street as far east as McCulloch' s block,
were doomed, and the efforts of the
crowd were exerted to check the FIRE
here, save the buildings on the south
side, and prevent the destruction of
the Mansion House. In this they
were successful. Many of the build
ings on the south side were badly
scorched and the Mansion House gut
ted, but by dint Of hard work on the
breaks of the engine, and by carrying
water in buckets they were saved from
the total destruction that so seriously
threatened them. There is wooden
building Immediately in the rear of
McCulloch' block, used by Mr.. NJ as
as a store room, and this was also
saved. Below will be found list of
those burned out:
! Aug. Timm, tobacconist.
American Express Office.
Hamlin & Van Houten, clothing
dealers.
Mrs. Burdick, milliner.
r. ?. Pratt, restaurant.
! NJ McGee, saloon.
Peter Gordon, tailor.
E. T. Pike, saloon.
| Ole Hanson, boots and shoes.
- Swebeck, saloon and boarding.
Mrs 6. NJ. Slossens, millirer.
| j. L. Prentice, general store.
Mrs. Waters, milliner.
P. I'll. Quinn, general store.
Ed. G. Sonnet, art gallery.
Sam. Ellis, butcher shop.
John Welsby, Saloon.
Ed Neugerbauer, butcher shop.
Carver, grocery.
The saloon of Si1as Walsworth, i'm
mediately south of the Mansion House,
was badly damaged.
The furniture of the Mansion House
was removed and some of the doors
and windows taken out.
The glass in the fronts of all the
buildings on the south side Of Main
street, between Second and Third
streets, with the exception of the
stores Of Robert Nesbitt and James
Shannon, was broken, and nearly all
the goods removed There were not a
great many goods burned, though the
loss from removals and water will be
great. The total loss is estimated from
$50, 900 to $4,000. We think it will
aggregate about $4,000.
The insurance agency of Otto
Schucht had 81, 500 on the north side
and that of J. A. Felch 81, 500.
Pratt's furniture was insured for $500
in the Pacific and Atlantic; Hamlin &
Van Houten, $500 on stock in Mil
waukee Mechanics w. J. Clifford,
| (Quinn stock), 81, 800 in Atlantic
and Pacific: Neugebauer $500 on fur
niture in Milwaukee Mechanics, and
$500 on building in the Allemania, of
Philadelphia.
Of course it is not the intention to
give anything like connected account
of the fire in this short extra. We
only aim to give the brief outlines,
leaving detailed account for our reg
ular issue of next Saturday.