Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-30
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR.
THE GREAT OSHKOSH FIRE.
LOSS $2,5OO,oOo.
4 SCENE OF TERROR.
THRILLING INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
SEN Err AL MORE FIRES.
THE SCANDAL TRIAL.
TRAOT'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED
THE GREAT OSHKOSH FIRE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE
THE SCANDAL TRIAL.
TRAOYs NARRATIVE CONTINUED
THE OSHKOSH FIRE.
a Prouerty Loss of 80 500. 900

THE OSHKOSH FIRE.
\ Property Loss of s2.5oO.OOO.
CHICAGO. April GA special dispatch 10
the Inter Ocean from Oshkosh says: There is
no possible way of arriving at the loss 20 in
sUrance companies by the Oshkosh fire.
since all the agencies but one have been
burned out and the books are i'm confusion
while the books of one agency are buned.
The insurance with this last-namei agency
Gary X Harmons, j. estimated at S,50a. Goa.
The total loss by fire is thought TO be greater
than was first reported, and is now put at
S2,500,o00. IL is estimGted in general terms
that the insurance is 80 per cent. of the loss.
About three hundred families are burned out
and relief is much needed. The city council
has appropriated - eco for the immediate
wants. There is no announcement among
business men, and the feeling is strong that
rebuilding must commence at once. Several
hours rain to-day failed 10 extinguiSh tie
IRE, which is still burning among the debris.
City Doomed 60 the Flames.
y uSpatch nom ton du Lac 10 the Tunes
says: A deep pail hangs over the city. Five
times since it, foundation has confiagraLiOn
visited il. but the present calamity il the
most crushing of all. This is the third lime
within year that Dire has deSOlated it. This
lire has taken most of the fiue residences ani
homes. The citizens seem utterly homeless
and walk the streets with sad faces. Thc
ruins aIe still smOuldering, and when the
former owners are asked what they will do
they reply that they cannot tell at present.
The offices of the telegraph company are
buried, and facilities for working lines are
very poor. This added 10 the general coafu-
sion and inability of even those who are
losers 10 give particulars prccludos the posi-
bility of an extended report.
THE oBSTINANCY OF ONE MAN DID IT
OSHKOSH lies on Il fat piece OF ground. and
there Is almost a continuous southwest wind.
which, on this occasion, was blowing with
great violence. IL has been the custom in
Oshkosh latterly, when heavy westerly wind
was blowing. for the mills, which are situa-
ted in the western part OF the city, TO stop
work 10 prevent fires. n number OF mills
shut down on Wednesday noon, but Spauld-
ing ~ Peck refused TO stop work, and when
Mr.. Morgan asked Mr.. Peck to do so. he was
answered abruptly that he peck intended
to run his own business. Shortly after this
Morgan Bros. mill was observed TO be on
fire, and i'm few minutes the whole building
was in flames. The fire companies and thous-
ands OF citizens were promptly on hand, but
the gale was so fierce and the material of the
mills SO cOmbustible that the fire could not
be stayed, and speedily drove them from
place 10 place. advancing 20 the heart of the
city.
ROASTED TO DEATH
Mr.. j. y. Davis, a clerk in the employ of
Morgan Bros, attempted 10 save some books
nom the mill, put, becoming bewiIdered. was
nearly roasted to death before he could find
his way out, and expired soon after reaching
the open air. The air was filed with shingles
anu cInderS which bore destruction 20 houses
at great distance from the actual nre. and
as the flames advanced rapidly toward the
principal thoroUghfares, even the most san
and the city was devastated, as already de-
Scrihed.
Rapid Spread Of the Flames.
NEW YORK. April Ga special from OSh-
kOSh, after abiding TO the fact that Spaul-
ding n Peck refused TO shut down when re
quested to do so by Morgan, and the general
belief that Morgan Bros. mill was fired by
Pecks smoke stack, says the fire depart
ment, consisting of three steam and one hand
engine, was on the alert, expecting CON
migration. Upon the breaking Out Oh the fire
.ney were ready, put were compelled 10 re-
treat as IL advanced. The fire was spreading
with great rapidity to all the lumber yanis
When the fire got into the brick blocks they
Weht Gown like butter. Where stores had
stood but five minutes before. nothing re-
manned but heap of rubbish. Once beyond
DIVISION and Main streets. the fire spread
norm, south and east with the speed OF a
race horse. The people had but time to look
at the advancing enemy and fly. Hundreds
had TO abandon everything they possesses
or earth except life. The entire district east
OF The brick blocks was one sheet of flame
A WARNING TO OTHER CITIES.
No attempt was made to save it. The uSa
OF powder which hal been advocated was moi
reSorted to, there being no powder at the dis
poSal OF the chief of the fire lenartmenf A.
there is not hook and ladder COMPANY i'm
me city houses could not be pulled down or
destroyed, ana the fire had 10 be left 10 take
MS course when once il passed Division
street ii quietly exhausted ..sself after ravag-
ing all within reach between midniGh and
O'Clock Thursday a. m. Assistance in the
way OF steam engines came from FOn du
Lac, Ripon. and Neenah. The statement
that the powder magazine had exploded had
no other foundation than the explosion of a
quantity of blank cartridges i'm the store of
Mr.. Percy on Main street. which he hal been
unable TO remove.
BURIED UNDER THE RUINS
Charles Dunn, a spectator of the fire on
Main street, who was examining the walls
OF Harding's opera house ON that thorough
1are after the fire had burned itself out had
imprudently approached close TO the build
ing when the walls still standing fell and
buried him in the ruins. The corpse was dug
out much disfgured. Il is claimed by those
present at the time that two others were
buried under the debris, but there was no
reason 10 suppose this is true, as close eNami-
nation mas been made and there appears no
possibility of any bodies being buried out Of
sight. Some FIVE or six persons are reported
Injured by falling walls and burns, but the
cases are not believed 10 be serious.
WIDESPREAD SUFFERING.
There Is scarcely a man or member Of a
family in Oshkosh who has not lost his
homestead or house full of furniture, or stock
OF goods, or who has not a relative in that
position. Estimate places the insurance at
81 coo 600 but this is purely an estimate.
The sufferers by the fire were all cared for
by nightfall yesterday. During the morning
the very air seemed TO predict a confiagra-
lion and warnings Were heard on all sides.
During the progress of the fire unoridled
horses let loose from livery stables came
dashing through the crowded streets, runa-
way teams came tearing by, while yelling
and screaming from man TO man becme ter
rifying. 1t was wild scene.
A dispatch to the New York Her0ld from
the mayor Of Oshkosh says: The total loss OF
property Is between 81 10000 and 1000 900.
The amount Of Insurance cannot be ascer-
tained-the books and papers of some Of the
agents were burned, and also the policies,
probably of the insured. The number OF
buildings burned do not know.
MORE FIRES.
Another Wisconsin Fire.
MILWAUKEE,, April 30.-A fire at Acono-
mowoc yesterday destroyed the Labelle
House, the drug store of Ackley Lardue, and
the dry goods store Of T. w. Weber. Loss
$50 600.
A Factory Burned.