Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-30
BY TELEGRAPH.
The Oshkosh Fire.

CHICAGO, April 3O-A special dispatch to
the Iu,er. Ocean from Oshkosh says: There
is DO possible Way Of arriving at the loss to In
surauce companies by the Oshkosh fire suce
all the agencies but one have been burned out,
and the books are IN Confusion, while the
hooks of one agency are burned. Ihe lnsur-
ance With this last Damed agency, Gary q Har-
mons, is estimated at $500, 900. The total loss
by the fire is thought to be greater than was
At first reported, and is now put at 81, 500, 600.
Il i estimated 10 general terms that the insur-
unce is fifty per cent. of the loss. About 800
families arc burned out and relief is much
| needed. The City Council has appropriated
g. 600 for the immediate wants. There is no
announcement among business men, and the
feeling is strong that rebuilding must COM
mence at once. Several hours rain to-day
tailed to extinguish the fire, which is still
burning among the debris.
dispatch from Fon du Lac to the Times
saws: A deep pail hangs over the city Five
times since its foundation has cebt1agratlon
visited it, but the present calamity is the most
crushing of all. This is the third time within
q wear that fire has desolated it. This fire has
taken most of the fine residences and homes
Citizens seem utterly hopeless, and walk the
streets with sad faces. The ruins are still
smoudering, and when former owners arc
asked what they will do, they reply that they
20 ,,no, tell at present. The Offices of the tele-
pranh company are burned, and facilities for
working the lines are very poor. This, added
70 the general confusion and inability of even
those who are losers to give particulars, pre-
cludes the possibility OF extended reports.
Oshkosh lies on LIT piece of ground, and
there is almost a continuous southwest Wlud,
which on this OCCASION was blowing with
great violence. 1t has been the custom In
Oshkosh attery, when heavy Wester y VINO
was blowing, for the mills which are situated
in the western part of the city to stop work to
nreyept fires number of mills shut down
ON Wednesday moon, but Spouldlog 4 Peok
refused to stop work, and when Mr. Morgan
asked Mr.. Peck to do so, he was answered ab-
ruptly that he Peck intended to run bis Own
business. Shortly after this Morgan Bros
mill was observed to be on fire, and 10 tew
minutes the whole building was 10 tlmes
The fire companies and thousands OF citizens
we're promptly 90 hand, but the gale was SO
fierce and the material of the mills so combus-
tible that the fire could not be stayed, and
sneedily drove them from place to place, ad-
vanoing to the heart of the city. j. N. Davis,
a clerk 10 the employ of Morgan Bros, at
,emped 10 save some books from the mill, but
becoming bewildered was nearly roasted to
death before he could find his way out, aud ex-
pired soon after reaching open air. The air
was filled With shingles and clnders, which
hore destruction to houses at great distance
from the actual fire, and as the flames ad-
yaoced rapidly toward the principal thorough,
fares even the most sangulne gave up hope OF
checking them, and the city was devastated as
already described. o,
Losb atter abiding to the fact that Spoudlng
G pei refused to shut down when requested
n do 90 by Morgan, and the general belief
that Morgan Bros mill was fred by Peck S
smoke. stack, says the fire department, consist
ing of three steam aud one hand engine, was
on the alert, expecting confagratloO. Upon
the breakIpg out of the fire they were ready,
but were compelled to retreat as 1t advanced
The fire was spreading with great rapidlty to
all the lumber yards. When the fire got into
brick blocks they went down like butter
where stores had stood but FIVE minutes before
nothing remained but heap OF rubbish.
Ouce beyond Division and Main streets the
fire spread north, south aud east with the
speed of a race horse. People had but time to
look at the advancing enemy aud fly. HUI
dreds had to abandon everything they pos
sessed on eartn except HE. Inc entire uls-
trict east of the brick blocks was one sheet
of fame. No attempt was made to save
| it. The use of powder, which had been advo.
Gated, was not resored to, there being no pow
der at the disposal of the Chief of the Fire
| Department AS there is no hook and lad
der company 10 the city houses could no.
he nulled down or destroyed. The FIRE had
to be left to take its course. Wher
| once it passed Division street 1t quietly