Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-05-05
No. 27
GREAT FIRE AT OSHKOSH.

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over half mile wde and on the
north side of the river, in the heart Of
the city, from Pine street on the west
where the fire started, to the lake on
the east, and between Algoma and
Church streets on the north; every
thing but two or three houses in these
limits having been swept away, includ-
ing nearly all the leading business
houses of the city, many valuable mills
and lumber yards, and many of the
finest residences. 1t is by far the
most disastrous of the many extensive
confagrations Oshkosh has had.
The fire originated in Morgan Bros.
or Spaulding and Peck's saw mills,
some believing it accidental. others the
work of an incendiary. Aided by a
strong northeast wind, the flames soon
spread into wide NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Besides the mill in which the fire orig
mated, dozen other saw, and shingle
mills in that vicinity followed in quick
succession, with millions of feet Of
lumber, sparks and burning brands
from which spread the fame with
great rapidity. The Chicago, Mil
wauke and St. Paul Railroad depots
and sheds were among the first to 60,
soon followed By the depot of the Chi;
cago and Northwestern Railroad. The
fire ranged with fury all the afternoon.
The Beckwith House and Harding's
Opera House, on the southern line of
the fire last year, are in ruins. All
the newspaper Offices, banks, telegraph
offices, the postofice, the Uniyersalist
Church, all the hotels but one, and
nearly all the business portion of the
city, including every dry good store on
the north side, and hundreds of houses,
are destroyed, and their occupants
homeless, the fire jumped the river,
but was speedily extinguished. Moth
ing on the south side of the river is
burned
The best engine in the city was
burned, and the others gave out. En-
gines were summoned from Fond du
Lac and Ripon, and rendered good
service late In the afternoon. Build
lngs were blown up to check the prog
ress of the flames
A powder magazine blew up in the
afternoon, and it is rumored FIVE or six
men perished. 1t is also stated that
two men were killed by falling walls.
The widest excitement prevailed,
and the city tonight was in the hands
Of mob, with extra police on duty.
1t is impossible to give the loss to-
night.
MILWAUKEE, April 2S.-Both the
telegraph offices at Oshkosh are burn
ed, and there is great difficulty in Sc
curing dispatches, which were sent by
the railroad operator, with his relay at
the bridge. The total loss is estima-
ted at S750,00O.
CHICAGO, April 29.-The following
fact IN regard to the fire at Oshkosh
yesterday afternoon, are CLEANED from
specials to the morning papers The
tre commenced at the corner of Pine
and Marions streets, and spread east
and northeast through Hancock, Pearl,
Warren and High streets, DESTROYING
the depot Of the St. Paul Railroad,
and proceeding to Main street, where
the principal business houses are 10
Gated. and extending on the north
line Of the above limits southeasterIy
across to So Waugoo aud Otter streets,
to Ceape street, the south line being
the river, with the exception of
break or two about the foot of Main
street.
The building in which the fire orig
mated was the saw mill Of Morgan
Bros, on the north side of the river.
1t was as dry as tinder and filed with
the most combustible material. The
heat was so intense that the fremen
were unable to approach sufficiently
near to render any service. The
neighborlng lumber piles fell an easy
prey to the flames, and millions of feet
of seasoned lumber were Immediately
enveloped. A dozen other saw and
shingle mills and lumber piles yielded
to the fury of the flames. A brisk
wind famed the flames, which were
whetted by the small frame houses of
the mill employees. Few Of the fam
lilies saved any of their goods
TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
IN Our PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The New
7 ork Star opposes this, and says, in
illustration of its reasons: "There
are now more men who can speak both
languages than there are places to I'll,
and before we can educate class Of
school boys and fit them for positions
where knowledge Of both languages is
desirable, there will be ten persons
of German ancestry able to speak that
language from having learned it at
home, for every situation requiring
such knowl edge If the Chinese or
japanese should come over to this