Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-15
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
III. e. pEEELLEO. editor.
Grand Rapids. Thursday. April 15tI



Fires.-The dwelling o. Tim Con-
way on the Plover road was totally
destroyed by fire last Tuesday night.
The alarm by ringing the fire bell was
given about 2, clock, but the flames
had made such progress that little
e ectual aid could be rendered. How
the fire took is not positively known,
though it's supposed to have taken
in the garnet. Very few house
hold goods were removed, comprising
little bedding chair or two, Il stand
and sewing machine. Mr.. Conway
and his wife barely escaped with their
lives. The building was insured for
$500, in the Madison Mutual. 1t will
not be out Of place right here to say
that our steamer was not even taken
out Of the engine house, though the
wind was blowing hurricane, and it
was not known but the whole hill was
at the mercy Of the flames. We don't
know that any body is to blame in the
matter, but We who live on tsthe hill, !"
and who help to pay the cost Of that
machine would just like to know
whether that engine is to be ornamen-
tai rather than useful. Had the are
taken IN the vicinity Of the Mag
nolia, the whole resident portion east
ward would have been Consumed.
What are those reservoirs for? viii
some one please tell US We on "the
hilp would like some one to rise and
explain. The long and short of the
whole matter is, an hundred men could
not have toted that engine up the hill,
and no team was at hand at that hour
OF the night. consequently the au.pay-
e1s residing on the hill were, and will
continue to be exposed to consumption
by fire until something is done for
their relief. The Engine House is
poorly located. It should have bee,
located near Herschleb's shop from.
which point it could be hauled to a fro
in any part of the city easily. We
with all resident in the eastern portion
Of the city ask our Council to do some
thing for our. protection at once,
We learn that Oh the same night
the Mark Pratt Houso on the .Fonr
Mile Greek, occupied by Robert Field
man was burned to the ground. Loss
partial on goods which were insured
for $3.50. Insurance on building $500,
Insured in Madison Mutual Co.
The Zee Gorge. The fears that
we were to have "a terrific ice jam were
not unfounded. About ten days ago
the ice began breaking and piling at
the foot of the rapids, to trifing ak
tent at first, but from day to day, with
rising river, the ind ications Of a
gorge became more manifest On
Wednesday and Thursday jam was
fortokened by large bodies coming
from above, and serious fears were ap-
pr hended The river rapidly raiseI
till it threatened to iuundate the
business portion of the city. On Fri
day evening the danger was iminent.
and fears were increased by the report
of an immense field or gorge at the up
per eddy extending as far as the course
Of the river could be determined. Fer
tunately for all, the gorge broke during
the Friday night and passed off with
but little damage to the buildings along
the river bank. Jones News Depot
was removed from its moorings, as was
also DR.. Writer'S dissecting room !;
further the damage was slight. We
learn that Messrs Boron and Rablin
experience loss in sweeping away Of
piers and booms, and that Gerard &
Drake suffer severely, having had some
half million feet of lumber swept away
where it had been RATED upon the ice,
below Neeves' old dam. Had the ice
been detained forty-eight hours longer.
the destruction must have been i'm
mense, for the most terrific jam ever
experienced came sweeping down or
Sunday morning bringing with it lum'
Der and logs and booms and food trash
in such body that nothing save a wal
Of ledge rock could have withstood it.
lTha trnnhla Ia raae. anl I'll hr a II a.