The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-29
Estimated Loss Three-Quar-
tiers of a Million.
THE BURNED DISTRICT DEFINED.
A Powder Magazine Blown Up and a
Number of Lives Lost.
HUNDREDS OF PERSONS HOMELESS.
MILWAUKEE,, April %, 1876.

MILWAUKEE, April ZS, 1870.
A most destructive fire at Oshkosh, in this
State, broke out at halfpast one this after
noon. 1t commenced at either Morgan
Brothers or Spaulding & Peck's mills, on the
north bank of the upper Fox River, about
aquarter of mile west of the heart of the city.
There was o high northwest wind blowing
at the time, and the embers of the fire were
blown into the neighboring lumber yards.
The fire then spread with awful rapidity to
the neighboring mills, of which there are
twelve or fifteen between the scene of tho
confagration and the business blocks.
FRAME DWELLINGS.
ALI the region north and west Of Main
street consisted of frame dwellings,, and it
was seen that much of it was doomed to de-
struction.
FIGHTING THE FIRE
The principal fight was made at Division
street, which runs north and south, and con-
sists of brick buildings extending back to
Main street and irregularly to several streets
east, the whole acting somewhat as q barrier
to the flames, which licked up everything
north, from the river east of Pine street to
this barrier in northeasterly direction
as far as Agoma street, and thence
in line easterly to Lake Shore,
cutting o path through Division street and
Main street as wide as from Algoma street on
the north to Bales block on the south. Sew
eral blocks south Of that to the river, ut this
point, were saved at one time. The flames,
however, presently burst through this bar
rier and again extended north and south,
sweeping almost everything out of the path
way that had been supposed to be preserved
from destruction.
TWELVE MILLS BURNED.
The south line was grimly marked by the
destruction of twelve mills. The Beckwith
House, Harding's Opera House, the two tele-
graph offices, the Chicago and ST. Paul Rail-
road depot and number of other important
buildings were burned down within seventy
five minutes.
EXTENT or BURNT DISTRICT.
At half. past three O. clock about mile and
quarter of territory, east and west, by over
quarter of mile average width, was burned
over, with very few residences or business
blocks left standing.
POWDER MAGAZINES.
During the progress of the fire several ex-
plosions were heard, and it was reported that
five or six men were killed by the blowing up
of powder magazine. The confusion was,
however, so great that it was impossible to
ascertain with certainty whether this rumor
was founded in fact. The scenes in the
burned district are SO appalling that no relia-
BILE particulars as to loss Of life can be OBJ
tanned
The most moderate estimate Of the loss is
$3.50, 900, of which the Northwestern Insur-
rance Company, of this city, lose $4,000
CROSSING THE RIVER
Several times during the confagration the
flames crossed the river to the south side, but
were fortunately extinguished before any very
serious damage was done.
TELEGRAPHIc COMMUNICATION.
Many determined attempts we're made to
renew telegraphic communication with adj
joining cities, but after several continuous
failures the attempts had to be given up. The
only telegraph line available was that Of tne
Northwestern Railroad. The operator at this
point managed to keep his line open.
LATER PARTICULARS.
All the banks and printing Offices are de-
stroyed. Several hundred houses are burned
TO the ground; an exact estimate of the num-
Der is not at present ascertainable. Two men
have been carried in from the ruins, and il il
certain that more must have met their death
during the progress OF the fire. The city is
in the possession of gang of thieves, and
vigilance committees are forming.