Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-10-30
An Incendiary Fire. The
Grand Rapids Tribune Office

aroused our people at 2 II o clock
last Tuesday morning. As hundreds
hurried to the business part Of the CT
t.. the glariug flames gliding the walls
of adjacent buildings and illuminating
the cupola of the Rablin House with
a garrish light, the intelligence was
swiftly passed as people hurried on:
1T S the Tribune office. The words
were whispered Alright. It was in
deed the office of the Tribune which
was being offered up, a sacrifice to
glut the vengenee of human fends
whose synpathies have been with the
debaueher of homes, and the destroyer
Of home happiness. The Tribune
with the REPORTER has dared to
speak boldly for the right, and the
virtue Of our homes against the insid-
uous wiles Of the seducer, and this was
the reward smouldering embers and
ashes, while venial men and ,csmen
stood back and looked OF in gladstone
glee rejoicing in the destruction of a
property, the accumulation of years Of
toll and anxiety, all gone at the be-
hest Of demons who have sanctioned
the develish iniquity of a bad, wicked
man.
The fire was first discovered, a per-
feet sheet of fame issuing from the
whole building. The superstition is
that copious quantities Of kerosene
were dashed in through tie windows,
and some infamable substance then
thrown III to ignite the saturated mass.
Just previous to the alarm, night
watch Bell was attracted to the lower
part OF the city by the report of fire.
arms. This was undoubtedly a ruse
to call attention away from the princi-
pal actors IN the drama. Finding no
parties, he FASTENED back. only to find
the building mass of flames. As
further proof that the fire was NAL
iciously set, 1t is only necessary to say
that only slabs were used in the stove
in the office, and that no fire had been
in the building since about three
clock in the afternoon. The stove
was a perfect one, and the fuel used
leaves no Goals to engepder fame. It
may be further said that threats have
been made against both the REPORTER
and Tribune office, and but for the
prompt action Of our better citizens,
and the advice, which we learn was
wisely gwen by legal authorities, to
the effect, that, if the papers were de-
stroyed by mob violence. the proprie-
tors could collect sufficient damages
from the city to make them perfectly
whole, both papers would have been
attacked in the excitement of two
weeks ago No other conclusion can
be arrived at, other than that the fire
was the product of the incenliarie's
torch, encouraged and abetted by Ger
tain Of our citizens who possessed not
the courage to face the music Of at
tack personally
The loss of Mr.. Bruhdage is severe
There was no insurance upon either
the material, presses, stock or building
All is a total loss, a loss approximating
$1,000 or $4,000. And this less is
brought upon Mr.. Brundage because
he dared to air and expose the villain
Gus action Of one who has made des-
poilation of home happiness and home
virtue. a speciality. A bad man S
character, and his iniqpities have been
aired and so thoroughly exposed that
every home was the safer and every
wife, and daughter virtue, save those
whose virtue might already be claimed
to have a mark etable value, more Sc
cure.
1t will be only just forour citizens to,
in measure, reimburse Mr.. Brun-
dage for the sad loss he has sustained.
There ought to be sufficient PATRIOTS IN
in our midst to put the seal Of con-
den nation upon such barbarous acts
of vandalism as was enacted last Tues
day morning, and create moral at
Rosphere in ourcommnity by subscrib-
ing a sum sufficient to reinstate the
Tribune. and that at once. Had the
press been silent the immoral conta-
geon which was rapidly purmeating
the homes of our communities would
have spread, till fends in hab.liments
of virtue would have ruined not one
or two, but perhaps a score. And
this is the reward of fidelity to public
and private interests--the ashes and
embers of blasted, ruined business.
We are aware that we have spoken
plainly. We have meant so to do.
We know that we. and all we have is