Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-01-24
MILW AUKEE'S GRIEF.
The NewhaIl House Calamity and the
Long List of Victims of the
Fiery Visitation.
a SAD ARRAY OF CHARRED REM AIMS.
[From the Evening Wisconsin, January 1sthJ
RELICS OF THE CAJAMrTy

|
The search through the heap of
bricks, blackened timbers, beds of char
red Goals, layers of smoke-colored dust
and ponds OF water, which compose the
NeWhall ruins, two words that are in
the mouths of ALL has been not only pro-
duct1ve In the discovery of dozens of
Inundated victims, but also of thousands
OF articles of all descriptions, such as
could not be found in any general store
III the republic, but would necessitate
visiting several to procure. And III
what condition ? Some have passed
through the terrible ordeal of the ele-
ments without a scath, others are
smoked, others saturated with water,
some burned and melted into inconceiv-
able shapes, while still others are only
charred at the corners and edges by the
devour1ng flames, and are exhumed to
be through all existence forcible remind
: ers OF the trightful calamity which de-
creased the population Of Mil
waukee by hundred lives in
so shocking a manner. Some
call them relics. They are relics such
as will bring the pang of sorrowing re-
membrance on sight, for scores of years
hence, when the burning of the home
like old Newhall will be marked in the
pages of history as Milwaukee's blacklist
of all dark days. A portion of the IL
brary owned by Henry Payne was ex-
humed at the sepulchre yesterday, and
as the workmen were removing several
volumes of Cooper's works, they dis
covered these popular editions had
formed covering for the baked bones
OF some unfortunate soul, who fought
and died In fir. In future days, when
those pages have been cleaned, rebound
and their history perpetuated, a reader
will glance through the gilded thoughts
contained In the printed works and
shudder as he drops q tear for the sacri-
feed, for which that very book had
helped form tempory grave covering.
Many valuable and useful pieces, in
Guiding number of ladies' and gentle
mems gold watches are among the things
which have been found. These time
pieces, which have been
FoNDLED BY LOVING HANDS
IN gladly answering a request for the
hour Of the day, or whose seemingly
slow-turning hands have been eagerly
and impatiently watched until they
should point out the exact minute an
nouncing the arrival of some dear one,
are not all beyond repair. Judge
George Reeds watch was taken from
the graveyard debris yesterday sorely
battered and baked, with half the case
gone. The back remained intact, and
on being opened revealed to anxious
eyes the words which proved beyond q
doubt the name Of the owner, and how
acquired at the hands of staunch friends
and true, in this language: "To
George Reed, protector of the
Wisconsin Central Railroad, from
his friends of Stevens Point,
Waupaca, Weyauwega and Wau-
sau." The ill-used time piece was
turned over to George E. Reed, a son of
the Inflated owner, and what conflicting
thoughts will surge through his brain in
after years when his eyes are directed
upon the begrimmed reminder. Large
numbers of rings we're found, some of
which were very costly and set With dia-
monds, but none more costly than dear.
Engagement and wedding rings, round,
endless, golden circles, mathematical Of
faith and love, were taken from the still
steaming bed of death, many of which
will n yer again be worn by the dear
ones to whom they were given with such
fervencv and devotion. A gold signet
ring was found, its brightness dulled by
smoke and dirt, which was discovered to
be inscribeda as follows on being cleansed: |
Katie to Will, Dec. 25, $780," A |
Christmas present for some loving wife, |
sister or sweetheart. But where is the |
wearer? Perhaps, and likely too. cold |
in the grasp of
DEATHS RELENTLESS CLUTCHES.
There were memoranda books dug out,
containing dates Of happy and mourn
full occurrence, business transactions and |
the records OF a year-sOme OF them for |
1882, which died so short while-and |
some noting the events Of the new born |
year of '83. Trunks, which by their |
contents, proved to have been owned by |
persons of both sexes, have been re-
moved and strange to say were found Ill |
many instances to be in good OF fair con- |
dition. On being opened, which was |
rendered difficult by the action of the |
fire and water, the contents were found |
smoked and damp, even saturated and |
black. Out of Mrs. Charles W. Sher- |
mans trunk was removed g bundle of |
loving letters from her husband, tied |
carefully and neatly in a ribbon once
blue, but faded pale white. The mis-
sives were soiled and wet, but on being |
exposed to heat, became dry and could |
easily be read. From the trunk which |
is said to belong to George G. Smith,
was taken a brace of pistols, |
large old blunderbusses, of the
revolutionary type and seldom met with
in these days Of modernized firearms.
It is supposed they were ancestral relics
and might have been, for aught the
writer knows, the veritable pair used by
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, II
the duel which ended In the death Of the
former patriot and the general condem-