Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-09
DeS tructive Flames.
HALF MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF
WISCONSIN TOBACCO LOST

| Especial dispatch to the Milwaukee SeItinel.]
SToUGHToN, Wis, July 5th.- Fire
here to-day destroyed ten large to-
bacco warehouses, the depot sf the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Pad rail
way, and eight freight cars standing
on the sidetracks. The tbacco
warehouses were all owned by New
York and Philadelphia tdtacco
houses. The fire probably c,eated
the heaviest destruction of tbacco
that has ever occurred in the United
States at one time from that cause.
1t is estimated that fully one-thrd of
the entire Wisconsin tobacco crop of
last year was consumed. There were
about 5000 cases stored in theware.
houses ready for shipment, which
were worth about $50 apiece, thus
making the loss on tobacco about
$450,000. The warehouses were
worth about $4,000 each, making an
additional loss of $25, 900. The de-
pot was large frame structure,
which had recently been repaired so
that it was almost entirely new.
There was large amount of freight
stored in the depot, nearly all of
which was saved. The freight cars
which were burned were standing on
a sidetrack, and in the excitement of
the fire it was impossible to remove
them to a safe location. The cars
contained no freight.
The confagration started at I:I5
in the morning in a shed which was
located near warehouse No. :, which
is the warehouse nearest the depot
building. From the shed it spread
to warehouse No. 7, and from there
to two more of the warehouses. 1t
then jumped across the track to the
depot, which caught fire at 1925.
Two more small sheds were in the
line of the progress of the flames,
and then the rest Of the warehouses;
were reached. A lumber yard To-
Gated near the depot also suffered,
but a large amount of the lumber
was removed The whole city and
surrounding country was aroused
by the noise and light of the falling
buildings, and the Madison fire de-
partment was telegraphed for. Two
of the Madison engines were loaded
on a special train, which made the
run of sixteen and one.fifth miles,
from Madison to Stoughton, in
twenty minutes. The engines got
work shortly after o'clock, and at
5 O'clock had the fire under control.
Had it not been for the timely as
sistance of the Madison fremen,
there is no doubt that the damage
would have been much greater than
it was.
The fire was probably started by
the sparks from fireworks, which
were carelessly thrown by some
Fourth of July patriot. The floor
of the shed was covered with shaw
ings, which ignited and spread very
quickly. The loss is partially Gov
cred by insurance.
Some local parties will be entirely
ruined by this fire, but the individu-
al losses fall mostly on eastern buy
ers. The disaster will throw about
FIVE hundred people out of employ
ment. The effect on the market
will be very material. Prices will
jump up. Wisconsin tobacco stands
higher as a seed leaf for cigar pur-
poses than that of any state in the
Union.
This fire makes the second disas-
trous conflagration which has visited
the enterprising little city of Slough
ton within year or two past. Not
long ago T. G. Mandt's carriage
works, one of the largest institutions
of the kind in the state, were totally
consumed, with large loss.
From latest reports incendiarism
is the supposed cause.