Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-08
TOBACCO SMOKE.
Ten Tobacco Warehouses at StoughtOn
Destroyed by Fire-The Loss Estimated
at Fully One Million Dollars.

Fire at StOughtOn, on the 9Th inst,
destroyed ten large tobacco ware
houses, the depot of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & ST. Paul Railway, and eight
freight cars standing on thesidetracks.
The tobacco warehouses were all
owned by New York and Philadelphia
tobacco houses, Oppenheimer & Co.,
ROsenwald q Co., Cohn d Co. and John
Mark, of Chicago, being among the
losers. The fire probably created the
heaviest destruction of tobacco that
has ever occurred in the United States
at one time from that cause. 1t is es-
timated that fully one-third of the
entire Wisconsin tobacco crop of last
year was consumed. There were about
5000 cases stored in the warehouses
ready for shipment, which were worth
$50 apiece, thus making the loss
on tobacco about $45O,OOO. The
warehouses we're worth about So
600 each, making an additional loss
Of $685. 900. The depot was a. large
frame structure, which had recently
been repaired, so that it was almost
entirely new. There was q large amount
OF freight stored in the depot, nearly
all OF which was saved. The freight
cars which we're burned were standing
on the side track, and in the excite
ment OF the fire it was impossible to
remove them to q safe location. The
cars contained no freight. The con-
fagration started at 1 i in the morn
ing in q shed which was located near
warehouse No. Z, which is the ware
house nearest the depot building.
From the shed it spread to warehouse
No. Z, and from there to two more Of
the warehouses. It then jumped across
the track to the depot, which caught
fire at 2:25. 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 located
near the depot also suffered, but a
large amount of the lumber was re-
moved. The whole city and surround
ing country were aroused by the noise
and light and the Madison fire depart
ment was telegraphed for. Two of the
Madison engines were loaded on a
special train, which made the run from
Madison to Stoughton, in twenty min
utes. On arriving at the scene Of the
fire some delay was experienced in un-
loading the engines on account Of q
number Of freight cars which had been
switched on to the main track to es-
cape destruction. The engines got to
work shortly after 3 O'Clock, however,
and at o'clock had the fire under
control. Had it not been for the
timely assistance Of the Madison fire.
men, there is no doubt that the dam
age would have been much greater than
it was.
The operator Of the depot managed
to save his telegraph instruments, but
it was some time before telegraphic
communication was re-established.
The instruments were set up and the
disconnected lines were Joined together
in a store across the street. Tele-
grams were sent to the owners Of the
warehouses and tobacco by a special
messenger, who drove to Edgerton for
that purpose before communication
was re-established at Stoughton. 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 shavings. which ig-
nited and spread very quickly. This
fire makes the second disastrous con-
fagration which has visited the enter
prizing little city of Stoughton within
a 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 a
large loss.