Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23
UNFORTUNATE AUTHORS.

Valuable Manuscripts That Have Been Burned
I think. says Washington Post writer
the number of authors who have suffered
loss by fire of manuscripts upon which
years of hard labor had been spent is
quite remarkable enough at least to be
needed as warning and cause those who
are engaged in valuable literary labors to
deposit their work in fire proof safes and
vaults. I remember, years ago, while liy-
ing IN Burlington, Vt, daily passing the
small brick fire-proof library which the
late George p. Marsh, so long our minis
ter to Italy, had built in the yard which
surrounded his house. There, in this de-
tached building, he kept his literary
treasures and rare books. If his dwell
ing, which was of wood, had been de-
stroved by fire, his books and MSS. would
at least be safe.
In February, 1885, there was fire IN
this city which destroyed the residence of
Senator Benton, the father of Mrs. Ere
mont. Says Mrs. Fremont: Both houses
of congress adjourned immediately on
hearing of the fire, and vast throng
surrounded the doomed house. A son Of
Mr.. Frank Key, of the ar-Spangled
Banner" plunged into the smoke and fire
to save for the senator, the portrait of his
wife, He made mistake and saved in
stead portrait of Senator Benton IN his
Younger day. The Ibraly-his own and
his fathe1's-ulth the great fol1os Of
English state trials, from which he began
to read law and history with his mother,
was the keenest-felt loss. Many precious
private papers were burned, and nearly
half the manuscript of the second vol
ume of the 'Thirty Years View
Even the f'Memoirs of the Life of John
Charles Fremont" whicha re now going
through the press, had a narrow escape of
fire. When Gov. and Mrs. Fremont left
for Arizona, in 1878 the boxes contain
ing the steel plates and wood blocks were
placed in Morrels ''fre-proof" warehouse
which was destroyed by fire in 1881. The
Fremonts lost much that was stored In
the warehouse choice books, pictures,
and other treasured things-but the ma
terials for the 'Memoira" happily, for
greater security, had been placed IN the
safes below the pavement, where the
great fire passed over them and left them
completely unframed.
[ saw this fire, which took place in the
night. The Fourth avenue street-car sta
bles in New York took fire and were de-
stroyed The Morrell storage warehouse
stood on the opposite side of the street,
a very ordinary brick structure, with no
outside blinds. Inside it was filled with
combustible material in the shape Of
household goods of every kind, tanks
filled with clothing, and all the household
treasures held dear by hundred fami-
lies. Of course the great tongue of fire
from the stable shot into the unprotected
windows of this humbug "fre-proof"
building, and it crumbled away like a
house of cards. Shortly afterward met at
the New York hotel the widow and daugh-
ter of Gen. Anderson, of Fort Sumter
fame. They were deeply lamenting the
loss of all their treasures, which were also
stored in this sham "fre-proof" building.
The world will never know how much that
was precious and valuable turned to ashes
in that fire.