Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-09
Fire Sweeps Over Ten Blocks of
the City of La CrOsse-LOss
Nearly $1,000, 900.
Sparta, WinOna and Milwaukee
are Called on for Aid-Par-
iculars of the Fire.
Mercer Dies From the Effects of
His WOundS-A Boy Killed
by Rough OH Rats.
ConflaSration at La Crosse.


WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED.
LA CROSSE, April "A fire broke
out in John Paurs and Chas. L. Col
mans lumber yards at 10 o'clock this
morning, destroying both mills and
several million feet of lumber. The
loss at neon WAS half million dol
lars. At l o'clock the fire was still
burning. The fire department is do
ing its best to stop the progress of the
flames. 1t looks at this hour as if the
tre would destroy a million dollars
worth of property.
OUTSIDE AID CALLED FOR.
LA CROSSE, April z, 1:S0 .. m.-
The fire has crossed Second street, and
Is burning towards the south.
Winona and Sparta have teen called
upon for help All is confusion.
Details are hard 10 get. The fire is
spreading to the eastward, and max
ing great head way The Sparta fire
department has just arrived, and the
Winona engine is expected every
moment.
MlLwAUkEE CALLED ON FOR AID.
La CROSSE, April AT l o'clock
1t was feared that all between Second
street and the river, and from Liste-
numn'S Touring mill, Including the
same, to the south end of the
town would be destroyed, involvisga n
10 ssof several million dollars.
The following dispatch was sent to
Mayor Wallber about noon:
Te the Mayor, Milwaukee,
Send all the assistance possible, quick The
whole southwest part of the city going by fire
Answer quick. (SigneG d. 7. Powell,
Mayor.
A special tram, consisting of three
fiat cars, cahoose and engine, with
two tire engines, was made up and dis
patched as quickly as possible for La
Crosse.
ONE MAN KILLED.
LA CROSSE, April z, 2 p. NAT
o'clock the fire had extended three
blocks in length and was burning
furlously, with moderate north
wind One man is reported killed.
Families are moving out in the vicini-
ty and great distress will be entailed
upon many poor families, even
should the contlagration extend no
further. TIE fire is now among the
d dwelling houses, having eaten its way
out of the lumber wards. There is
some danger of sparks igniting the
vast piles of lumber on Isle La Plume,
which is separated from the mainland
by narrow channel. The loss can
pot be estimated with accuracy, ow-
ing to the confusion and difficulty of
finding any body who knows. Some
place 1t as high as $500, 600, and some
not over half that.
Assistance has arrived from Sparta
and Wipona, and heroic struggle
with the flames is now being made.
RAGING FIERCELY.
LA CROSSE, April z. 3l5 =. M
The fire is still raging fiercely and all
efforts on the part of the fremen to
subdue it have been unsuccessful.
The wind is still high.
THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.
LA CROSSE, April z, $3.50 p. M
The fire has now been brought under
control by the help of the Winona
and Sparta fire departments A great
mauy streams are still playing on
the ruins The total area burned
over is five blocks long and
block and half wide, besides
the large lumber mills of Paul and
Coleman, with their great planning
mills and factories The La Crosse
soap factory and immense storehouses
filled with seasoned lumber lath and
shingles, and eight dwellings were
also burned. The total loss is esti-
mated at from $500, 600 to 81, 900, 900,
only half insured. One thousand
men are thrown out of employment.
THE LOSSES.
LA CROSSE, Wis, April THE
fire was completely under control by
2:30. The departments from Winona
and Sparta rendered excellent aid.
Engines from st. Paul and Minneap
oils were ready TO start by special
train but were telegraphed TO stop.
A careful estimate of the loss
places the total at between $780,
900 and $1,000, 900, OF which
as individual heavy losers, @. l. Col
man is the greatest, his loss being
fifteen million feet If lumber and
large planning mill, etc, four hundred
thousand dollars with no Insurance.;
John Paul, individual loss, mill and
five million feet Of lumber, one hun
dred ard fifty thousand dollars; in
surance, 100000
The fire laid waste 10 blocks, in
cluding two OF the largest lumber
yards in the state, and 80 small houses
we're destroyed by fire. Fully 1000
| men are thrown out Of employment
and 400 persons are homeless. 1t is
| by far the most destructive fire that
has ever visited La Crosse and but
for the variable winds the entire
southern part of the city would have