Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-07
A GREAT FIRE

sweeps Over La Crosse, Wisconsin, Dam
aging Over S5oo,ooO.
LACROSSE, Wis, April 6-One OF the
most disasastrous conAsgrations that ever
visited Lacrosse broke out at l o'clock
this morning in John Psufs mill and
swept southwark, destroying ths mill and
several thousand feet of lumber belonging
to Mr.. Paul. Thence it swept to the yards
and mill Of C. L Coleman, destroying
everything to the river bank ard two
blocks southWard. The loss up TO noon
was estimated at q quarter o! m'Ihon
dollars and the flames were still blazing
from one pile to another despite the exer-
tious OF the entire FIRE department, which
had turned out from all the wards with
hose and hook and ladders All the steam
ers were brought into service and ell
the power that could be OBJ
,ained from the mill pumps,
he city water works and the local by
drants. The scene about the conhsgra-
rion became thrilling. ThousandS Of peo'
pie througed the streets. the sidewalks and
the housetops to witness the greatest and
most destructive conhagra'ion that ever
broke ont in Lacrosse.
The Ere originated from spark from
the mill stacks or from the furnaces, end
in an instant the blaze grew into q roaring
conhsgrstion. 10 fifteen minutes the mill
was doomed and in half an hour it fell in
ruins with sll its splendid machinery.
There was no staying the progress Of the
flames, which jumped to the great piles OF
Lumber and in an hour made seething
sea of flames, against the heat OF which no
fireman could stand. The wind was blow
ing fresh from the north. At neon the sit
ustioR hsd become
APPALLING.
The flames were still moving steadily
southwest. All efforts to stop the flames
at Colmsn's nil proved futile. The i'm
meuse structure was soon Q mass OF hre.
The grest planning mill adjoining was also
caught and oil the adjoining property was
threatened. The workmen and the FIRE
department then Turned their attention to
ward Csss street, where q force Of pen
were set to work to tear down the lumber
piles that the flames might be stopped
there. all hope of saving the immediate
property was abandoned A train of thir-
teen box cars belonging to the Milwaukee
and St. Paul road was threatened; eight OF
them were consured At D. IN. it was
evident the fire was gaining on the men.
STILL RAGING.
2P.N-At one o'clock the Gre extend
ed three blocks in length, and was burning
turiously with moderate north wind. One
man is reported killed. Families are NOV
ing out hastily in the vicinity and great
distress will be entsiled upon many poor
families, even should the conasgrstiou ex
tend no further. The fire is now among
dwellipg houses having eaten its way out
of the lumber yards. The loss can
not be estimated vita accuracy, oW
ing to the confusion and difficulty oI
inding any body who knows. Some
place Il IS high as 100000, and some moi
over 100000. Assistance arrived from
Sparta and Wiuons and heroic struggle
With tie flames is being made.
NOT sUBDUED.
3:l5 P. M.-The fire is still raging fierce
| " and a strong will on the part OF the ire
men to su5dus it have been unsuccessful
The wind is still high.
AN APPEAL FOR HELP.
MILWAUKEE. Wis, April Ga telegram
has lust been received from Mayor PoEel
of La Crosse, asking for help. Two fr'
engines are being loaded and will be takeI
10 the scene of conasgrstion, 200 mile
distant, BY special train, accompanied b!
o number Of men.
Under Control.
La Crosse, April 6.-3l5 Nth
ere was brought under control at 2 o,clocl
With the help of the Winons aud Spart'
Ere departments Z crest many stream
are still playing on the ruius The tota
area burned over is Ave blocks long and
block and a half wide. Besides the larg
lumber mills and Pane & ColemauS plsr
ipr mills, the La Crosse soap factory an
immense store houses filled with seasoue
lumber, lath and shingles, there were eigh
dwelling houses burned. The total loss
placed at from halfto one million dollar
one-halt insured. One thousand men ar