The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-08
IA CROSSE AFFLICTED.
DEVASTATING FIRE AMONG LUM-
BER- MILLS AND FACTORIES.

swept by Fierce Winds Five Blocks Are
Demolished Before the Flames are Sab
dued-Loss Estimated at Nearly $1,000
00o-Fire at Quincy. Ills.
l., CROSSE, Wis, April S.-The greatest
fire that ever visited this city broke out in
the lumber mill of John Paul at 10 O'Clock
Tuesday m rning. Mr.. Paul was to have
started up for the season Wednesday, and
tire was placed under the boiler Tuesday
morning in order to test the machinery, and
it was in the engine-room that the fire
started The mill was wooden structure,
large and roomy and hefore the fire depart
ment arrived on the scene was q vast sheet
of flames The wind at the time was north
erly and the fire leaped across the street,
setting fire to the lumber piles in tine yards
of C, /. Colman, and by 1l:3o twenty
streams OF water managed by efficient
iiremen were endeav avoring to save Colman's
MILL Just one block south of Paufs The
intermediate space was thickly piled with
lumber, estimated at l5,0O0,0J0 feet, and
every foot was doomed
At noon the flames had made such head.
way that assistance from surrounding
towns was telegraphed for, and Sparta and
Winona both sent steamers and hose to our
assistance During this time the large
four story builiing of Segelke & Co. s sash
factory, covering almost block, was in
great danger, but through the faithful
efforts of the firemen was saved. The
humber yards of James Vincent
We're also consumed AT l O'Clock
h ircr within +tNa hlnaEs
of where the fire ri.inated was
entirely consumed. The estimated loss is
$500. 900 to 81, 100000 Abont eighty dwell
ings we're burned, valued at 500 to 81, 800
each, with loss of $4,000 These houses
were mostly owned by foreigners, and
about 400 are made homeless. The fire took
every thing in its path, destroying 20,0JO,oO0
feet OF lumber, lath and shingles Every
building owned by Mr., Colman, including
his large planning mill, dry house, mill Offices,
store-rooms, etc, was completely destroyed.
Mr PauIs loss is confined to his mill and
about 30l,0O0 feet of lumber, The La
| Crosse soap factory suffered loss of 5000
covered by insurance.
The losses are about AS follows: La Crosse
| soap factory, 5000: c. J. Colman $500,
| OG0; John Paul. Sli5,G00; James Vincent,
$1,000; Segelke & Co, sl0,o00 Eighty
| dwelling houses, $4,000, and other buildings
| will swell the loss to somewhere between
| $4,000 and S1,0N,000 The insurance is
about one-quarter of the loss. Mr. Colman,
who is the heaviest loser, did not have a
dollar of insurance Mr. Vincent did not
have dollar 1t is impossible to as ertain
the amount of insurance at this time Col
man 4 Paul have 4O,0o0, 900 feet of lumber
| piled on the island south of the mills, and il
was with difficulty saved, having been on
fire more than 100 timoS Had the wind
been west the whole south portion of the
city would have gone About COO men are
thrown cut of employment as both mills in
tended starting this week, together with
| their branches.
| From all that can be learned it is thought
that the burned district will be rebuilt
Mr.. Colman is on the Pacific coast Moth
| ing definite can be learned until his return.
1t is the fourth time fire has visited him
and each time without insurance The fir,
is completely under control, and no further
damage is feared The Sparta, and Winons
fremen have returned home Every thing
possible is being done for those driven from
their homes by the fire No accidents oc
4 CURED The burnt district covers sevel
blocks. Seven freight cars of the Milwaukee,
& st Paul railway, loaded with lumber
were burned The ladies of the city ar
caring for tine fremen.
A fire at > O'Clock Wednesday morning Il
Gantert's business block on Third stree
caused a total loss of ST 900; insured 70
81, ,0d1 The heaviest losers by this fire ar
George A. MetYger, wholesale drugs SIG
Gao; insurance $1,000; Fred Kroner, $1,000
fully insured; S Gantsrt, furniture, los,
81 ,0D0; fully insured