The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-08
FIRE EATLACROssE.

LACROSSE, Wis, April 6.-One Of the
most disast"ou confagrations that ever
visited here broke out at 10 O'Clock this
morning in John Paul's mill, and swept
south destroying several mills and several
thousand feet of lumber belonging to Mr..
Paul Thence it swept to the yards and
mill of @. H. Coleman, destroying every
thing to the river bank, for two blocks
southwark. The loss up to noon is esti-
mated at $250,00O.
The flames are still blazing from one
pile to another, despite the efforts of the
entire fire department, all steamers
brought into service, and all power that
water works and local hydrants. The fire
originated from sparks from mill stack
or from furnace, and in an instant the
blaze grew into roaring confagration.
$40 p. m.--The fire was brought under
control, at o'clock with the help of
the Winona and Sparta fire departments.
The total area burned over is five blocks
long, and a block and half wide. Eight
dwelling houses were burned, besides mills
and lumber. The total loss is placed at
from $50O,O00 to $1,000,000; only half
insured. One thousand men are thrown
out of employment.
There was no staying the progress of
the flames, which jumped to great piles of
lumber and in an hour made seething
sea of fire, against the heat of which no
fireman could stand. The wind was blow
ing fresh from the north. At noon the
situation had become appalling, the
flames still moving steadily southwestern
&c Ao ata ho 40 ot Gnlam N q
mill proved futile. The immense struc-
ture was soon mass of fire. The great
mill adjoining also caught and the adjoin-
ing property was threatened. The work
men and fire department then turned their
attention toward Cass street. where a
force of men were set to work to tear
down the lumber piles so that the flames
might be stopped there. All hope of saw
ing the immediate property was aban-
doned. A train of thirteen box cars, be-
longing to the Milwaukee 81 st. Paul road,
was threatened and eight of them con
sumed.
At o'clock p. m. it was evident the
fire was gaining on the men.
At 9 p. IN. it was evident that the large
factory of Segelke, Kehlhaus 81 Co. was
doomed. The blaze broke out in the store
house of the sash factory on Second street
causing complete flame of fire for one
block in length. From the store house
and sheds the buildings burned with light
ming rapidity, and people on the east side
of Second street began moving out. The
heat became so intense on Second street
from Cass street, south, that people
we're driven from that quarter. From
the vicinity the flames and smoke
leaped in all directions. The scene
was not only awful in appearance, bu
grand in magnitude and extent. Thous
ands of bundles of shingles, windoY
sashes, etc., were saved from Segehsf
Kohlhaus d Co.'s warerooms. At o'clocl
the work of tearing down the lumber o.
j. Vinent was commenced, in the hope o
checking the rapid progress of the fire
the flames gaining control of large ware
house on Cass street and progressed rapid
ly, despite the work of the fremen ant
hundreds of citizens, who worked hare
and faithfully. 1t soon became eviden
that the buildings on Cass street as well
those Oh Second street we're doomed.