The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-07-07
TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS,
Martin Kime's Building. the Old Walthei
Block, Quilted by the Flames.
big Losses.

| Block, Quilted by the Flames.
Big Losses.
The old Walther building, now owned
by Martin Keim, was Quilted by fire
on Saturday morning last. The flames
were discovered by Mr. Paul Orsinger, the
proprietor of the Vienna bakery, who was
awakened by feeling of suffocation, and
finding bis room filled with thick, binding
smoke, awakened his family and hurried
them out of the building, without even
waiting 10 collect more than a garment or
two of their wardrobe. The occupants of
the rooms on the opposite side of the hall
were also awakened and sustained like
loss of personal effects. The people had
scarce emerged from the smoulderiDg
mass when the flames burst through the
elevator and began licking up the beds
and bedding which they had so lately oc-
cupied, and few moments later the roof
was mass of flames and smoke
The fire department WAS on hand in a
few moments, but 10y the time IL arrived
the whole west side Of the building was a
Smoke poured ont of the cellar doors and
windows of the first and second floors and
filled the streets ana open places for the
distance Of a half block II was dense
black and overpowering, and no one but
the brave tiremen cared to encounter its
death dealing Influence Where the fire
was located and how 10 reach il, were
problems that no one pretended 10 solve
and for nearly three hours the fire depart
ment poured water into the mass before
any perceptibe check was placed upon the
great volume Of SIN IKE, and an intelligent
survey of the field was made possible.
Finally, when the cellar and the first anG
second floors We're veritable pools Of water
the smudge ceased, but 1t was two hours
later, before the last vestage of smoke anC
flames we're extinguished. Then the hose
was allowed TO collapse, and the weary
wet and hungry firemen Toasted on gen
kindly furnished by MIR. W. W. Taylor, OF
the Clifton hotel, who, knowing that {
great service had been done the city, wa
willing TO acknowledge 1t with something
a little more substantial than the stereo-
typed thanks" The fire originated IL
the cellar, back Of and very near the cen
ter of the west side of the building, ant
after burning there for some time, burs
through the back door, and then found IL
+, way into the elevator shaft, which actin.
like great suction pipe, carried the smok,
and flames directly into the second stor,
and TO the roof. A great hole was burne,
in the back part Of the bakery, the stair
leading to the second story were ruined
aud great hole In the roof allows the ali
to circulate in the building without res
tralnt. The plastering in the entire build
ing will have TO be replaced, as will ais,
the whole interior, partitions, floors, etc.
, of the west half of the building, while al
is completely soiled by cold water.
The building had just been newly pa
pered and painted throughout and Mr.
} Keim places his loss at about $1,000 Mr.
Orsinger, whose stock, household furni
ture and family wardrobe were consumed
losses about $500 and Mr.. Metzger ait
the other occupants lose 81 1900, making
the entire loss about $4,000.
Vicar General p. J. Conway died OIL
Sunday last at Chicago, at the age of 5,