Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-03-01

DESTROYED BY FIRE.-Last Sunday
morning between six and eight o'clock
the house of Mr.. j. w. Hughes, OF this
city, was burned to the ground with
nearly all its contents. Mr.. Hughs is
mail agent, running between Lancaster
and Milwaukee. The house was one
formerly owned and occupied by Mr..
S. Mitchell and is located in the north
end of town. 1t was pretty two story
brick and though one of the oldest
houses in the town, had been
kept in such good repair, that it
looked like modern house and was
substantial enough to have outlasted
many of the recent structures. The
fire originated it is supposed in the fol-
lowing manner; Mrs. Hughes had been
Ill Tor sometime and in the sitting room
stove a fire had been kept up night and
day for some weeks The children also
have been sick with measles for several
days, and for the two nights preceding
the fire Mr.. Hughes had been sitting up
TO watch them. Saturday night he fell
asleep on the couch and waking about
three o'clock found the fire burned low
and thought that was good time for
removing the accumulation Of ashes
In carrying the ashes through the kitch-
en- it is supposed that the draft caused
by opening the door, scattered sparks
which caught something infamable and
smouldered for several hours before the
breaking out into flame. After rekind-
ling the fire Mr.. Hughes lay down on
the longe again and fell asleep. Toward
morning the smoke filled the house and
wakened Mrs. Hughes who called her
husband. Convinced at once that the
house was on fire Mr.. Hughs' first
thought was to secure the safety of his
wife and children before he attempted
to put out the fire. Wrapping them in
blankets he carried them in his arms to
the nearest neighbours, Mrs.
Manning's. failing to arouse
her, he pushed the door in and
placed them inside. He then aroused
Mr.. Diesel and Joe Acorn, who with
the assistance of DIR Barber and Charlie
Ostaf, succeeded in getting the fire
under control by throwing water and
snow into the kitchen. Suddenly the
flames burst out afresh, caused, it is
supposed, by the explosion of can of
kerosene oil in a closet opening out of
the kitchen. Up to this time the fire
had been confined 10 the kitchen, which
was an addition to the main part of the
house. Had they realized the danger
at first the kitchen might have been torn
down and Il &, house saved. But now
flames were rapidly communicated
throughout the whole building which
was soon past saving The alarm was
given and the fire engine brought out
but the water supply was 50 limited
that no effective work could be done.
and the entire building was soon con-
sumed Very little of the household
furniture was saved, and nearly all of
the wearing apparel of the family was
burned. S7S SO in money that Mr.
Hughes had received the night before
and gold watch belonging to Mrs.
Hughes were also destroyed Mr..
Hughes meets the misfortune cheerfully
and says he will rebuild as soon as
possible. The insurance on the house
is 5000 and on the furniture 5000. Mr..
Hughes and his family are staying with
Mrs. Manning who has kindly taken
them in until they can make other ar
engagements. Mr.. Hughes and wife
have the sympathy of all their friends
in this misfortune, which they take with
good natured pluck and courage that
commands admiration.