Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-09-19
FIRE AT FLORENCE.
The Busy Little Mining Town Suffers
Heavy Loss-TwO Blocks Burned Over
-Fifty-six Buildings Swept Out of Ex-
istence-The Loss Estimated at $780,
OOO-Names of the Losers

FLORENCE, Wis, Sept. 15.-Fire broke
out at 2 P. NJ. yesterday in shed in the
rear of the post-otfice on Central
Avenue. A strong southwest
wind was blowing and the fire
rapidly spread to adjoining build
ings, destroying every structure on
both sides of the block between Nor
way and Cyclops. Filty-six buildings in
ali.
No rain had fallen for six weeks and
everything was very dry, which, aided
by the high wind, caused the
flames TO sweep through the
two blocks With the swiftness
Florence Avenue, caught fire and was
destroyed, as was also W. Z. MAINS liv-
cry stable and dwelling on CycIops
Street. so great was the speed OF the
fiery devastation that except In
few instances no steps could
be taken to remove goods and valuables,
and many goods which were taken out
of the burning buildings were greatly
damaged.
The tiremen worked hard to save
property, and tour streams of water
were employed. They could only pre-
vent the ire from spreading beyond
the two entire squares. The opera house,
large two-stOry frame structure,
escaped destruction, although it caught
fire several times. Had this building
burned the western portion of the city
would undoubtedly have been wiped
out of existence. The losses Will aggre-
gate fully $4,000 and the insurance
about $2O,U0U.
The individual losses are:
ID WI
surance, $1,000.
Ii. ID. Fisher, two buildings, loss, ST.
600; insurance unknown FISHER is in
Wyomlng).
W. II. Clark, building, loss, $500; in
surance, SOU.
Loss on post-office fixtures. $500.
A. X. Godshall d Co., hardware and
furniture, two buildings, loss, 5000; in
surance, $1,000.
j. Tobin, building, loss $500; insur-
ance, 1870.
McNair q Baird, groceries, loss, SIS, 500;
insurance, S., 2OU. (rhls firm saved con-
siderable stock.
Florence Hotel, A. Peltier, proprie-
tor, loss, 5000; no insurance.
j. Gordon, dry goods, loss, SIS, 200; in
surance, $1,000.
j. Morrison, two vacant buildings.
loss, s., sou; no insurance.
w. W. Harris u Co.. groceries, loss,
$50; 20 insurance.
Omer Huff, carpenter shop and barn,
loss, 81 POO; no insurance.
Avenue House, L. Z. Tully. proprietor,
loss, So, 900; no insurance.
W. Z. Main, livery and dwelling, loss,
ST 500; no insurance.
Winkler d Campbell, barn and logging
outfit, loss, 81 100; no insurance.
: Q. Pendleton, logging outfit, loss, $500;
no insurance.
Chas. Loughrey, barn. loss $500.
VIM. Franklin and James Raw, fur
niture, loss $500; no insurance.
]. E. Parry, cigars, loss, 5000.
Charles Peterson, register Of deeds
and insurance, loss, $500; insurance,
soc.
J. NJ. Saxton, furniture, loss, $500.
The Knights Of Labor, whose hall is
in Hutt's carpenter SHOP, lost every
thing. There are many other small
losses.
The fire was gotten under control at
$3.50 O'Clock. Inc contiagration was a
terrible one to Florence, and it will
take years to recover from it. The ma
jority of the victims will rebuild at once,
but some have been rendered penniless
The fire was probably incendiary.