Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-18
D0DGEVILLE HOLOCAUST.
$50, 900 Worth Of Property Consumed
in Three Hours.
From The Dodgeyillss Chronicle

The most destructive fire occurred
in this city on Thursday morning ever
witnessed in its half century's history.
| At about 3 o'clock in the morning a
small blaze started in the rear end of a
small wooden structure adjoining
Rudersdorf's hotel, which was used as
a supply storage for the kitchen. The
fire was discovered by old lady Pen
gelly, short distance away, soon after
the blaze commenced. The alarm was
given as soon as possible, but before
the sleeping citizens could realize the
situation and get to the fire the wooden
building was blazing from the roof
and threatening the great hotel. The
fire perhaps could have been arrested
here, as the main building was of
brick and high above the fire, but a
large 2story frame paint shop stood
near by, and before it could be pulled
down the fire caught in it and drove
the fireman away, and then it was
obvious the hotel was doomed, and all
turned their attention to saving the
goods within, but only partially sue
ceeded, as but little was saved from
the upper floors.
The wind was from the southwest,
whereas if it had been from almost any
other direction the loss to property
could scarcely be estimated.
The flames Ieaped across Chapel
street to the north and caught the
Good Templars Hall, 3-story frame
owned by Jacob Sahrt, Of Barneveld,
or inip yr-hi hn ctn
wooden building, occupied by the Sun
office up stairs, and by the Eye office
and Wlckham's grocery store on the
lower floor. Adjoining the Sun Office
to the north was the City Hall, in which
were the city and town records above,
and The Chronicle office below. To
the north of The Chronicle office was
Smokers law office, and north Of this,
Davey's paint shop and wall paper
store. Nothing was saved from the
Sahrt building, it being used to store
surplus goods, but great deal Of type
and cases were saved from the Sun and
Eye offices, and about half the goods
from Wickham's store. The Chronicle
saved its books, part of its files, mail
ing type, and nearly all Of its type and
cases and some light articles of furni-
ture. Smokers library was saved, and
Davey's stock of paint and wall paper.
Davey's building was pulled down and
the flames arrested after scorching the
NJ. E. church.
Rudersdorf's loss in hotel consisted
in building and furniture aggregating
near $4,000; Sahrt building two-st0ry
frame, $500; Good Templar fixtures
5000, Sun material consisting of news
paper press, two jobbers, stereotyping
outfit, type and other material, $1,000;
Macarthur, owner of Sun building, law
library, safe, and other fixtures 81 200;
Wickham, grocery store in Sun build
ing, $500; M. d. Peavy, Eye material
$75; city hall building, safe, desks and
other fixtures $1,000; Chronicle news
paper press, jobber, engine and fixtures,
in city hall, 81 400; Smokers building
two story brick, $1,000; Davey's build
ing $500; Smoker & B. F.Davey engine
in Lanes paint shop, $75; Lanes black
smith shop, owned by J. V. Rogers,
$500; Lanes material 800. Strong's
bank on the opposite side of Iowa
street suffered the destruction of all
the large plate glass and other windows
in front, 5000, fully insured, and the
buildings north Of the bank had their
windows shattered.
RuderSdorf insurance on hotel $1,000,
on stock 800;
There was no insurance on the Sahrt
building, nor on the Sun building or
material.
Wickham was insured for 500.
Thc Chronicle for $1,000.
Smoker for $500.
The court house, M. Z. church,
Strong's bank, VIM. Williams dwelling,
John Elvod's building, Hahn's barber
shop, Sands shoe store, Guhl's bakery,
Marr's furniture store, VIM. Johns
flour and feed store were all badly
| scorched and much glass broken in the
| front windows of some of them.
The wells and cisterns in the vicin-
ity were all emptied, and the Ill. Cen
trail engine was run out and filled with
water from the tank and line of
buckets formed to it. VIM. Roberts
dwelling in the course of the wind took
fire once but was put out, and Richard
Arthur's barn half mile away also
caught fire which was extinguished.
There can be no doubt but the fire
originated from pile of ashes placed
too near the hotel shanty.
But for the heroic efforts of the cit
liens John Elvod's building to the south
of the hotel would have been burned,
and with it nearly the whole town.
The firemen are entitled to the ever
lasting gratitude of the people of
Dodgeville, for saving their homes and
their property.