Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-30
M|LWAUKEE'S BIG FIRE,
Blackness and DesOlatiOn in
The Cream City.
Many Acres Of Buildings Laid
in Smoking Ruins.
The Losses Foot Up Nearly Six
Million Dollars.
Twenty-Five Hundred People Homeless.
Only Five Lives Lost--Oontribu-
tions for the Relief of the
Needy Pouring In.
By the Associated Press. ]

i
black pail of smoke hovered over tn,
great area, relieved here and there b.
lambent tongues of fame, tapping, rec
like the tongue of some monster car
nivorous animal hungry for more prey
but the destroyer had received his deatE
blow and was powerless to inflict further
injury. Where last night stood stately
business houses with their wealth O
merchandise, the little homes
of the working poor, and al
that goes to make up the life of greai
city, was today heap of hot and smok
| ing ruins. In IL hours, from 6 O'Clock
last night, was crowded destruction that
| will take more than as many months to
repair and much of:the work wrought by
the flames can never be restored.
| Starting in the store of the Union Oil
company on East Water street, the fire
swept before fierce gale over 13 blocks
of business houses and residences, more
than 800 houses in all, and caused a
loss of five lives and $4,000, 900 worth OF
property. The fire was this morning
entirely under control, but the ruins in
places were still burning fiercely, and it
will be several days before the last spark
is extinguished.
The gas works were in imminent dan
ger, but BY good management they were
fortunately saved almost intact, and
within day or two the city will have
it's usual gas supply.
ESTIMATE OF THE LOSSES.
Following are the estimated losses on
business houses Bud & Kip, furniture,
$500, 600; ]. e. Patton & Co., oils and
paints, $3.50, 600; J.P. Kessinger, whole
sale liquors, SIS, 900; Milwaukee mirror
works, $4,000; Blesdersdorf, tobacco,
| $50, 900; Roundy, Peckham & Co.,
wholesale grocers. $500. 600; H. s. Hef-
| tells & Co., wholesale grocers, 5000, 900
j. Welliner & Co., Wholesale grocers
| 5000, 900; Milwaukee Chair company
$250.000; III. Reidenberg & Co., vinegar
| 100000; Milwaukee Gas works, $500,
600; Hansen Mailing Co., 5000, 900
Johnson Cracker works, 100000; Union
Oil company, $4,000; Bloches & Co.,
wines, $50 600; National Distilling COM
psny, $4,000, E. H. M. Dohem,
& Co.. drugs, $l50,000; Weissel
q Miller, machinery, 100000 /;
Toepfer & Son, machinery, 100000
Bayley & Son, machinery, 50000; In
busch Bros, wholesale grocers, $780,
600; Ferneckes & Bros, confectionery.
| $4,000; De Lorme & Quentin, toilet
soaps, $4,000; Milwaqkse Bag
company. $4,000; A. J. Hilbert &
Co.., favoring extracts. $4,000; !;
Northwestern railroad, 100000; Mil
waukee, Lake Shore and Western,
Pfuger & Co., confectionery, $25 1000 !;
E0 1,,osv,aoa 1ox,aoe eco mn, EO0
dwellings. barns, cottages, etc., $500, 900.
Total, So, 1926 900.
THE INSURANCE.
The aggregate of the Insurance carried
on the burned property, exclusive of
that carried by the Northwestern rail-
road, which has blanket policy, is
81, ,250, 600, divided among about 175
companies. Secretary Wilson of the
Underwriters' association says all losses
will be paid; no company will be Grip
pied.
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
It is known that five lives were lost
and four people seriously hurt. The
killed are Henry Peddenbrock and
Charles Starr, firemen, crushed under
falling wells; Mrs. Kalahan, and an un'
unown woman, who died from the effects
| of the shock.
The fifth corpse, that of an unknown
man. crushed by falling wall, is at the
morgue.
1t is feared that the watchman of the
Bud & Kipp company was burned in the
factory. That the loss of life is 30 small
is cause for congratulation.
PROMPT OUTSIDE HELP.
It was shortly after O'Clock when
Mayor Somers saw that he needed help
He at once telegraphed the adjutant
general for militia, and Waukesha, Osh
kosh, Kenosha, Racine and Chicago fol
fire apparatus. Prompt replies were
received in every instance, and the fire
men from outside did efficient work, al
did the militia in the way of guarding
| property, keeping the crowds back an(
rescuing endangered persons.
THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
An accurate count tonight shows that
there were 465 buildings burned. Resi-
dents Of the ward, familiar with itl
population, say the families will average
seven persons each. 1t is conservative
estimate to say 2500 persons are home
less.
The 250O homeless people are all
sheltered under hospitable roofs tonight
Many were taken into private dwellings
while others sought the shelter oi
churches and school houses. Money fol
the relief of the sufferers is pouring ir
from all parts Of the United States, ani
the local business men are contributing
literally. Every one of the unfortunate
Third warders will be well cared for.
Nearly all are poor and have lost th'
little all they possessed, and are de
pendent on outside help.
FUNDS FOR THE NEEDY.
| Several hundred business men assem-
bled at the board Of trade this morning
to raise funds for the fire sufferers.
q short time nearly $5O, 900 in subscrir
tions was announced, among them $500
from F. D. Armour, Chicago 1900 eac
from the Wisconsin Fire and Marin