The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-29
BIG FIRE AT MILWAUKEE.
Loss of Nearly Ten Million Dollars-Mar
Persons Rendered Homeless-

Loss of Nearly Ten Million Dollars-Man
Persons Rendered Homeless
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MILwAUKEE. Oct 2S-All the southern
section of Milwaukee is in ruins. A dread
full confagration started early in the even
ing and is still in progress. Never In the
history of the city has such o calamity be-
fallen it. Acres of land, embracing the
great manufacturing districts of the city,
have been devastated and now lie Q mass
of smolderIng ruins. Almost the entire
southern division. from East Water street
to the lake. has been consumed. The loss
Is estimated all the way from five to
thirty five millions. but ten will probably
cover 1t
The FIRE broke out near the corner of
East Water and Detroit streets. at about
$3.50 o'clock, and the alarm was immediate
~ sent in, but owing to the terrible high
winds. which swept eastsrly towards the
lake, the buildings in this vicinity were
speedily consumed, and the fire spread
with bewildering rapidity. Flying cin-
ders dashed and sped on through tho
night air like o mammoth pyrotechnic
display. Scattering in their fight.
they landed upon the roofs of
the large manufacturing establish
ments, the pride of the city, and
in few minutes building after building
was gutted and huge walls cracked and
tumbled to the ground. The firemen ex-
hausted their efforts and battled manfully.
but it was i'm pos bic to get the mastery of
the flames, which sped on with the violent
winds almost directly east tapping up
block after block. In such an alarmin g
situation all efforts of the FIRE department
were almost futile. Telegrams were quick
Iy dispatched to Chicago. Racine and near
or cities for aid. all of which responded
promptly. 1t is utterly impossible at mid
night TO estimate the loss of life and prop
erty, which must be considerable.
At 0 o'clock the captain of the life-saving
station reported the loss of four of his men,
who are said to have been crushed beneath
the debris of falling walls on Broad way.
Shortly before 8 o'clock the various depart
meuts of the Gns-wOrks ex ploded in quick
succession with deafening reverberations.
All the North western freight buildings and
cars along the track are destroyed. Sew
eral squads of militia have been called out
to protect valuables from robbing
marauders.
During the course of the fire q number OF
barns and large livery stables were burned
These were filled with horses, which were
liberated by tho police. The horses ran
wildly about the streets. and before they
could be caught q number of persons were
run down and badly hurt. The wires OF
the electric railways are down. and the tel
ephone system is badly crippled.
SEVERAL LIVES PROBABLY LOST.
From reports coming in 1t would seen
thnt the number of lives lost will be con
siderable. All the evening men, womer
and children crowded the streets endeav-
oring to save their property from the
doomed dwellings. Men rushed frantic
ally from store TO store In the wholesale
district, appropriating wagons or cart,
with which TO remove their goods. Citi
gems from all parts OF the city assisted il
| the work. and men dressed in expensiv,
! clothes and wearing silk hats could b,
seen by the score pushing pulling ex
press wagons or huge delivery truck
loaded down with furniture of all kinds
| The streets of the metropolis of Wisconsin
were flled with pushing and scram bin,
mass OF humanity, nearly every one beini
loaded down with household utensils. 4
reporter. whose home was ono of thos
burned. seeing the direction of the fire
hurried to his house 10 remove his sicI
mother and save what he could of the fur
piture. Though he had but four blocks L
10. before he reached the place the build,p