The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1892-10-29
SWEPT BY FLAMES
Valuable Property Goes
Skyward in Smoke.
MILWAUKEE'S BIG LOSS
Hearty q Dozen Blocks Of Bulldinsi
Wiped Out Of Existence.
FOUR HUMAN LIVES LOST
Six Million Dollars Worth OF Prop.
erty Destroyed and Hum
dreds OF Families Rem
dored Homeless.

MILWAUKEE. Oct. 2s.-This city tonight
was visited by the most devastating fire in
its history. Four lives were certainly lost
and possibly moro. Conservative insur-
ance men estimate the loss not less than
S6.00o.o00. The flames. which started in
the Union Oil company's building on East
Water street, near Detroit street, were
famed by furious gale and swept east-
nothing could stay their resistless
rush. Dynamite was used but with
out effect. Mighty pillows of
flame swept over blocks Of buildings,
jumped across streets and lcaped over the
river. Thousands of people viewed tho
grand spectacle. All sorts of conveyances
loaded with belongings of the people on
whose homes tho flames were rushing.
The entire fire department was powcr!css.
Chicago. Racine and other cities were
asked for assistance and by 10 O'Clock
engines and firemen from out Of town
wcro beginning to arrive.
More than II blocks of solid territory,
including much of the most extensive
| wholesale district, have been burned over
and nearly 20 buildings. two-thirds of
which were frame residences, have faded
into smoke.
As fast as tissue paper. the fire started
between 8 30 and 40 o'clock in q store
| occupied by the Union Oil company, at
275 East Water street. At the time three
fires In various sections OF tho city called
many engines out, SO II was Is minutes
before q response was made to the alarm
sent from the corner of Detroit and East
Water streets. In short time seven or
eight streams were directed upon the
flames. There was a series Of explosions.
but in half an hour after fire tug and q
|-Slsscn-- enRtuev~~wes6 playing upon
the fire. and the belief was
general that the flames were under
control. II seemed as IL the very current
of the Milwaukee river was being emptied
on the red brick block. II was stated that
the fire was caused by an explosion of an
oil barrel. how is not known.
Thousands of people. attracted by the
continued alarms. reached the conclusion
that il was not much OF O fire after all,
and went home. That was about 40 ID.
m. Only black smoke issued from tho
buildings. Fifteen minutes later the tired
fremen began to feel the enemy getting
out of their grasp. Renewing their efforts
they fought with desperation.
beyond Control.
All efforts were useless. The gale was
blowing so miles IN hour. driving the
scorching heat and smoke Of the burning
oil out into the faces of the flremcn. defy
ing all water In the Milwaukee river. and
seeming only to gain in power as the
stream was emptied into it's jaws. was too
much for them. The fire gained footing
In the adjoining store Of Dohemen q Co.
1t was then it got beyond all human efforts
to stay II.
AT Z o'clock the big upholstery factory
of the Bubb Kipp company, facing on
Broadway, almost fully block away,
began 10 blaze. Tho fire had started with
the wind in the northeast, but Il now
veered almost due east and merchants in
the business section of the east side grew
fearful. A thousand streams could not
stay the fire in its march Of destruc-
tion toward the lake. The walls
of the thrce-story brick building
on Broadway formerly occupied
by the Cracker trust. hut then vacant, be
gan to tottcr and warning voices urged
the crowd back just in time. The whole
front of the building was pitched into the
streets. A few moments Later the sides
fell outward. People in that part OF the
Third ward realized that their homes were
doomed. There was n stampede of resi-.
dents into the streets, all armed with fur
niture. cats, dogs and all manner OF
household utensils and bedding. and ve-
hicles OF every kind were hurrying away
with the belongings of the people whose
homes were soon to be in ruins.
The flames had jumped across the stores
on the east side of East Water street and
had taken newer grip in the big factory.
Five minutes more and Jacob Wellaner &
Co.'S. wholesale grocery store on road.
way. directly opposite. was in flames. II
seemed as IL q mountain of fire rolled
across Broadway on the instant Not a
building on East broadway was IN flames
and next a rolling wave of fire swep,
across the street and descended on the
buildings opposite. In q moment they
were wrapped in flames.
Making Clean Sweep.
Meanwhile the flames had gone over the
ground they formerly missed in the store
of j. p. Kissin2cr & Co.. and tho Milwau.
kec Art Glass works in the opposite block
in which IL had originated. Wellauer
block. seven stories high, was soon In
flames. with the Milwaukee Chair Co.'S
vacant building and the wholesale grocery
store of Boundy. Pcckham a. Co., and oil
on the broad avenue.
Wlud A.sls,. the rtsmes