The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-29

MILWAUKEE, Wis. Oct. 2s.-lSpe-
cialJ- fire, which started at $50 this
evening in tho Union Oil Company's
store on East Water street, threatens,
at p. M, to destroy the entire whole.
sale business section of Milwaukee east
of tho Milwaukee river below Huron
street. For an hour the fire department
struggled bravely with the elements
which were famed by the gale that Is
blowing at the rate of thirty six miles
an hour. Chief Foley kept the a re con-
fined to one block on East Water street
until o'c ock when it got away from
him and leaped across the street and be.
gan rapid march toward Lake Michi-
igan. six blocks away, cutting down in
short order E. Dohmen & Co., Wholesale
drugs; M. Bloch, Wholesale liquor; Bub
& Kips, seven story building, furniture
factory; Roundy, Peokham & Co., whole
sale grocers; Jacob Wellauer & Co.,
Wholesale grocers; johnson Bros fac.
tory lAmerican Biscuit CompanJ); Ma
tional Distilling Com pany.
At o'clock the flames had crossed
Broadway between Buffalo and Detroit
streets, taking numerous wooden struc-
lures and then advancing to Milwaukee
street
At 8:l5 the flames had reached Jeffor-
son street, three squares from where
they broke out, and are now burning
private residences. The loss will foot
up fullY s5oo,oUo and perhaps more
At S:35 p. In. the fire is spreading.
The city is at this hour in total dark
moss, tho gas works having been burned
The course of the fire changed at s:l5
and 1T now seems likely 10 consume tho
territory between Broad way and Jeffer.
son streets to the east and west branch
OF the Milwaukee river. The fire has
reached the river and tho big Angus
Smith grain elevators are next to fall.
At the Broadway bridge the fire has
Just begun and it is feared that that
portion OF the south side in the ship
yard district will be licked up. Tho
fire department, known all over the
country as one Of the best equipped and
disciplined, Is powerless to stay it's
progress.
Not only is the fire advancing with
the wind on it's mission of destruction,
but 1t has begun TO back up at the point
1t began and where there Is no means OF
staying its progress. Loss threatens to
reach into millions. The freight wards
OF the Chicago and North ives tern road
are reached and whole trains of cars
loaded with merchandise. live stock and
grain arc burning.
9:05 p. m.-The FIRE is still burning
hercely. Several fires have broken out
in other parts Of the city and there are
no engines to respond. The entire lower
part of the Third ward, Inhabited largely
by poor Irish families, is devastated.
About 800 cottages have been destroyed
and the poor people are wandering
about the streets loudly lamenting their
loss. Some plan of relief for them will
no doubt be made, but at this time the
people seem to be so stunned they are
doing nothing.
Alarms are coming in every few
minutes from parts of the city widely
separated and it is thought that firebugs
are helping in tho work OF destruct zion.
The elegant residence OF L. f. Hodges,
member OF the board Of trade, at
Ninth and Cedar streets two miles from
fire district. has been DESTROYED. An
alarm has Just been rung in from the
House of Correction. Up to o'clock
only two fatalities have been reported,
namely, one fireman killed and a woman
suffocated. Frequent gas explosions &C.
cur that shake the whole city. The de-
partment is using dynamite in an effort
to stop the advance of the flames and
several buildings have been blown up.
Alarms arc still being turned in from
widely separated parts OF tho city
Up to IL o'clock the fire has Tapped
up everything in the territory bounded
on the west by the north branch OF the
Milwaukee river, on the east BY tho
lake and on the south by the hal Dor
branch OF the river, twenty. two solid
blocks, five OF which were occupied by
Wholesale houses, factories, distilleries,
otc the rest by residences.
This does not include tho vast wards
Of the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
road Hundreds OF cars were burned
There is no telling at this hour tIl:O5)
what the extent OF fire will be- 1t is ex-
tending south OF Broadway bridge and
backing up Detroit street at the river
and front at the lake.
Insurance men estimate that the en-
tire loss will aggregate S7.OOO.O0O. Up
to this hour 11:a0 p. M the FIRE is still
spreading.
The Races.
w eurxnToy Oct % --JSDoo;,11