The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-10-31
Twenty Blocks of Buildings i'm the
Heart Of Milwaukee Burned
49,.
to the Ground.
Total Money Loss Estimated at Seven
Million Dollars Five Fatalities
Reported.
Five Hundred Residences In the Burned
District Three Thousand
Homeless.

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 8l.--Morning broke
on scene of desolation such as the
Cream City has never before witnessed
during its corporate existence. Twenty
blocks, twelve hours before covered with
magnificent buildings devoted to manu-
fRcture, trade and commerce, were a
mass of smouldering ruins, and where
800 residences, the homes of 5000 people
stood, there was nothing save piles Of
blackened bricks and smoking rafters.
The loss in money will probably not
exceed $1,000, 900, on which there is
about s2, 500, 900 insurance; but the col
lateral damages, the immense shock to
business, and the inconvenience and
positive suffering entailed upon resi-
dents and business men cannot be COM
puted. Every effort will be made, how
ever, TO relieve distress, and even while
the confiagration was at Its height,
Mr.. p. Bacon, president of the chamber
of commerce, issued call for meeting
of citizens of Milwaukee at the chamber
of commerce at o'clock O. m, to take
measures for the relief of people
left homeless and destitute by the fire.
The call was not addressed to the men,
bers OF the chamber of commerce only,
but to all citizens who are ready to join
in this work Of imminent necessity.
Hundreds of families are left shelterless
and with nothing but the clothing worn
when they fed from the swift pursuit OF
the devastating flames. Immediate
measures for their relief must be adopted
and the meeting showed an attendance
and spirit worthy of the city. Prompt
and generous action was demanded to
prevent great numbers Of worthy people
from suffering for lack Of food and
shelter.
Tho Germania society also held .
meeting and decided to turn over all
the money received at its fair next week
to the citizens committee to be used for
the benefit of the fire sufferers.
Half the Third Ward Gone.
UndyOA ooAuCx5 bdlus az ASdBb OU6~
dali of the Third ward is burned away,
and think that fully three thousand
people are homeless. The loss cannot
be estimated. We are especially thank
full to the cities of Chicago, Kenosha,
Racine and Oshkosh for their prompt
aid in sending fire apparatus. The citi-
zens have organized relief committee. !"
The history Of the fire, great as it was,
may be briefly recounted as follows:
There Were several alarms during the
afternoon for fires, all of them the re-
suit of the heavy gale of wind that
sprang up shortly before noon and in
creased until at 8 o'clock it reached q
velocity OF about ffty miles per hour.
Between 8 and 8 o'clock there were Eve
alarms, and the fire department, includ-
ing the fire tug, was called in various
parts of the city, when shortly before 8
o'clock an alarm was sent in from the
box at the corner of Detroit and East
Water streets. 1t was for fire in the
Union Oil Company's store at 275 East
Water street, situated on the west side
of the street about midway between
Detroit and Buffalo streets, the rear of
store being on the river. The fire orig
mated from an explosion of something
in the cellar. Fed by the infiammable
stock it soon spread through the three
upper floors. It was ten minutes be-
fore the first fire engine coming
from smaller fire some distance away,
had reached the scene, and by that time
the entire building was in flames. From
this point the flames spread until the
lower part of the Third ward was
burned over, causing loss Of nearly
81, ,00O, ,000 The insurance is estimated
at ~, SOC, 900. AT least three thousand
people are homeless.
At $40 a. m. 1t was announced that
the fire WINS under control, having
burned over about twenty squares, de-
stroying about sixty stores and factories
and about FIVE hundred residences.
Loss Of Life Very Small.
Notwithstanding the marvellous rapid
ity with which the fire spread and the
numerous fall Of brick walls theiniuries
and loss Of life were surprisingly small,
and 1t is believed that not more than
four or FIVE persons lost their lives, al
though the removal OF the debris may
disclose other victims. Those known to
be killed are: Henry Pruddenbuck and
Charles Stahr, firemen; Mrs. Callahan,
widow, and an unknown woman, who
was suffocated by smoke. There are
many persons at the emergency hospital.
Two of these are seriously injured and
may die,
Like the Chicago Fire.
Those who saw the Chicago fire can
realize what Milwaukee has suffered.
II was the same thing on smaller
scale. The cold wind was furious, and
before building had been half burned
It would totter and fall, a cloud Of burn
ing brands and sparks going high above
the smoke to chow where it had fallen.
The great flames would reach out