Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-11-03
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Destructive ConfiAgration at Milwaukee,
The Loss over Ten Millions Dollars
some of the sufferers


The Loss over Ton Millions Dollars
some Of the sufferers.
MLwAUKEE, Oct 2g.--Scores OF
blocks OF Milwnukee's largest business
firms, together with hundreds Of frame
houses, were destroyed by fire last
night Commencing Ia an establish.
ment on East water street, next TO the
river, the flames driven by the fearful
hurricane that was blowing spread with
frightful rapidity TO the lake over half
a mile 10 the east II Is utterly impos-
sible to estimate the loss with any de-
gree OF accuracy Even complete list
OF the big business houses cannot be
obtained, while to these must be added
the small individual losses OF hundreds
OF small property owners whose houses
and household goods have been de-
stroyed
The tract burned Is over half mile
wide east and west and mile north
and south. Commencing in the estab-
lishment OF the Union Oil Co at 275
Water street, the fire was burning
flercely when the city department
reached the scene. Owing to the hurri-
cane that was blowing the men were
utterly unable TO do anything and for
any practical results might as well have
done nothing. In spite of this the men
worked bravely and did all in their
| power risl,ing their lives in the burn
ing buildings and endeavoring by tear
ing down blocks in advance OF the path
Of the fire to check It. This was in
vain, and all night long the flames con-
tinued along their way from the estab-
lishment on East Water street
Where the blaze started the path OF
the fire was in the shape OF an immense
Y, the connecting point Of the two bars
being in the oil establishment, with
one line extending directly east to the
lake, the other running to the lake in
southerly direction. Through immense
factories, from four TO seven stories
high, which were supposed TO be fire.
proof, the flames spread with as much
ease as through the frame cottages,
which they attacked further cnst After
wiping out the factories and Wholesale
establishments the fire found easy prey
N the scores Of blocks filed with
frame houses, which extend east of
Milwaukee street
From here the flames leaped to the
freight house of the Milwaukee, Lake
Shore & Western These caught In the
extreme southern end and in a moment
were ablaze along their whole length,
over two blocks Adjoining the depots
were the freight yards Of the same rail-
road, as well as of the Chicago q North
western. These yards were filed with
hundreds Of loaded cars, all Of which
were quickly consumed As soon as IL
was seen that the yards were in Che
path of the holocaust score Of switch
engines were set at work 10 endeavor
to get the loaded cars out Of the yards |
As soon as the destruction Of the rail- |
road yards was assured, the wind, as
though prompted 10y malice, veered |
from west to northwest. Had Il re- |
mained in the west, the flame would |
have exhausted itself in the lake. Chief |
Foley kept the fire confined to one
block on East Water street until 7 |
o'clock, when it got away from him and |
leaped across the street and began
rapid march toward Lake Michigan, six
blocks away.
The entire lower part of the Third
ward, inhabited largely by poor Irish
families is devasted. About 800 dwell
ings have been destroyed and the poor
people have been wandering about the
streets loudly lamenting their losses
Some plan for the relief OF them will
no doubt be made, but at this time peo-
pie seem to be stunned and are doing
At 10 o'clock the gas works were
burning and frequent explosions oc.
Cured that shook the whole city The
lights went out The department used
dynamite in an effort to stop the ad-
vance of the flames and several build
ings were blown up.
During the course Of the fire n num-
ber of barns and largo livery stables
were burned. These were filled with
horses, which were liberated by the
police. The horses ran wildly about
the streets and before they could be
caught a number of persons were run
down and badly injured.
From reports now coming In II would
seem that the number of lives lost will
be considerable.
The losses will reach Si0, 900, O0O
At 2:f0 o'clock this morning the fire
was under control
Leading insurance men say that
about half of the loss Is covered by in
iurance. Some Of the losses are as fol-
ows; Bubb q Kipp, furniture, $4,000;
Mof4 4 q, ,,af,,+c aud ,s1s spzO Oao. [
J. p. kissinger, wholesale liquors. ass.
400: Milwaukee mirror works $50
100; b. Leedersdorf. tobacco, $780, ,
100; Mugler Lithograph com
,any sl50.00O, Roundy, Becltham & Co,
wholesale products, s85, 900, II. Scher-
els & Co, wholesale grocers, 600, 600;
J. Wcllmure & Co, wholesale grocers,
s200, coo; Milwaukee Chair company,
i250, coo; Northwestern freight houses.
contents and cars, $500, 600; Milwaukee
lake Shore and Western freight
louses, S250,000; p. Flugo & Co. con-
cctioneries. $4,000; Siuer & Co.
-loves, $4,000; fifty smaller business
500, 600; 500 dwellings and
.ottages, $4,000; I. T. Dosmen & Co,
1850 600; Wecsel & Nitier, machinery, {
100000; Toepncr Eisens, machinery, {
10000: Baylcy Il Sons, machinery. $50,
100; lnbusch Bros, grocers. $3.50, coo; .
'enelSer & Broconfrcd, $4,000; Della $
ware s. Quentin, tool shops, $3.50, 900;
dilwaulzee Bag Co, $50 900; A J. Hill :
'ert & Co, iavoring extracts, $1,000.
Proved Failure.
NASHVILLE Tenn. Oct 29.-The race