The record-union., 1892-10-29

ern Railroad, together with the round
house and its valuable contents of rolling
stock. The end of the freight sheds, on
the corner of Jefferson and Chicago
streets, was the first 20 ignite, and the
flames soon spread AL over the yards,
burning freight cars and everything be-
fore it. The company soon had force
at work saving its property. The loco
motives and many freight cars were
taken out of harms way.
Having cut its path over to Jackson
street from Broadway the fire was now
following the south wind down Broad
way. down Jefferson street, down Mil
waukee street and along Broadway. 1t
swept to the Waiseland 4 BoIter Manu-
featuring Company's plant at Chicago
street and to No. 10 engine-house on
Broadway.
When it reached Waiseland & Bolters
plant the department had resorted to an
attempt to cut it off with dynamite
Three kegs were placed in the building.
having been stored there to await the
coming of the flames. AS each went off
in close succession cry went up from
thousands who blocked the streets for a
radius of mile that the gas works had
exploded.
1t was about $50 o'clock when the first
building on the northwest corner OF the
Milwaukee Gas Company's plant began to
burn. The gas works occupy territory
bounded by Milwaukee, Menonomie and
Erie streets and an alley between Jef1er-
son and Jackson streets. The gas went
out in many parts OF the city, and it was
feared the works We're doomed, but at II
o'clock the great oil tanks were still
intact.
Bethel Home, near the gasworks,
caught fire soon after. Wirth & Ham
mel's livery stable, on Broadway, con-
tanning a hundred horses, was in the
path of the flaming cyclone. Some of the
horses were taken away, while number
stampeded. The Laura Catlin Kinder
garten also succumbed, dispite the dyna-
mite. Around Erie street the George
Toepher Iron Foundry and the Riede-
berg Vinegar Works were destroyed, to-
gether with innumerabie small build
ings, saloons and residences.
The valuable property ofthe Milwaukee
/ ~
When the fire began to head that way the
tanks were sunk below the level, leaving
nothing combustibIe above surface. The
flames almost encircled the works with
out communicating to them.
The fire spent itself on the extreme
eastern side, when it destroyed the Han
sen elevator. At midnight it was thought
to have doEe its worst, but the flames
were still raging among the acres of burn
ing and smoking ruins. Hansen's malt
house. within a few rods of the border of
Lake Michigan. with an adjoining ele-
vator, made brilliant display when they
caught at l2:30. Leidertorf's in the back
and most of the shops in the block be-
tween Buffalo and Erie streets were on
fire.
1t is rumored that some lives were lost
in Bub * kip's factory, as many EN-
plOyes were at work when the flames de-
scended so suddenly on the big building.
Up to a late hour two dead firemen had
been brought to the Morgue. A woman
about 40 years of age sought refuge in the
Third " ard schOolhouse, and died from
heart disease. Her name and address
were not learned.
The territory burned out is IN the shape
Of an obtuse triangle, with its apex at
Blade Il Co.'s on the river. the upper side
of Detroit street, lower Menonomie street
to the aiver, and the base on Lake Michi-
gan. Roughly stated, it is a space two
thirds of mile wide and three-quarters
of a mile long.
The militia did good service during the
night aiding the police to perform guard
duty. Captain Davis of the United States
revenue cutter Johnson rendered his
crew to Chief Foley for use in fighting
the fire. They were gratefully accepted
and did effective work.
Leading insurance men say about half
the loss is covered by insurance. They
estimate the principal losses as follows;
Bubb q kipp, furniture, 100000: J. L.
Patton & Co., oils and paints, $3.50, 900; j.
7. kissinger, wholesale liquors, $4,000;
Milwaukee Mirror Works, S50, 1000; B.
Leindersdorf, tobacco, $25O,000; Gugler
Lithograph Company, Sl00,000 Roundy,
Beckham y Co., wholesale produce,
S500,0O0;, H. 5. Cheftal Il Co.,
wholesale grocers, 100000; J. Well
more Il Co., wholesale grocers,
$780, 900; Milwaukee Chair Company,
S250000; Northwestern y freight-houses,
contents and cars. $500, 900: Lake Shore
and Western freight-houses, 50,0O0; Nc
Landen Hotel, 600; Phuger & Co., con-
fectionery, $4,000; Sauer u Co., glove
manufacturers, $4,000; fifty smaller busi-
ness houses, $500, 900; five hundred dwell
ings and cottages, $500, ,000; +. p. Dohmen
d Co., druggs, $50, 900: WeiseI & Viiter.
machinery. 100000; Toepter q Sons, ma
chinery, $4,000 Bayley & Sons, machin-
cry, $4,000; Busch Bros, grocers, so, 600;
Formaker Il Bro, confectionery, S25. 600;
Delaware & Quentin, tool shop, S35, 600:
Milwaukee Bag Company, $50, 900; A. J.
Hilbert q Co., tiavoring extracts, $40, 900.
The most brilliant feature of the fire
was the burning of the elevator and malt
houses of the Hansen Malt Company.
The elevator, after smoking from the
upper windows, suddenly burst into
flame, and from the lower windows to the
top the high ventilating house was all
anlaZe. AS a heavy blast of wind struck
it the flames swept clear across the street,
and in an instant the malt house proper,
with the tall tower, broke out in spots of
flickering fire.
The elevator was SO strongly built that
it maintained its form long after the
hottest period was passed. and from the
lower hoors burning grain poured into
the streets like the downpour Of Niagara.
Then from the windows of the large
malthouse and from the caves came Jets
Of bright flame, gas from heated salt. 1t
was not long before the entire building
was ablaze and the roar was tremendous.
The large ventilating wheel in the face of
the upper story was burning and whirl-
ing away like a huge st. GATHERINGS
wheel.
Fifteen long trains of freight cars stood
on the \ Northwestern tracks. When the
billow Of fire leaped across Van Buren,
street and touched the south end OF the
freight-house million dollars worth of
railroad property was doomed The
south end OF the frelght-house was filled
with oil. Soon the smell Of burning pc
troleum filled the air. and the volley of
thes ploslons shook the earth.
The low brick freight-house stayed the
onward sweep Of the flames but only for
moment. Through the square win
dows the red glow could be seen, and an