Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-01-04
TANNERIES AND CAR BARNS.
Milwaukee Loses Over $500, 900 in
Twenty-fOur Hours by Fire.

Milwaukee Loses over S5OO,OOO in
Twenty-four Hours by Fire.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Dec. 28.-Two lives
at least were sacrificed in still another
terrible fire, which occurred yesterday
morning in the tannerv district, burn
ing the plants of the William Becker
Leather Company and Conrad Bros.
on Commerce Street, and entalllng
loss which is variously estimated at
$250,000.
The plant of Conrad Bros. was totally
destroyed, while the tannery Of the
William Becker Leather Company IS
almost q wreck with the exception OF
the building used as notice and store
room, which was saved. Although as
vet only two bodies bave been recov-
cred from the ruins. members OF the
fire department are certain that the
remains of others who persisted
IN the flames will be found as
soon as it is possible to make close
examination Of the burned buildings.
Several fremen were also injured, and
the list of casualties resulting from the
fire is greater than at any Of the other
large fires since the Third Ward COnt1a-
grafton. Those known to be dead are:
Thomas Sullivan, of 800 Marshall Street,
pipeman of engine company, NO. b;
Street, member of the patrol corps of
the Board of Underwriters.
The immense South Side plant Of the
Milwaukee Street Railway Company
was destroyed by fire early this morn
ing, entaillng O. loss of fully $500, 900.
Like the other terrible fires with which
Milwaukee has been visited during the
past seventy-two hours this one also is
apparently of incendiary origin.
| A little after o'clock fire was dis
covered in the northwest corner of the
shops by the night Waterman. Run
| ming across the r. ad to the No. engine
| house he turned in the alarm, but be-
| fore the fire department, with the ex-
ception of the company Immediately
across the road, could arrive on the
scene, the entire building was IN flames
Immediately second and third alarms
were turned in, but they were of
little use, for the building burned fast.
On one side were the stables where
| fully sixty horses were kept. They
were all liberated, and nearly all gotten
out. On the other side were the car
stables, where it is said between 200 and
800 cars were stored, and all these are
burned. tits in their loss the com any
will sustain the greatest damage, the
buildings themselves not being worth
more than 81, 800.
Conservative men place the value OF
the cars and the machinery at $3.50, GOO.
The buildings were low brick ones,
but the flames from them soon lighted
the entire heavens and caused dis
play which was magnificent.
At o'clock the fire appeared to be
spreading and the plant Of the butcher
Stove Company, which is just north oil
the car barns, appeared to be IN dan
ger, although it bad not yet caught fire.
A manufacturing plant IN the rear
was also threatened.
The machine shops were built the
past SEASON and were fitted with very
fine machinery for the rebuilding and
repairing of cars. The cars in the barr
all belonged to the Mitchell Street and
Russell Avenue lines, and these Will be
disabled and unable to run this morn
ing. Cars will undoubtedly be trans
ferred from the other lines 80 tha
travel shall be as little impeded as pos
sibIe.
Foreman Christensen, who has
charge of the place at night, was founC
by reporter while the ire was at 1T
height, and be said the building mus
certainly have been set on fire, as hi
knew Of nothing in the corner, where
the fire originated, which could have
started it,